DJAARA, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation – representing Dja Dja Wurrung People, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder have signed a new three-year partnership.
It covers waterways on Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country), including the Campaspe, Loddon and Coliban rivers.
Dja Dja Wurrung Group interim CEO Cassandra Lewis said the agreement would empower DJAARA to make decisions for how environmental water is delivered on Djandak, in partnership with government water agencies.
“Since colonisation, Djaara have been excluded from participating in water management – which means we’ve been unable to fulfil our cultural obligations to care for water,” Ms Lewis said.
“This agreement provides a baring (pathway) for Djaara to lead decisions about water on Djandak.
By incorporating Traditional ecological knowledge with western science, we’re able to deliver better outcomes for Country, for the benefit of all.”
Commonwealth environmental water holder Simon Banks said this was the second formal agreement established under the CEWH’s First Nations Partnership program, with more on the way.
“Having these arrangements in place strengthens our relationships with First Nations people to provide leadership and direction in environmental watering,” Dr Banks said.
“This supports our commitment to working with First Nations people to understand how we can manage environmental water to care for rivers and waterways.
“The partnership agreement supports knowledge held for thousands of years to inform environmental watering and for the next generation of First Nations leaders to influence our watering decisions.
