Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance advocates for healthy water at latest forum

FCTOA representatives with CSIRO, University of Technology Sydney and Greening Australia staff on the first day of the most recent forum. Photo: Mad Dog Productions.

Recently 24 Traditional Owners attended the second ever two-day forum of the Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance (FCTOA) in Rockhampton.

The FCTOA is made up of two representatives from each of the 17 Traditional Owner groups in the Fitzroy Catchment in Central Queensland, and this event brought together 14 Traditional Owner representative groups.

“All of us 17 Traditional Owner groups are connected by the waters that flow through our rivers,” said Deborah Tull, who represents the Gangalu Nation on the FCTOA working group. “The water is the blood in our veins, it keeps us going.”

Iman Elder Heather Tobane, one of the Traditional Owners at the most recent forum, said: “There’s a lot we can do, and if we stick together, we can be heard as the one voice.”

The proudly independent Alliance advocates for action, knowledge sharing and collective decision-making on whole-of-Basin issues, and to work on establishing respectful partnerships with key stakeholders. The forums are supported by investors and organisations who engage with Traditional Owners on Basin-wide issues.

What happened at the most recent Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance forum?

This most recent forum for the FCTOA was supported by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO; the Queensland Government’s Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water; and Fitzroy Basin Association.

Some key areas of focus included:

• exploring an Indigenous-led research methodology to identify cultural indicators of drought and water
• identifying potential sites for inclusion in the ground to space national water quality monitoring system
• confirming a common understanding of water plan outcomes including economic aspirations of water, towards a policy statement for the review of the Fitzroy Water Plan
• an introduction to the Central Queensland regional water assessment and engagement process
• the importance and value of Indigenous representation on regional boards.

The outcomes of the forum were:

• CSIRO and the University of Technology Sydney will partner with up to three Traditional Owner groups to pilot sites representing upstream, middle and downstream of the Fitzroy Catchment to develop a co-designed process to identify cultural knowledge of drought that can be used to map cultural values in general. Key findings will be shared back to the FCTOA at a future forum in mid-2025.
• A draft policy statement from the FCTOA will be shared and refined over the next twelve months for submission to the review of the Fitzroy Basin Water Plan.
• The FCTOA’s terms of reference were endorsed.

The forums bring Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners together for collective decision-making and advocacy on Basin-wide issues. Photo: Mad Dog Productions.

At the end of the event, Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance representatives gave positive and hopeful feedback:

Great meeting allowing all to be heard.

First time I have seen this many Traditional Owner groups coming together with one common goal. Keep doing what you are doing, heading in the right direction.

Thumbs up having all Traditional Owner groups working towards the same goal.

What are the aims of the Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance?

The FCTOA seeks to enable the obligation of Traditional Owners to care for country and to drive the spiritual, cultural and connective significance of the Fitzroy Basin as:

A unified, inclusive, proactive and accountable forum to enable a universal duty in caring for people, culture and Country our way.

A forum that can influence policies, plans and actions affecting the Basin as a living thing, and that helps to proactively build the self-determination of local Traditional Owner groups and their communities, including youth, emerging leaders and elders.

This means a Forum that establishes respectful partnerships and transparent communications and is a vehicle for growing Indigenous leadership and aspirational pathways across the Basin to secure healthy Country and healthy People.

Male Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners in discussion with CSIRO and UTS staff during a gendered workshop session. Photo: Mad Dog Productions.

What’s next?

The FCTOA Working Group of six Traditional Owners will continue to progress the business of the Alliance to influence policies, plans and actions affecting the Basin as a living thing.

They are supported by Greening Australia (as the FCTOA’s friendly host) and two independent facilitators who provide governance and policy advice: Allan Dale (the TNQ Drought Hub) and Bino Toby (Gangulu Consultancy).

Planning is underway for the next Fitzroy Catchment Traditional Owners Alliance forum, to be held in early 2025.

To learn more, connect with the FCTOA, or support a forum, get in touch: [email protected]

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