Indigenous Water Knowledge, Indigenous Water Interests

On August 7-8, 2008 a group of Indigenous representatives from Canada, USA, Guatemala, the Andes and many parts of Australia met in Gulkula, Australia at the site of the Garma Festival in north east Arnhem Land to exchange perspectives on Indigenous Peoples' knowledge and interests in water.

This expert exchange was convened by the United Nations University Traditional Knowledge Initiative (UNU TKI) in collaboration with NAILSMA and the welcome and support of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and the Gumatj people of north east Arnhem Land. The concept for this meeting arose from the discussions of the Indigenous Water Policy Group (IWPG), a regular group convened through NAILSMA, and the UNU TKI. The IWPG identified that access to international experience and perspectives on Indigenous water knowledge and interests would broaden the frame of reference for the group in such a way that would enhance its capacity to identify and advocate Indigenous interests in water as well as benefiting participants from across Australia and around the world. The Forum sought to:

Reflect on the relationship between Indigenous water Knowledge and Indigenous water interests, and provide an avenue for the international sharing of experiences on issues and opportunities arising from emerging trends in mainstream water management systems.
Consider the issues arising for Indigenous water values from emerging water trading and water property rights regimes, as well as the increasing recognition by western science of the value of Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Science for natural resource management.
Develop a statement and a set of recommendations on Indigenous water knowledge and interests for the World Water Forum and other international forums.
Support ongoing informal international networks of Indigenous experts engaged in Indigenous knowledge and interests in water.

More information about the Forum is available here. You can also download: