FIRST NATIONS ENGAGEMENT

First Nations Engagement

The One Basin CRC has identified the importance of First Nations knowledge, expertise and guidance for achieving the aims of the One Basin CRC, and the many opportunities the CRC can offer First Nations peoples of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The task of engaging and partnering with First Nations peoples throughout the Murray-Darling Basin is complex and requires continuous commitment and refinement.  This will form a core activity across all the programs of the One Basin CRC.

The One Basin CRC is committed to working respectfully with First Nations throughout the life of the CRC, to achieve aspects of the following:

·       Greater access to water and land for cultural, social, spiritual connection

·       Economic development opportunities

·       Employment, education and training opportunities including careers development

We are committed to working with First Nations peoples based on the following principles:

• Relationships: we commit to establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships with the local Aboriginal communities, including our employees, customers and contractors within the CRC. 

• Respect: we commit to developing an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture, and to building an organisational culture that is welcoming and inclusive of Aboriginal First Nations peoples. Respecting the cultures, histories, lands, experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal First Nations peoples is integral to genuine engagement with these groups. 

• Opportunities: we commit to creating an environment where sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal First Nations peoples in the CRC is a reality. 

The Indigenous engagement strategy for the One Basin CRC aims to build on existing First Nations projects and programs in the Murray-Darling, while identifying further opportunities for wider engagement and partnerships.  First Nations cultural rights, knowledge and interests are central to addressing existing problems in the Murray-Darling.  And as partners in the CRC, Indigenous people will have an opportunity to shape research agendas and be active participants in research.  This includes opportunities for skills development and passing of knowledge to younger generations.

The emergent Engagement Strategy has been informed by established cultural protocols for engagement, discussions with peak First Nations bodies and other First Nations peoples. It further aligns with the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which states that authentic shared decision making recognises “the voices of Aboriginal and Islander parties hold as much weight as the Governments”.