River People’s Forum: First Nations Water Rights and Justice

An event for First Nations and allies. Join us for the second River Peoples' Forum, hosted by Sustainable Living in the Mallee and Friends of Nyah Vinifera Park with support from Environment Victoria and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN).

This will be a free event, with multiple panel discussions and presentations, as well as a catered lunch. For those unable to travel to Swan Hill, we’ll be livestreaming a panel discussion at 1PM. Register to receive a link here >>

The River Peoples’ Forum is about creating space for honest, community-led discussion on the state of our rivers, and how we create a system that supports both healthy communities and healthy rivers. This year's focus is on First Nations water rights and justice.

First Nations have cared for the rivers, wetlands, fish and birds of the Murray-Darling Basin for thousands of generations. But today, they own less than 0.2% of water rights. Governments have pledged millions of dollars to address this inequity, but most has never been delivered. While rivers in the Basin continue to languish, Traditional Owners are still locked out of managing their ancestral lands and water. 

Decades of water reform have failed to deliver for First Nations. It’s well past time for real water rights and water justice.

Join us to hear from leading voices on the big opportunities for water justice in the coming months and years, learn about the history and importance of cultural flows and how allies can support First Nations in this vital work for justice. Speakers include:

• Grant Rigney – Ngarrindjeri citizen and Chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN)
• Melissa Kennedy – Tati Tati, Research Fellow in Water Policy & Social Science, University of Melbourne, and co-founder of Tati Tati Kaiejin
• Brendan Kennedy - Tati Tati and Wadi Wadi Traditional Owner & Deputy Chair of MLDRIN
• Dr. Erin O’Donnell – water law and policy specialist, focusing on water justice and the rights of rivers. Senior Lecturer and ARC Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School
• Professor Sarah Wheeler – Professor of Water Economics and leads the Water, Environment and Food economics policy group in the School of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Adelaide
• Luke Wilson - Bringing his experience in water policy strategy and planning in Victoria Luke has been working with the Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung People) mob for the past 2.5 years to pull together a water strategy that articulates Djaara’s expectations for water management on Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) and a pathway for water agencies to follow Djaara’s lead.
• Ben Muir – a proud Wotjobaluk man who has been representing first Nations people across the State through roles at the Barenji Gadjin Land Council (BGLC), Wimmera CMA and now Djaara working across water policy and cultural heritage to heal country. Ben has also held a position on the Board of Directors at BGLC.
• Shaun Middlebrook - a proud Wiradjuri and Yuin man from NSW, currently working as the Strategy and Wellbeing Manager at the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Prior to moving to Victoria, Shaun was the Chief Executive Officer of Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation working with the Stolen Generations find their way home.

Artwork: "Millu Thangura" (Our Murray River Country), by Brendan Kennedy