This NAIDOC week, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) welcome the launch of the Murrumbidgee Catchment Nations Declaration.
This year’s NAIDOC theme ’50 Years of Deadly’ celebrates five decades of First Nations voices calling for truth, celebrating culture and honouring resistance.
The Declaration is a Traditional Owner-led document that sets out how Traditional Owners understand the Murrumbidgee Catchment, its waters and how everyone needs to respect and care for it.
In collaboration with MLDRIN, the Declaration has been developed by Traditional Owners of the Murrumbidgee catchment, whose connections extend across Murrumbidgee, its banks, tributaries and surrounding landscapes. These connections include Barapa Barapa, Mutti Mutti, Nari Nari, Ngunnawal, Tati Tati, Wadi Wadi, Weki Weki, Wemba Wemba, Wiradjuri, Wolgalu and Yita Yita Nations.
For Wolgalu Elder Aunty Alice Williams, whose Country includes the birthplace of Murrumbidgee, the Murrumbidgee Catchment Nations Declaration is long overdue.
“It’s particularly significant because it comes directly from the hearts of Traditional Owners who are deeply connected to the Murrumbidgee,” she said.
At the other end of the catchment, where Murrumbidgee meets Millu (Murray) at Narrung on Tati Tati Country, Traditional Owner and MLDRIN Chair Brendan Kennedy shares:
“The Murrumbidgee is a very meaningful river system and life force for all our people and our Country. This is clearly and powerfully articulated in our Declaration.”
Acting Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Hilary Johnson said the Declaration was an important step in strengthening how governments and agencies work with Traditional Owners.
“This Declaration asserts that the Murrumbidgee is living Country, and that Traditional Owners hold ongoing responsibility for its care,” Mr Johnson said.
“The CEWH recognises the importance of Murrumbidgee Nations’ knowledges and priorities to the planning, delivery and evaluation of environmental water.”
Mr Johnson said the Declaration aligns with the CEWH’s commitment to working in genuine partnership with First Nations across the Murray-Darling Basin.
“We are committed to working with MLDRIN and Murrumbidgee Traditional Owners to understand how we can work together to implement the Declaration in environmental water management.
“We acknowledge the leadership of Murrumbidgee Nations in shaping this important work.”
Ngunnawal Traditional Owner, Brad Bell, sees the Declaration as a culmination of Murrumbidgee Nations honouring their collective and individual obligations to care for and protect Murrumbidgee as well as neighbouring Nations:
“I want to see the leadership and collaboration shown by Murrumbidgee Nations in building this Declaration continue to be supported as we work together creating solutions and opportunities for our Country and communities, now and into the future.”
The Declaration was developed through multiple in-person and online gatherings held between 2023 and 2026. These gatherings centred the voices and knowledge of Traditional Owners with deep and enduring connections to the Murrumbidgee. They were coordinated by MLDRIN and funded by the CEWH and the Water for the Environment Program in the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Mutthi Mutthi Traditional Owner, Rick Kirby, shared how important these gatherings have been to Murrumbidgee catchment Traditional Owners:
“We face different issues and challenges in our own territories, but at the end of the day, we’re all linked. What happens upstream affects downstream. We need more opportunities like those gatherings to come together, to support one another, and be united.”
MLDRIN and Murrumbidgee Traditional Owners are working with the CEWH, other federal agencies, state agencies and other interested parties to activate and give effect to the Declaration.
