Indigenous people from northern Australia shared water values
and interests at the 5th annual World Water Forum in Istanbul,
Turkey 16-22 March 2009.
Indigenous delegates attending the Forum represented the North
Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA)
Indigenous Water Policy Group. The group addresses Indigenous
rights, responsibilities and interests in water across northern
Australia.
Joe Ross, Chairperson of the Indigenous Water Policy Group, and
Nolan Hunter, Deputy Director of the Kimberley Land Council
highlighted issues and offered recommendations on a panel of
international Indigenous peoples to the World Water Council.
“The World Water Forum provided us with an opportunity to
present our experiences in northern Australia—where we have
had some success in raising the awareness about the long-standing
contribution of Indigenous people to the water resource management
and now the water reform process,” says Nolan Hunter.
“In the north, Indigenous people are collectively working
with Australian governments at local, regional and national levels
and were pleased to raise awareness about processes for engagement
with those institutions,” he said.
A common thread linking all speakers of the international
Indigenous panel was the acknowledgment of the essential role
Traditional Knowledge plays in water resource management.
“Indigenous cultural values and Indigenous Knowledge is
integral for a national approach to securing water,” says Joe
Ross.
“The challenge for not only the Australian Government but
governments globally, is the development of best practice process
for meaningful Indigenous engagement in water resource
management,” he said.
The Indigenous delegates from northern Australia were grateful
for the opportunity to meet other Indigenous peoples from across
the world to talk on issues and a way forward. Delegates were
pleased that the Indigenous World Water Forum caucus recognised the
Garma International Indigenous Water Declaration as assisting a
forward process.
The NAILSMA delegation was invited to attend the World Water
Forum by the United Nations University - Institute of Advanced
Studies Traditional Knowledge Institute and the attendance was
funded by The Nature Conservancy.
NAILSMA is an alliance of Kimberley Land Council, Northern Land
Council, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Cooperation and
Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. The Indigenous Water
Policy Group is a NAILSMA initiative funded by the National Water
Commission.
Media Contacts:
To arrange an interview with Mr. Joe Morrison, please contact
Joshua Kitchens.
Tel: 08 8946 6684
Fax: 08 8946 6388
Mob: 0405 349 496
Email: Joshua.Kitchens@cdu.edu.au
More Information:
You can download a copy of the International Indigenous Water
Declaration from this page, top right.
For more information about NAILSMA and the Indigenous Water
Policy Group, visit the NAILSMA web site www.nailsma.org.au
For more information about the World Water Forum, visit the
NAILSMA Forum.
