Mr Harry Coleman1
1Indigital, Wadawurrung Country, Australia, 2Aurukun Traditional Owner, Wik Country, Australia, 3Mapoon Traditional Owner, Teppathiggi/Tjundgundji/Yupangathi Country, Australia, 4Weipa & Napranum Traditional Owner, Alngith/Peppan/Thanakwithi, Australia, 5EnviroDNA, Wurundjeri Country, Australia
Biography:
Harry is passionate about working at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and conservation genetics. In his current role, he supports projects that combine cultural knowledge with ecological data to improve how information is collected, managed, and shared. He is particularly interested in ethical data stewardship, Indigenous data sovereignty, and creating practical solutions that empower communities through accessible and meaningful data.
Harry is also in the final stages of his PhD which focuses on addressing key knowledge gaps surrounding short finned eel fisheries in south eastern Australia through two-way knowledge sharing. His research is primarily centred around Budj Bim Cultural Landscape on Gunditjmara Country.
Abstract:
Across Western Cape York, Indigital has walked alongside Traditional Custodians, communities and partners to strengthen Caring for Country, grow community capability and create pathways for future opportunity. This multi-year journey brings together cultural knowledge, digital innovation, community leadership and two-way science, demonstrating what’s possible when culture guides technology.
Water conservation was identified as the shared focus of Indigital’s Caring for Country program. The program supported community-led environmental monitoring in Mapoon, Aurukun, Weipa and Napranum using environmental DNA (eDNA) and Indigenous science. This approach brought ecological knowledge and cultural protocols together to support the protection of freshwater ecosystems.
The program engaged 498 community members, including Rangers, Elders, teachers, young people and Traditional Owners. Communities identified Caring for Country, intergenerational knowledge sharing, sustainable futures and community-led projects as priorities. eDNA monitoring supported these priorities by generating ecological and cultural insights across 15 sites selected by Traditional Owners, contributing to a community-owned biodiversity dataset.
Traditional Owners collected 37 samples for comprehensive metabarcoding analysis, producing 1,736 unique species detections. These included four species listed under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and 13 appearing on the IUCN Red List.
The program also developed community capability in eDNA, from foundational sampling to data interpretation, supporting self-determination and long-term implementation across participating communities.
By weaving together technology and tradition, this work demonstrates how cultural knowledge, community leadership and accessible scientific tools can shape the future of conservation and sustainability.