Some of the first names for Australia's native plants and animals have taken their rightful place in the nation's atlas of living things.
The inclusion of 2500 names, from eight Indigenous languages spoken in South East Arnhem Land, is a powerful new chapter in efforts to unite traditional and western scientific knowledge.
From Thursday, anyone using the Atlas of Living Australia will see many more Indigenous names sitting alongside Latin and common names for a multitude of species.
That's a big deal for students at the remote Ngukurr school near the Roper River in the Northern Territory who can now look up what they see around them every day, in their own languages.
There are also links to further information that details Indigenous knowledge about caring for country.
Nat Raisbeck-Brown leads the Indigenous ecological knowledge program that's aiding the evolution of the atlas - a national database that provides free online access to a vast repository of information about Australia's biodiversity.
She says it's an important and empowering thing for Indigenous Australians, including the rangers of the future, to be able to search the database in their own language.
It's the third, and the largest, tranche of Indigenous names added so far, and there are plans to continue the cultural evolution of the atlas into the future.
"More and more, language is seen as one of the most important things for closing the gap. The revival and revitalisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages is an important link for people to step back into knowledge and culture," she says.
"And sometimes, it's the first step back in.
"The kids ... when they look up one of the animals they see around, they can now see their own knowledge about it, instead of what we think about it. If we bring the two knowledge systems together, there's a great belief in science that it's a better way to manage country."
The atlas team worked with Yugul Mangi rangers and Macquarie University researchers on new additions that span eight languages: Kriol, Marra, Ritharreu/Wagliak, Ngandi, Wubuy, Ngalakgan, Alawa and Rembarrnga.
Yugul Mangi assistant ranger coordinator Julie Roy, who speaks Ngalakan and Ngandi languages, says the project has resulted in shared scientific benefits while also helping to keep local languages alive.
"It was very interesting for me to learn both the scientific names and local language names for the species and it's also good for the kids to be able to search these species online to learn more about local languages," she says.
Macquarie University researcher Emilie Ens says the work recognises the deep traditions of First Nations peoples.
"It's long overdue yet is increasingly seen as essential for effective management of Australia's environments."
