Protocols for Indigenous Engagement in Water Planning

The Water Planning Tools project has gathered together a number of resources for the development of culturally appropriate engagement protocols for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for water planning.

These resources, alongside the outcomes of the National Water Commission's Indigenous Water Planning Forum,  will be used as a basis to both document current best practice and support Indigenous communities to develop principles for Indigenous engagement in water planning. Links to some of these resources are provided below.

Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: This foundational Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide, as a means of ensuring their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.

The Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation With Aboriginal People: This booklet has been developed by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development on the basis of advice from an Aboriginal Working Party. It is a guide to Queensland Government officers who at some time need to consult with Queensland Aboriginal individuals, groups and/or communities. The information provided is intended to be useful in a variety of settings - urban, rural and remote.

Mina Mir Lo Ailan Mun: Proper Communication with Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Mina Mir Lo Ailan Mun has been written as a guide for government officers and others working within the Torres Strait region.

Guidelines and Protocols for the Conduct of Research: This booklet is published by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) and provides advice and guidance to researchers wishing to undertake research in Indigenous communities, particularly in natural and cultural resource management.

The Boonamulla Statement: The Boonamulla Statement gives a basis for Aboriginal involvement in natural resource management. It was the product of a two day workshop on natural resource planning for representatives of Aboriginal communities in New South Wales in 2002, assembled to prepare a statement about Aboriginal peoples' expectations of the N.S.W governments planning process for water, catchments and native vegetation.

Protocols, Principles and Strategies Agreement for Indigenous Involvement in Land and Water Management: This agreement was reached between the Victorian Catchment Management Council, the North West Nations Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation in Victoria. The agreement specifies culturally appropriate guidelines on how to engage effectively on land and water management issues.

They provide direction on how to interact and work together whilstacknowledging ownership of country and recognising and supporting the rights and responsibilities of all parties (see the summary flyer for more information).