The Bundaberg Media Research Group will launch a 2-year project that for the first time in Australia records the Indigenous story of a complete river system, on Saturday December 1 at 4pm at Alexandra Park in Bundaberg.

'Source to Sea: Stories of Burnett River Country' follows the Burnett River, Queensland, and captures the stories and sounds of thousands of years of the river country from the top of the freshwater to the saltwater country on the coast.

The DVD cover for 'Source to Sea'

'Source to Sea' producers Dr Grayson Cooke and Jonathan Pagliano believe this project is important to the Indigenous community of the region and others who are working hard to explain the special cultural values that people have for their land, sea and river country.

"Language and culture remains strong for the Burnett river people whose tribal ancestors were the Wakka Wakka, the Wulli Wulli, Mi Mi, the Gooreng Gooreng and the Taribelang and Bunda people," Mr Pagliano said.

"The Burnett River people stories stretch from Monto in the north, to Kingaroy and Nanango to the south, through Eidsvold, Mundubbera and Gayndah and on to Bundaberg and the coast.

"For 2 years we worked with the groups to make sure they got the chance to tell their story in Source to Sea."

The documentary covers over 33,000 square kilometres, telling Indigenous peoples' stories, explaining how they feel about their country and the concerns they have for its future health.

Dr Cooke said 'Source to Sea' tells a story not only of thousands of years of Indigenous association with the river system, but of a contemporary and continuing history.

"Source to Sea is a story about the living culture today, as well as a recording of peoples' memories of how things were in the past. We have included photos, video, sounds of the river and peoples' voices to send a strong message that the Burnett River system must be nurtured for the future," Dr Cooke said.

"Mixed with the history of days spent swimming in the sun, fishing in the shallows, and sitting in the shade is the story of change. The impact that water holes dammed or pumped dry have on the sacred places, traditional lands fenced off by land owners, the depletion of fish stocks and pollution of the water."

Mr Pagliano said the Burnett River continues to give life to its communities and 'Source to Sea' is important to record the stories of the past for future generations.

"It definitely hits you when you hear the traditional tales that link family and country. There is something about the dreamtime stories of the river, the ceremonial grounds dotted along the banks and the tribal lore that should make all Australians take notice of a past - that is our future."

'Source to Sea' communities are celebrating the project with launches in late November and early December. The project was launched in Eidsvold on the November 24, and will be officially launched in Bundaberg on December 1, followed by a launch in Gayndah on  December 8.

'Source to Sea' was produced by the Bundaberg Media Research Group with the financial support of the Australian Government Envirofund and the assistance of Burnett Regional Group for Natural Resource Management and Central Queensland University.

Jonathan Pagliano speaks to audience members at the Eidsvold launch