12th August 2009
The north Australian Indigenous Experts Water Futures Forum that
was held 5-6th August at Mary River in the Northern Territory was
hailed a huge success.
Around 80 key Indigenous experts strategically involved in water
convened to discuss their interests and views on future water
development in northern Australia.
The Northern Land and Water Taskforce commissioned the North
Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance to instigate
dialogue on Indigenous interests and views for development in the
north. Institutional and governance arrangements needed to ensure
sustainability of Indigenous rights in water were also
discussed.
Joe Morrison, CEO of NAILSMA, hailed the forum as a huge success
and reaffirms Indigenous people’s as the inherent decision
makers on these matters in northern Australia.
“I believe the forum was extremely successful as a
starting point to commence strategic discussions around water and
broadly, Indigenous development in the north”, he says
“The level of engagement from participants confirms
Indigenous people’s ongoing responsibilities and obligations
and connections to water through their management of inherent land
and sea estates”, he says.
As well as providing a clear set of recommendations to the
Taskforce, the Forum was integral for the development of the Mary
River Statement.
The Mary River Statement was written to stress the fundamental
Indigenous principles of water and reinforces Indigenous people as
being intrinsically entwined with land and water.
“The Statement offers testament to the seriousness of
Indigenous peoples contribution and participation in policy
decision making. It is also sends a message that Indigenous people
cannot be on the margins of discussions about development in the
north, but drivers of such”, says Mr Morrison.
