Sustainable Indigenous Water Rights

A paradigm shift is needed to dismantle the myth of aqua nullius and secure Aboriginal Water rights, addressing ongoing gaps and injustices in Western water policy exacerbated by colonial racism. The Gunditjmara's successful UNESCO World Heritage listing of Budj Bim eel traps and the Yarra River Protection Act (2017) highlight the recognition of Aboriginal connections to water but also expose weaknesses in Australian water policy. Sustainable Indigenous culture requires legal, social, and cultural enactment of Aboriginal Water rights, necessitating a reevaluation of current frameworks.

Wardle, D. (2021). Sustainable Indigenous Water Rights. Clan and Tribal Perspectives on Social, Economic and Environmental Sustainability, 9–22. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-365-520211003