Challenges and Pathways to Achieving Cultural Empowerment in the Northern Murray Darling Basin

1. Challenges and Pathways to Achieving Cultural Empowerment in the Northern Murray DarlingBasin

2. acknowledgment Firstly I would like to acknowledge the Larrakia peoples of the Larrakia Sovereign First Nation that we are meeting on today. I would also like to acknowledge that their laws and customs remain and their Sovereignty and dominion over their ancient lands, and acknowledge their elders both past and present .

3. introduction

4. Cultural Flows Cultural Flows are water entitlements that are legally and beneficially owned by Sovereign First Nations and are of sufficient and adequate quantity and quality to improve the cultural, environmental, social and economic conditions of those Sovereign First Nations • THIS IS OUR INHERENT RIGHT

5. Landscape without Cultural water Photo courtesy Brad Mogeridge NSW Office of Water

6. Landscape with Cultural water Photo courtesy Brad Mogeridge NSW Office of Water

7. Introducing the Murray Darling Basin

9. MDBA’s ORIGINS • Since 1914, -various intergovernmental agreements relating to Murray‑Darling water resources. • 1980’s widespread degradation of the Basin was apparent. • The Murray-Darling Basin Commission was established in January 1988 under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, with a charter to efficiently manage and equitably distribute River Murray water resources. Secondly it was to protect and improve the water quality of the River Murray and its tributaries and lastly to advise the Murray-Darling Ministerial Council

10. The Water Amendment Act 2008 amended the Water Act 2007. This law transferred authority from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, creating an independent, expertise based body managing the Basin holistically for the first time. • The Authority was tasked with producing a plan for the management of water within the Murray Darling Basin, which is what we now call the Basin Plan

12. NBAN is an organisation that represents Sovereign First Nations within the northern section of the Murray Darling Basin. NBAN was formed in 2010 and comprises 22 Sovereign First Nations representatives from the northern part of the Basin and representatives from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Southwest Natural Resource Management and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee and the Condamine Alliance. Sovereign First Nation members are:Barkindji, Barunggam, Euahlayi, Gamillaroi, Bidgara, Bigambul, Budjiti, Githabul, Gunggari, Gwamu, Jarowair, Kambuwal, Kwiambul, Kunja, Maljangapa, Manandanji, Mardigan, Ngemba, Ngiyampaa, Wailwan, WakkaWakka and the Murrawarri Republic.

13. NBAN’S VISION IS Keeping our water spirits and connections alive.

14. Purpose of the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations To represent Sovereign First Nations in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin in cultural and Natural Resource Management issues.

15. What has been achieved!

16. History was made in 2012 when for the first time Sovereign First Nations people and their Nations was recognized in Federal natural resource legislation. • Over 45 Sovereign First Nations worked together on a common cause and enforced change in a planning process at the federal level. • Cultural Flows research project initiated to inform Cultural Flows understanding at a national level that can create change in thinking. • Three of the top people in water in the Murray Darling Basin talking the same language in relation to Cultural Flows. The Minister, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the chair of the MDBA.

17. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority acknowledges and pays its respect to the Traditional Owners and their Nations of the Murray-Darling Basin. • The Authority recognises and acknowledges that the Traditional Owners and their Nations in the Murray-Darling Basin have a deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. • The Authority supports the belief of NBAN and MLDRINthat cultural flows will provide beneficial outcomes for Traditional Owners.

18. The Murray Darling Basin Plan! Part 14 of the Basin Plan talks about —Indigenous values and uses If a water resource plan is prepared by a Basin State, it is expected that the Authority will consult with relevant Indigenous organisations in relation to whether the requirements of this Part have been met, for the purposes of paragraph 63(3)(b) of the Act.

19. Cultural flows • A water resource plan must be prepared having regard to the views of Indigenous people with respect to cultural flows. Retention of current protection • A water resource plan must provide at least the same level of protection of Indigenous values and Indigenous uses as provided in: • (a) a transitional water resource plan for the water resource plan area; or • (b) an interim water resource plan for the water resource plan area.

20. What does all this mean? • We have created a foundation for empowerment in the access of water rights for cultural flows • This should lead to economic and social outcomes. • The work has only just begun. • Our future work will rely on a 3 C philosophy • Communication • Consistency • Constructive and implementable Objectives • All this is caveated by “MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS AND BE PROACTIVE”

21. Teamwork • Bringing Nations together • Working with MILDRIN • A combined research strategy • A supportive Minister • Working with MDBA • Agreement isn’t necessary • Working with states • The role of MLDRIN/NBAN in the overall schemes of looking at values and Uses.

22. Where to from here

23. Murray Darling Basin Plan Implementation

24. Cultural Values and Uses Framework

25. Cultural Flows at United Nations A Simple plan • My starting point is to recognise that for the past 40,000 years, Australia's traditional owners, the Australian Aborigines, have maintained a deep cultural and spiritual connection to their land and waters. • In our work to develop a Plan for the Murray–Darling Basin, we took inspiration from an elder from our Ngarrindjeri people, Tom Trevorrow, who once spoke of this connection and the Indigenous approach to caring for the natural landscape. • Tom reminded us all of our connection with our planet when he said: • "Our traditional management plan was don't be greedy. • "Don't take any more than you need and respect everything around you. • "That's the management plan—it's such as simple management plan, but so hard for people to carry out."

26. Achieving Cultural Empowerment in the Northern Murray Darling Basin is about keeping the communication channels open and walking the same road together no matter if your are lost like these to blackfella’s doing business in the bush.