Water Planning Portal Tool News Cutural Mapping Provision for Cultural Values in Water Management: The Anmatyerr Story
Provision for Cultural Values in Water Management: The Anmatyerr Story
The Anmatyerr Water Project, conducted by Naomi Rea in collaboration with the Anmatyerr community, provides a best practice case study relating to water, natural resource management, protecting Aboriginal Law and knowledge, training, inter-cultural literacy, and sustainable livelihoods and economies.
The aim was to demonstrate a methodology for the documentation and recognition of cultural values of water and their translation into meaningful outcomes through cultural water provisions. Anmatyerr (pronounced u-mutch-er-a) people (tyerrty) seek respect for, and recognition of, their cultural values. In recognition of this, the main goals of the project were to:
- demonstrate how to document cultural values of water and translate these into cultural water provisions
- convey cultural water provisions in ways everyone would know how to make them a reality
- further understanding of the importance of kwaty for sustaining Anmatyerr culture and the needs of Aboriginal people living within systems of customary law and governance
- inform Aboriginal people, organisations, governments and others who seek to incorporate Aboriginal interests, rights and perspectives into water management and planning.
Prior to this research the treatment of strong Indigenous interests in land, surface and ground water lacked, amongst other things, a model to gather and communicate indigenous water values. There were no examples for ways the Anmatyerr to progress the allocation of water in appropriate, effective and efficient ways. The outcomes lack equity, removed livelihoods and degraded fundamental needs of the indigenous people.
The Cultural Values Report demonstrates how cultural values of water can be better recognised and conveyed into western water planning processes. The report is well structured and provides valuable insights the issues, challenges and opportunities for bringing together indigenous and western governance and management arrangements for water. The level of indigenous engagement achieved in the project and the clear articulation of issues from an indigenous perspective is a significant outcome from the project.
The model, trial and recommendations developed in the program contributed to the Ti Tree Water Management Plan and the ability of the Anmatyerr to have their story, their language and their values considered to achieve livelihoods.
Citation
Rea N and the Anmatyerr Water Project Team (2008). Provision for Cultural Values in Water Management: The Anmatyerr Story. Land & Water Australia Final Report, February 2008.
