1 © Department of Sustainability & Environment and Goulding Heritage Consulting PO Box 509 North Carlton, Victoria 3054 Phone/Fax: 03 9380 6159 Mobile: 0409 145 489 [email protected] 2 Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy: Indigenous Engagement Project A technical report to DSE Office of Water Megan Goulding Goulding Heritage Consulting 2009 3 Table of Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................6 1.1 Background......................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Project Aims........................................................................................................ 6 Field Investigations/Workshop Proceedings ........................................... 7 Policy Documents........................................................................................ 7 1.3 The Study Area................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Indigenous Community Engagement Methodology ........................................ 9 1.5 Report Format................................................................................................... 10 2 What Water Means to Indigenous People......................................................11 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Water, Traditional Knowledge and Responsibility......................................... 11 2.3 Water: Identity and Belonging......................................................................... 12 2.4 Water: the Source of Life................................................................................. 12 2.5 Spiritual Aspects of Water ............................................................................... 12 2.6 Water and Ecosystems.................................................................................... 13 2.7 Water Linking Cultural Places......................................................................... 13 2.8 Water and Resources ...................................................................................... 13 2.9 Community Health, Well-being and Water..................................................... 14 2.10 Water and Recreation.................................................................................... 14 2.11 Water and Teaching Cultural Practices........................................................ 14 2.12 Memories and Water...................................................................................... 14 2.13 Water and Social Connectedness ................................................................ 14 3 Indigenous Peoples’ Issues and Aspirations in Relation to Water .........16 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Country is Dying ............................................................................................... 16 Aspiration: Improved Water Management.............................................18 3.3 Lack of Indigenous Involvement in Managing Water .................................... 18 Aspiration: Being Active Participants in Managing Water...................19 3.4 Inappropriate Land and Water Management Practices ................................ 20 Aspiration: Improved Land and Water Management Practices .........22 3.5 Lack of Resources & Opportunity to Engage in Water Management.......... 23 Aspiration: Resourcing & Opportunity to Engage in Water Management ..............................................................................................24 3.6 Lack of Research into Traditional Owner Knowledge of Country ................ 25 Aspiration: Recognising and Applying Indigenous Cultural Ecological Knowledge ..................................................................................................25 4 4 Ongoing Involvement of Indigenous People in Water Management.......27 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 27 4.2 Resourcing Traditional Owners....................................................................... 27 Funding .......................................................................................................27 Economic Development............................................................................29 Land Ownership.........................................................................................29 Developing Capacity to Respond ...........................................................29 4.3 Developing Participatory Processes with Traditional Owners...................... 30 Strategic Regional Approaches...............................................................30 4.4 Employment of Traditional Owners in Land & Water Management Agencies 32 4.5 Integrated Management of Water and Land .................................................. 32 4.6 Water Allocations for Cultural Flow................................................................. 32 4.7 Managing Cultural Heritage Places ................................................................ 33 4.8 Native Title and Water ..................................................................................... 34 4.9 Research........................................................................................................... 34 References ...................................................................................................................35 Appendix 1: Project Brief .........................................................................................37 Appendix 2: Schedule of Interviews......................................................................44 Acknowledgements The following people are acknowledged for their contribution to this project: Graham Atkinson, Fay Carter, Ricky Nelson, Jason Nelson, John, Bobby Nicholls, Neville Atkinson, Jade Miller, Sandy Atkinson, Gary Murray, Margaret Gardiner, Tandy Annuscheit, Ernie Innes, Darren Perry, Nick Daniels, Mark Dugay-Grist, Rex Harridine, Ralph Harridine, Brendan Kennedy, Richard Kennedy, John Kennedy, Greg Kennedy, Debbie Chaplin Morgan, Jacinta Chaplin Morgan, Cain Chaplin Morgan, Mathew Stewart, Wayne Webster, Neville Wyman, Rose Kirby, Karen Kirby, Jane Ryan, Marlon Parsons, Ken Stewart, Mark Riley, Russell Worland, Deborah Blaber, Salina Bernard, Steven Ross, Roger Cook, Mick Harding, Petra Schell 5 1 Introduction 1.1 Background The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) is developing a Sustainable Water Strategy for the Northern Region of Victoria. The Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy (NRSWS) examines risks that will affect water security across the region over the next 50 years. It will provide the direction and actions required to secure water supplies for homes, farms, businesses, industry and the environment. As part of the development of the NRSWS, DSE Office of Water is seeking community input on a range of options for managing the uncertainty of water security in the long term. An important aspect of the community engagement process is to seek a better understanding of the value that Indigenous communities in the Northern Region place on water. DSE recognises that Victorian Indigenous people have for many thousands of years been involved in sustainable management of the land and waters of their Country. As Country is central to Indigenous peoples’ culture and identity, the health of waterways and the Country that is nurtured by that water, are areas of key cultural interest. Building on the principles of the DSE Indigenous Partnership Framework that commits to greater involvement of Indigenous communities in the management of the natural environment, the DSE’s Office of Water is committed to engaging with Indigenous communities about future natural resource management initiatives, and in particular water management. A study based on an analysis of the gaps in engagement with Indigenous communities in the Northern Region was completed as background to this investigation (Goulding et al 2008). It documented the many studies that have been undertaken in the Murray-Darling Basin that demonstrate the strong attachment Traditional Owners have to Country and the importance of water management to these groups in the Northern Region. The study identified the values and interests of Indigenous people in relation to water in the Northern Region and made recommendations for more thorough documentation of those interests. 1.2 Project Aims This report presents the results of engagement with Traditional Owners in the Northern Region. It captures the Indigenous cultural values associated with water in the region and documents the issues and aspirations that surround water management for Indigenous communities. It also identifies strategies for improving recognition and participation of Traditional Owners in water management decisions. The Project Brief (see Appendix 1) and discussions with the Project Manager (Jane Ryan, DSE) guided the development of study aims. The main tasks are to: 6 • Identify Traditional Owners in the Northern Region and develop an engagement strategy; • Provide Traditional Owners with information on the NRSWS; • Document Traditional Owner values, issues and aspirations in relation to water and its future management in the Northern Region; • Advise DSE Office of