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Water is a fundamental resource, yet many Australians have likely never considered the relationship between water, land and justice through the lens of First Nations peoples.
But not-for-profit research and design practice OFFICE has put this topic in the spotlight with their new book, Aqua Nullius.
The publication focuses on the concept of aqua nullius, the attempted application of the falsehood of ‘terra nullius’ (nobody’s land) to water.
Just as the British colonised Australia’s land, the erroneous assumption that the waters belonged to no one has continued to undermine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s governance, access, and rights to water.
‘Terra Nullius is a widely known term, but the fight for the right to water is something that is less in the public consciousness,’ OFFICE director Steve Mintern says.
‘Wiradjuri academic Virginia Marshall popularised the term in her book Overturning Aqua Nullius: Securing Aboriginal Water Rights, and hopefully this book supports that work. If we understand we all live and work on Aboriginal Country, then water is an integral part of that.’
The book highlights the voices of 20 First Nations people interviewed from across Australia about their cultural relationships to water, including perspectives from academics, Elders, storytellers, and artists.
The pages cover four key themes around storytelling, water injustice, First Nations water management, and overturning aqua nullius.
‘There are stories of dispossession, but there are also deep cultural stories and stories of resistance and hope,’ Steve adds.
The publication hopes to not only increase awareness around these complex issues, but to push forward activism and shape lasting reforms led by First Nations communities.
