Tree planting project creates jobs for the future in Tennant Creek

In a warm greenhouse in Tennant Creek, Warumungu woman Shauna Graham pats down soil at the base of a seedling in a pot. The young, spindly plant will soon be ready to put down roots and grow on mining land a few kilometres away, as part of a tree planting rehabilitation project.Shauna Graham says working makes her feel happy and proud. (ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)While Ms Graham has been nurturing the plant to grow, a feeling has been blooming inside herself."It makes me feel happy and proud of myself," she said.Red gums and morning glory are among the plants being trialled at the mine rehabilitation site. (ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)The traditional owner said the rehabilitation site was right next to her country."It makes me, like, safe, close at home, you know? Building things out there and making plans out there, growing for the future."Partnering for shared knowledgeMs Graham is one of a handful of Indigenous Tennant Creek residents to be employed by Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation, which is contracted by Tennant Mining to plant trees as part of rehabilitation works at Tennant Mining's recently reopened Nobles Nob mine.Julalikari chief executive Lachlan Wilkins said she would not be the last."Tennant Mining shares Julalikari's commitment to creating opportunities for Aboriginal people to access jobs in the mining industry," he said.Lachlan Wilkins says the program is creating jobs and healing country. (ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)"The partnership makes sense in that it creates job opportunities for local people, it helps heal country and it helps ensure that Tennant Mining is meeting its obligations to the traditional owners but also to its regulators."The current contract covers a six-week trial to see which plant species will grow best at the mine site, but a Tennant Mining spokesperson said the partnership would "extend over the long-term" and was "critical" to ensure sustainable operations.Tennant Mining says its partnership with Julalikari is critical for its sustainable operations. (ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)"Through this partnership, we are building shared knowledge in how to conduct leading practice rehabilitation in the Barkly," the spokesperson said."At the moment, planting is focused in and around the Nobles operation, but it will be extended as our shared knowledge grows."Working for changeMr Wilkins said he hoped the partnership would create lasting change by improving employment rates in Tennant Creek."It creates an opportunity for people to get into meaningful jobs in an industry that's growing and it's got a long-term commitment here," he said."We love that because kids see their mum and dad or their brother and sister get to work and instead of them engaging in training just for the sake of training. They will see [them] go into a job and then there's a meaningful pathway. "That's what we're really excited to try and support."Shauna Graham with Julalikari's Janine Andrews, who has been supporting the tree planting project. (ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis)Ms Graham said while some people would not take up the work, she was determined to involve her family."Next time I go out there I'm going to show my grandchildren, my sons and daughters, yeah, to keep that for them in future," she said.