MLDRIN and the MDBAA Partnership Approach

•MLDRIN

•TLM IPP

•UOM

•Cultural Flows

M O U between the MLDRIN & MDBA

…a framework for the participation of Indigenous nations in the management of the natural resources …

The Living Murray

Indigenous Partnerships Project

(Altman, J.C., Buchanan, G.J. and Larsen, L., 2007)

< 0.2% of the Basin in Indigenous Estate

Indigenous Engagement in NRM Ownership of land/water

Ownership of land/water with covenants (eg. Native Title)

High level control over land/water through planning

Joint Ownership

Native Title access

Joint Management

Input into management/planning

Advisory Committee involvement

Indigenous consultation

Site management

Extent of Involvement

The Reality

The Theory (incl. policies, international obligations etc)

Indigenous involvement until now…

• Site management

• The ‘motherhood’ dimension

IPP Principles• Traditional Owners • Informed consent • Improving capacity to engage• Delivering social, economic,

environmental and cultural outcomes• Partnerships based on respect, honesty,

and capacity to participate equally, with shared responsibility and clearly defined accountability and authority

Values

SitesSpiritual connections

Inter-generational

knowledge

Education

Country

Access

StoriesEmployment

Icon Site Management

Plan

Food

Indigenous Facilitators

• One per Icon Site, regionally based• Guide & facilitate involvement of

Indigenous community• Gladys Sumner – Chowilla• Ken Stewart – Hattah• Lee Joachim – Barmah-Millewa• Damian Morgan-Bulled – Gunbower, Koondrook,

Perricoota• Grant Rigney – Murray Mouth, Coorong and Lower

Lakes

Indigenous Working Groups

• One per Icon Site• Ensure consultation is undertaken in an

appropriate way & in-line with principles• 2 representatives from each statutory

Indigenous organisation and Traditional Owners groups

• Flexibility with respect to existing forums• Meets 3 – 4 times per year

Use & Occupancy Mapping

• Methodology developed in Canada 25 years ago

• Individual experiences brought together using a rigorous social science methodology

• Information recorded spatially

• Data is digitised and collated

Use & Occupancy MappingIndividual Map

Biographies

n = all participants

Thematic

n = approx 7 themes

Composite

Hunting sites

Plant harvest

sites

Occupation sites

All data from all participants

Typically 10 - 30,000 data

points

40 – 60 features

relevant to purpose of mapping project

Example UOM Questions

21) Did you ever collect native BEE HONEYCOMB for eating purposes? [HC] – If “yes,” show some spots.

30) Did you ever collect MEDICINE PLANTS for use by you or your family? [MP]– If “yes,” show some spots. What kind of

plant did you collect at each spot?

U&O Mapping Pre-test methodology

AustralianMap Icons

Repatriation site

Death Site

Specialty Wood

Yorta Yorta U&O Mapping Pilot

Map Biographies underway…

Outputs from the Yorta Yorta Pilot• 66 respondents• av. length of interview: 80 minutes• 6500 features mapped• Up to 456 features per individual • av. # features: 91• median # features: 64 • 104 map sheets used

Outcomes• NRM• Individuals• Indigenous Nation• Awareness

Cultural Flows

• “Cultural Flows” are water entitlements that are legally and beneficially owned by the Indigenous Nations of a sufficient and adequate quantity and quality to improve the spiritual, cultural, environmental, social and economic conditions of those Indigenous Nations”.

Cultural Water can be used for the following purposes:

• Empowerment and social justice - water is delivered to Country by the peoples;

• Growing native plants;• Protecting and hunting animals;• Song, dance, art and ceremony;• Spiritual sites; and• Improved cultural-economic and health

outcomes through the provision of food, medicines and materials for art.

Water Options

Moose II & Training

Timeline Environmental Flows Cultural Flows

Pre-1970 Not considered Not considered

1970’sOn ‘radar’Increasing awareness of water quality and salinity problemsMurray-Darling Basin MC & Commission established; CAC created1980’s

1990 LearningMDBC NRM StrategyBarmah-Millewa Forest Management Plan / Agreement – creation of the B-M environmental reserveReport on Water Use in the Murray-Darling Basin

1991

1992

1993

1994 On ‘radar’ Lake Victoria cultural heritage protection – investigation & worksBarkindji Elders Committee & Lake Victoria Advisory Committee MLDRIN MOU drafted

1995

1996

1997 Strategy DevelopmentCap on DiversionsSalinity AuditICM Policy Statement

1998

1999

2000 LearningScoping Study on NRM involvementIndigenous employees2001 Action (projects)

E-Flows Expert Reference Panel reportMurray Mouth dredging MDBMC First Step Decision on TLMRiver Red Gum health survey & trial flooding

2002 Strategy DevelopmentMLDRIN MOU signed by NSWIndigenous Action Plan developedTLM Indigenous Partnerships Project developedMLDRIN MOU signed by MDBC

2003

2004 On-ground outcomes (results)Riparian response & bird breeding eventsFlooding through weir raising2005

2006 Monitoring & improvement

2007 Action (projects) - Cultural mapping

The Murray-Darling Basin

14% of Australia14% of Australia

1 million sq. km1 million sq. km

Australia’s Australia’s “food bowl”“food bowl”

Largely Largely semi aridsemi arid

River River MurrayMurray

6 governments6 governments

Over 2 million Over 2 million people + people +