Source: Richie Southerton

1. Ngunnawal Country


1.3 Aboriginal water management

Water is a sacred source of life for Aboriginal communities. Traditional knowledge of finding, moving and protecting water has been vital to living in a dry landscape.

This knowledge can improve sustainable water use across Australia today. All states and territories are now trying to incorporate Indigenous, social and spiritual considerations in water planning. Aboriginal peoples have much to offer, and society has much to gain, by including Aboriginal people and knowledge in water management.

‘Look after the water and the water will look after you.’

Sunset from Shephard’s Lookout overlooking the
Murrumbidgee River.
Source: Richie Southerton

The Ngunnawal people’s river Country includes the Murrumbidgee, Molonglo and Cotter rivers, which are part of the Murray-Darling Basin and represent Songlines and Dreamings.

The ACT Government works with Traditional Custodians to protect ‘cultural flows.’ Cultural flows are water entitlements that aim to ensure there is enough healthy water to improve the spiritual, cultural, environmental, social and economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples.

Ngunnawal cultural values and objectives are starting to be recognised in ACT water management through dedicated Aboriginal Water Assessments. These assessments have been done on and off since 2015, but have recently been expanded and formalised.

Aboriginal Water Assessments assess the health of waterways through a cultural perspective. In the ACT, they involve a group of Ngunnawal community members going out on Country to a particular waterway site and answering a questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 11 water health questions and 14 cultural questions, including things like:

  • How much human disturbance is there in the area?
  • Is there sufficient habitat for fish, water birds etc?
  • Is the site good for harvesting plants, hunting and gathering, fishing, paid employment, camping and swimming?
  • How important is the site to you? What are the stories, histories, and family connections? Are there opportunities for teaching and sharing knowledge?

Based on Ngunnawal participants’ responses, each waterway site is given an overall health score. The findings from Aboriginal Water Assessments showcase how the Ngunnawal community value and use their waterways.

The Ngunnawal community are leading the nation in this assessment style. Other jurisdictions are paying attention to the ACT Aboriginal Water Assessments and looking to apply this method elsewhere.

The Cotter River. Source: Mark Jekabsons