Australian Indigenous Freshwater Forum Objectives;•Identify & discuss Key Water Systems in Australia

•Collaborate with knowledge base Indigenous representatives that have motivation for progress and are able to ring back information to their network

•Examining guiding principles for Indigenous water planning that can inform the process for the Indigenous Water Planning Forum

•Develop a strategic process to move forward in partnership with National Water Commission

Group Workshops Indigenous interests in NWI Freshwater Systems

• Tropical Freshwater Systems• Arid Freshwater Systems• Ground Freshwater Systems• Rivers and Forest Freshwater Systems• Lakes and Wetland Freshwater Systems• Urban Freshwater Systems• Rights & Native Title Interest in Australian Freshwater

Systems

“Closing the Gap”

Practical outcomes v’s rights approach

“I will follow the outcomes of this forum with great interest – hoping to see a practical pathway emerge for Indigenous engagement in water planning which improves economic, social, environmental and cultural outcomes.”

Penny Wong

Minister for Climate Change & Water

Rising the profile of Indigenous People within the the National Water Initiative

National level • Engaging through the COAG process and • Developing an Indigenous Advocacy group to champion

Indigenous rights and interests in Water

International level• Participation within the United Nations Permanent Forum

on Indigenous Peoples

• Application of International conventions as best practise toward developing consistent standards of engagement and policy formulation.

Creation of a National Indigenous Freshwater Group.

Six Indigenous people were nominated from the forum to form an interim committee,

• To engage with the NWC and to forward the interests of Indigenous peoples at a national level

• Develop the terms of reference and the purpose for a National Indigenous freshwater representative group

• Convene a National Indigenous Conference to report back on progress with the NWI process and to gain informed consent on the recommendations of the interim committee

• Ensure that there are adequate resources made available for the long term participation of Indigenous Peoples

Interim members

• Kevin Giles

• Kate Kiss

• Monica Morgan

• Nolan Hunter

• Evelyn Crawford

• David Collard

“ We want participation in

the economy but not at the expense of our culture.”

Joe Edgar