Economic interests, issues and opportunities in northern

Australia….Indigenous values

presented by Lorrae McArthur, NAILSMA Coordinator - Indigenous Water Policy Group

NAILSMA - North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea

Management Alliance

• Alliance

Peak Indigenous organisations

• Mandate

Facilitate partnerships

• Philosophy

„Looking after our country our way‟

• Leadership

Indigenous non-government organisation

Indigenous Water Resource Management Program

• Indigenous Water Policy Group

• Indigenous Community Water Facilitator Network

• TRaCK Theme 6: Sustainable Enterprises

Indigenous Water Policy Group

• Initiated in 2006

• continues dialogue created by Lingiari Foundation – 2002 papers on Indigenous water interests, rights and responsibilities

• Discuss Indigenous issues concerning national water reform agendas

- National Water Initiative

• Funding

Land and Water Australia (2006-07)

National Water Commission (2007-10)

KIMBERLEY LAND

COUNCIL

NAILSMA

IWPG Coordinator

Lorrae McArthur

CARPENTARIA LAND

COUNCIL Aboriginal

Corp.

BALKANU

CYDC

FITZROY

IWPG Chairman

Joe Ross

MIRIUWUNG GAJERRONG

Aboriginal Corp.CAPE YORK

LAND COUNCIL

NORTHERN LAND

COUNCIL

IWPG Network

• Established in 2008

• ICWFN works in parallel with the IWPG

• Funded by the National Water Commission (2008-11)

• Catchments

Fitzroy and Ord (WA), Daly (NT), southern Gulf, Wenlock and Mitchell (QLD)

– research

– economic initiatives

– water planning

– water management

Indigenous Community Water Facilitator Network

TRaCK Theme 6: Sustainable Enterprises

• Examines Indigenous livelihoods (sustainable enterprises)

• Review Property Rights – legal and policy framework

• Review Water Markets –institutional arrangements; attitudes to water trading and its costs and benefits

• Case studies – (Arnhem, Kimberley & Cape York)

Economic water interests, issues and opportunities in northern Australia

„Alive that water –

not only human beings

but animals, plants

... it gives life.‟

Biddy Lindsay, Daly River

(Water Futures Forum, Aug 2009)

North Australian Indigenous Experts Water Futures Forum

• About 80 Indigenous leaders convened at Mary River Park in the NT

• Commission by Northern Land & Water Taskforce

- ideas and concerns for economic development, associated cultural impacts, development opportunities

- interests and aspirations for governance and institutional arrangements

(some) Indigenous views:

• Not stakeholders; are the rightful custodians

• Existing Indigenous laws will continue to go unrecognised

• Cultural, social and economic interests will not be considered

• Western law will separate water from land

• Water is a limited resource

• Being further marginalised from their land and sea estates

• Not being appropriately consulted

• Not being engaged in all areas of

decision making

• Northern Australia is completely

different to down south

(some) Recommendations• New ways of dealing with government

• The UNDRIP set the benchmark for developing new frameworks

• Dealings are based on free, prior and informed consent

• Management includes cultural uses, environmental flows, consumptive and commercial uses

• Allocation is linked to best practice, sustainable, efficient and accurate data

• Integrated Indigenous knowledge with

better western science

• Indigenous economic opportunities are

fully investigated

• Native Title Act is amended to provide

for water as an economic use right

Mary River StatementExcerpts:

“Water, land and Indigenous people are intrinsically entwined.

As Traditional Owners, we have an inherent right to make decisions about cultural and natural resource management. In accordance with Article 19 (UNDRIP) we must have a central role in the development, implementation and evaluation of policy and legislative or administrative measures that may affect us concerning water.

In accordance with Articles 26 & 32 (UNDRIP), we assert that:

1. We, the Indigenous peoples, have the right to the lands, territories and resources that we have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise owned or acquired

2. We, the Indigenous peoples, have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that we posses by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which we have otherwise acquired

3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditional and land tenure systems of the Indigenous peoples concerned

4. We, the Indigenous peoples, have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of our lands or territories and other resources

5. States shall consult through our representative institutions in order to obtain our free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting our lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilisation or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources

6. States shall provide effective mechanisms for just and fair redress for any such activities, and appropriate measures shall be taken to mitigate adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural or spiritual impact.

We, the Indigenous peoples of northern Australia, will work with governments to establish what water entitlement and allocation is required to satisfy our social and cultural, ecological; and economic needs.”

Conclusions• Unique opportunity to get the relationship right, one that empowers

Indigenous people to lead in the north.

• Indigenous people need to be the primary interface for their own economic, social and cultural benefits

• Indigenous people are united in the north

• Indigenous people are ready to engage

Thank you

www.nailsma.org.au