The Crocodile Islands Rangers (CIR) was established by Laurie Baymarrwaŋga (1917-2014), the senior Maringa Traditional Owner for the Malarra Clan. Her leadership and vision continues to inspire us as we focus on combining western practices with traditional caring for country knowledge and skills.

The Crocodile Islands Rangers (CIR) were established by the Maringa clans. Maringa is a name we use to talk about the clans, families and ceremonies which belong to the islands. The language of Maringa country is Yan-nhaŋu, which is spoken by Bindararr, Ngurruwulu, Walamangu, Gamalangga, Malarra and Gurryindi (Gorryindi) people. Yan-nhaŋu language and rituals contain a wealth of cultural and biological knowledge, the reward of hundreds of generations of intimate coexistence with our environment. Maringa people and country are intimately connected to other people and countries across the region.

The CIR Program aims to protect land and sea country including 1054km2 of registered sacred sites, and the breeding and nesting sites of numerous threatened or endangered species, these are all linked to the songs and ceremonies of this extraordinary living component of Australia’s national heritage.

The Crocodile Islands Rangers (CIR) program is part of the Milingimbi Outstations Progress Resource Aboriginal Corporation(MOPRA). MOPRA’s role is to provide support to homelands residents at Murruŋga, Bodiya, Langarra and Dhipirri.

The Crocodile Island Rangers (CIR) Program was established by the vision of Laurie Baymarrwangga, Senior Traditional Owner and Senior Australian of the Year 2012.

Baymarrwangga spent a lifetime promoting the intergenerational transmission of local language and knowledge to sustain the livelihoods and links to homelands which are unique to this part of the world. This vision remains the primary purpose of the ranger program, to provide meaningful and sustainable local employment whilst protecting the land and sea country through traditional and contemporary practices.