Aboriginal Women Rangers Protect Sacred Sites in Australia

At the base of N'Dhala Gorge's towering red boulders, Adrina Williams grinds leaves between two stones, creating bush medicine the same way her grandmother taught her. She's one of dozens of Aboriginal women rangers breaking new ground in Central Australia's conservation work.

The Eastern Arrernte woman joined her colleagues at Ross River last week for the 2026 Women's Ranger Camp, an event bringing together female rangers from across the region. These rangers work for the Central Land Council, caring for ancestral desert landscapes and protecting sacred cultural sites.

"Historically in land management, it's been a very male dominated space," says Lille Madden, a Northern Arrernte woman and land management facilitator. "But there are women's sites, there's women's lore and culture, and we have to look after and uphold that."

The camp offers hands-on training in digital storytelling, data collection, surveying, and recording techniques. Beyond technical skills, rangers learn traditional practices like making bush medicine and maintaining sacred sites through fencing, water monitoring, pest control, and cultural burning methods.

Josephine Grant made history as the first Aboriginal woman to coordinate a ranger group, leading the Anmatyerr rangers at Ti Tree. She sees the camp as vital for building confidence and community among female rangers.

"Woman power, we want that," Grant says. "Coming together is a good opportunity to learn from other rangers. We all look after country, we represent our ancestors and our community."

Why This Inspires

The camp goes beyond conservation skills. Doctors, lawyers, and counselors provide onsite support, while activities like yoga and wellness sessions help rangers care for themselves as they care for the land.

For Helena Buzzacott, standing on her ancestral country at N'Dhala Gorge fills her with pride. The ancient rock formation contains thousands of petroglyphs telling stories from generations past.

"I feel so proud, it's really beautiful country," Buzzacott says. "I can feel the presence of the Elders."

These women aren't just protecting landscapes. They're safeguarding their mothers', grandmothers', and great-grandmothers' stories, ensuring sacred knowledge passes to future generations while creating meaningful careers for Aboriginal women across Central Australia.