Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT)

The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) is a philanthropic trust that was founded in 2010 by First Nations communities of Arnhem Land (northern Australia), to support their vision of returning to their very remote ancestral homelands; reinstating their customary land management practices and creating a future wherein their people can thrive again.

Arnhem Land is east of Darwin, encompasses almost 10,000,000 hectares of land and remains one of the largest Aboriginal-owned estates in Australia. It is home to Bininj and Yolŋu peoples; a high number of threatened native animal species; more than 160 plant species found nowhere else; and one the largest undocumented rock art collections in the world.

Today, KKT is a shared resource to eight First Nations community-controlled organisations from the region, each actively contributing to the realisation of KKT’s founding vision. The scope of KKT’s partners’ work is more holistic than most Western understandings of conservation. Equal to the protection of the region’s precious biodiversity levels, their management of Country also involves the practice of culture and ceremony; the critical intergenerational transfer of Bininj (Indigenous) knowledge; and actually supporting people to return to and thrive on their homelands. 

This has laid the foundation for KKT’s First Nations-led approach to safeguarding vital ecosystems for future generations, which consists of six key funding pillars: 

– Protecting native biodiversity for thriving native ecosystems, protected by Indigenous rangers. KKT supports ranger organisations blending Indigenous ecological knowledge and Western science to control threats and help native species to thrive in their natural environment.

– Investing in women rangers for strong First Nations women, equitably engaged in caring for Country. KKT provides core funds for establishing and growing women’s ranger programs and the frameworks required to strengthen the women’s ranger movement.

– Safeguarding Indigenous culture for Country rich in traditional ecological knowledge, languages, art and cultural practices. KKT funds vital community-led projects aimed at preserving Indigenous cultural heritage and actively passing down ecological and landscape knowledge to the next generation.

– Managing fire and climate by using fire to minimise carbon emissions, practice culture and conserve habitat. KKT supports both individual ranger groups and regional carbon industry organisations to continue customary fire practices and secure an ongoing sustainable source of income.

– Educating future custodians for future generations connected to their Country with access to education ‘both-ways’. KKT recognises the implicit link between cultural heritage, community strength and conservation outcomes, and therefore supports bi-cultural education projects that raise up the next generation of rangers and custodians.

– Supporting people on Country so that Traditional Owners are equipped to live and work on their ancestral lands. KKT funds critical infrastructure, service provision and workforce development projects to ensure that Traditional Owners can continue to undertake critical conservation and cultural work as safely and effectively as possible.

This breadth of focus reflects a holistic and sustainable approach to conservation, wherein each part strengthens the whole.

Crucially, every project funded by KKT is 100% community-owned, from concept to long-term impact. This recognises First Nations communities as the experts on how to best support both their people and Country. Ultimately, where government funding and private enterprise is insufficient, KKT’s role is to connect these self-determined solutions with the strength of philanthropic support.

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