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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 30(1)

Constructing Aboriginal NRM livelihoods: Anmatyerr employment in water management

Naomi Rea A B C and Julia Messner A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Charles Darwin University, NT 0909, Australia.

B Present address: Mulga Data Services, Box 202, Nightcliff, NT 0814, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: mulga.data@bigpond.com

The Rangeland Journal 30(1) 85-93 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ07044
Submitted: 18 June 2007  Accepted: 22 November 2007   Published: 1 April 2008

Abstract

The provision of livelihoods for desert Aboriginal people is a common goal for desert communities as well as governments, research agencies and other organisations. We examine six issues surrounding the creation of indigenous livelihoods in cultural and natural resource management. Our analysis draws from the character of the training pathways and the livelihoods in water management that are being constructed in central Australia as part of the Anmatyerr Water Project, a research program that identifies culturally-based livelihoods as a major mechanism for facilitating the process of having Aboriginal rights and cultural values provided for in water management. Such livelihoods aim to enhance the cultural and natural resource management needs of non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal owners and managers through integration of profit and non-profit activities, and previously disconnected policies. The building of inter-cultural capacity and inter-cultural arrangements would assist in creating livelihoods in existing enterprises and work programs. A broader approach aims for cultural and natural resource livelihoods that have additional socio-cultural and economic outcomes. We discuss relevant issues and make consequent recommendations that inform the construction of these livelihoods.

Additional keywords: cultural, economy, jobs, natural, resource.


Acknowledgements

The work reported in this publication was supported by funding to the Anmatyerr Water Research Program from Land & Water Australia and the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centre’s Programme through the Desert Knowledge CRC. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Desert Knowledge CRC or its Participants. The strong working together philosophy of the senior Kwertengerl (traditional managers) and Merekartwey (traditional owners) from the Anmatyerr region and research with Anmatyerr colleagues has helped to generate the ideas herein. Jocelyn Davies has supported this work from the outset and through the LivelihoodsinLand Project, Desert Knowledge CRC. Collins Gipey, Mark Stafford Smith and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments.


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