First Nations voices from the Murray–Darling Basin

Oral histories are key evidence of community condition and change in the Basin. They capture the lived experience of Basin river management, providing a vital line of evidence on how we can improve mechanisms such as the Basin Plan.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, we commissioned oral historians from La Trobe University to listen to 7 First Nations water advocates in different Basin communities. The resulting stories are personal accounts of life in the Basin from the perspective of First Nations’ people.

Interviews

The researchers spoke to First Nations people who had over 20 years of experience working on water issues within the Murray–Darling Basin. They aimed for diversity in gender and Country. Seven stories from First Nations water advocates were developed from across the Murray–Darling Basin in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), and South Australia (SA).

The interviews were conducted with deep listening at their centre to understand differences and enable rich insight.

Lived experience

These accounts of lived experience are witness statements about life in the Basin. They highlight culture and environmental change witnessed by some First Nations people. While each storyteller spoke as individuals, they have authority from their communities to speak and share their knowledge.

The stories were written collaboratively with the First Nations’ water advocate and the researcher and in the story tellers’ words. Each account shares feelings, reflections and experience of environmental change, as well as their concerns and hopes for the future. These accounts all offer different ways that we could all work together to better manage environmental change and protect the health of our rivers for future generations.

This information is crucially important to the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). It is the diversity of voices that provides policy makers with deeper understanding of the breadth of contexts across Basin communities. It informs government and policy makers about how to prepare for a future with less water.

Meet the researchers

• Professor Katie Holmes
• Dr Karen Twigg
• Dr Margaret Cook

The MDBA and researchers thank the storytellers for their time, wisdom, and care for the Basin.

Traditional custodians notice

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority acknowledges the collaboration and contribution of First Nations and their peoples in development of this resource. This page contains cultural knowledge and has been created with the consent of custodians of these communities.

They assert their cultural and intellectual property rights, dealing with any part of their cultural knowledge for any purposes that has not been authorised may be a breach of customary law and the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

No further reuse is permitted without the free, prior and informed consent of the relevant custodians. For enquiries about permitted reproduction, contact First.Nations@mdba.gov.au.

Cultural sensitivity – Deceased persons

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain information and quotes from deceased persons.

Language

Some material in these stories may contain words, descriptions and terms which may be culturally sensitive. They reflect interviewees’ views. While the information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in an historical context.

These views are not necessarily the views of the MDBA.

Access conditions

Materials included on this website may be subject to access conditions imposed by First Nations communities.