Cultural Outcomes

The Cultural Outcomes Theme ensures First Nations knowledges and science is included in managing environmental water.

Image: Ral Ral Creek at Calperum Station provided a living classroom to bring together traditional knowledge with contemporary flow and ecology research. Photo credit: South Australian Research and Development Institute

INTRODUCTION EVALUATION Team

Introduction

For the Flow-MER Program, a cultural outcome from environmental watering is a specific cultural value that First Nations people have identified as being influenced through the delivery of environmental water. Cultural outcomes can be living things, special places or important activities.

Cultural outcomes may align with environmental outcomes, but they represent distinct priorities that deserve independent recognition and consideration throughout the environmental watering process.

Cultural outcomes are specific to communities and their Country. First Nations people will determine what cultural outcomes are and how they will be shared with us. Knowledge about cultural outcomes may be used in the program but the rights to this knowledge remain with First Nations people.

Artwork by Kai McKenzie, a proud Wiradjuri man, entitled “My community, Your community, Our community”. Photo credit: Tonia McKenzie

Bayil Creek on conservation property Gayini. Photo credit: Anna Turner

Evaluation

The Cultural Outcomes Theme will evaluate First Nations outcomes across the Basin. First Nations people will inform and ultimately determine how their cultural outcomes are evaluated.

The key evaluation question at the Basin scale is ‘How has Commonwealth environmental water contributed to cultural outcomes?’. These outcomes are usually specific cultural values that can be influenced by Commonwealth environmental water. They are classified into: 

cultural indicators (living things)
cultural places (locations) 
cultural activities (things people do)

Evaluating Cultural Outcomes will focus on how effectively cultural values are included in the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of Commonwealth environmental water.

The Cultural Outcomes Theme is integrated with other work across the Program on First Nations Knowledge and Science. Additionally, the Cultural Outcomes Evaluation Team is scoping research projects to understand how First Nations people and their knowledges and science can inform environmental water management.

Image: The Charles Sturt MER team with Wiradjuri man Kai McKenzie setting fyke nets in Yanga National Park. Photo credit: Tonia McKenzie

Nardoo, a culturally significant food plant, during extensive flooding at Yanga National Park. Credit: Tanya Doody.

Our Team

CSIRO has been engaged by the CEWH to evaluate the contribution of Commonwealth environmental water to achieving Cultural Outcomes.

Lead Contact:

Phil Duncan, University of Canberra

Phil.Duncan@canberra.edu.au

Partners

Environmental Systems Solutions

Knowledge Catalogue

News

Murrumbidgee

Cultural Outcomes

July 29, 2024

Rangers connecting to Country at Gayini Nimmie-Caira

Rangers at Gayini Nimmie-Caira connect to Country, protect endangered species, and share cultural knowledge, fostering a vibrant, thriving ecosystem.

News From Our Last Cultural Catch-up and Introducing Our Gomeroi Cultural Advisor

Kerrie Saunders, a proud Gomeroi woman, leads efforts in Moree to revive native grains and connect her community with their cultural heritage.

Tamara Kermode

Read Article

Lower Murray and Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth

Cultural Outcomes

September 20, 2023

Painting Flows – A Cultural Mural of the Lower Murray River

Two First Nations artists transform a building with a mural that celebrates the River Murray's significance and the region's cultural heritage.

Gomeroi Warrambools in the Gwydir Wetlands

Gomeroi Traditional Owner Liz Taylor shares cultural insights with the Flow-MER team, highlighting the Gwydir Warrambools' rich ecological and cultural value.

Closing the Gap: Water Calendars, Aboriginal art and Teapots.

Ashleigh Pengelly's vibrant artworks, inspired by Murrumbidgee wetlands, bridge cultural gaps and bring Indigenous stories into homes through unique designs.

The role of Totems in conservation, kinship, and spiritual connectivity with the land

"Yindyamarra is a Wiradjuri word that means Respect. Respect the land, the animals, and Mother Earth!"

Dr Anna Turner

Kai McKenzie

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Webinars

Kamilaroi (Indigenous) Knowledge and Methodologies to Inform Water Management

The aim is to shift the research paradigm away from Indigenous peoples being the researched, under non-Indigenous research methodologies, to becoming the researchers. This allows the Indigenous scientist to derive the terms, questions and priorities of what is being researched, how the community is engaged, and how the research is delivered.‍

Watch Recording

Co-designing engagement with Indigenous peoples for better environmental water delivery: Cultural Values, Protocols and an Indigenous Seasonal Water Calendar

This project will draw on Indigenous activities already underway within Flow-MER Selected Areas, as well as working closely with other Indigenous engagement activities within CEWH, MDBA and other programs. In this webinar, Brad and Emma discuss how the project: frames options and avenues for the engagement of Indigenous people across the seven Flow-MER Selected Areas, and incorporate their perspectives on Australian water management, with a particular focus on environmental water. draws on current knowledge and practice in regard to approaches and tools (including Protocols and Seasonal Calendars) for engaging with Indigenous water knowledge, values and interests. meets a need for contextual information and synthesis around Indigenous perspectives on water management.

Watch Recording

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