An Agreement Approach that Recognises Customary Law in Water Management

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The Anmatyerr water project worked from 2004-2008 as a collaborative team of Anmatyerr researchers, supervisors and participants and social and environmental scientists from universities and government. A number of projects were undertaken within this research initiative focussing on cultural water provisions in water allocation plans, equitable governance of water resources, culturally based livelihoods, training pathways, Indigenous water rights, and gender and water management (refs).

Overall aims included: traineeships to record, store and convey knowledge in appropriate formats (with full prior informed consent) and which demonstrates to the wider community the depth of understanding and connections to water at the heart of Indigenous culture; Working closely with government to find ways for values and rights to be provided for in water plans and recognised and incorporated into government structures and processes that may include legislative reform, long-term employment and other livelihood opportunities; and determining Indigenous rights through examining international and domestic law and management processes and precedents set down through negotiated agreements to assist in finding mechanisms to achieve better outcomes.