Screenshot: OzWater 2020
Keynote Presentation 8
Thursday 25th June
(Day 8, Week 4)
2.10pm – 3.00pm
Screenshot: OzWater 2020
Dr Anne Poelina, Managing Director of Madjulla Inc., Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, is a Nyikina Warrwa Traditional Owner and a guardian of the Mardoowarra, Lower Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Dr Poelina’s life career includes Indigenous, human, and environmental justice and advocacy spans four decades of achievements; Master Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master Education, Master Arts (Indigenous Social Policy), Doctor of Philosophy & Doctor of Philosophy (Health Science) Scholar. Peter Cullen Fellow (2011), Laureate Women’s World Summit Foundation (Geneva) (2017). Adjunct Senior Research Fellow the University of Notre Dame (Nulungu Institute of Research) and Visiting Research Fellow, Australian National University.
Her current work explores the entrepreneurial ‘New Economy’ opportunities for Indigenous people along the National Heritage Listed Fitzroy River, in relation to green collar jobs in diverse, science, culture, heritage and conservation economies with a focus in 2020 on Indigenous Water Valuation and Resilient Decision-making.
Dr Poelina’s keynote address will be unique in it’s presentation and will start with a short introduction, followed by the sharing of a film ‘Voices for the Martuwarra’, concluding with an opportunity for questions and sharing with the audience regarding the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and where to next with water leadership and governance of the National Heritage Listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River.
Voices for the Martuwarra is a collaborative documentary featuring interviews with members of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River (MFR) Council. Through breathtaking visuals of the Martuwarra, Fitzroy River, and engaging interviews with diverse Traditional Owners, the film traces the creation of the MFR Council, which was established in 2018 to give a political voice to Traditional Owners of the Fitzroy River Region amidst extensive development plans earmarked for the Kimberley in the mining and agricultural sectors. Since its inception the MFR Council has attracted the attention of leading scientists and researchers, both in Australia and internationally, through its ability to bring together the majority of Traditional Owner groups from the region, and spearheading collaborative, cutting-edge research into various domains: First Law, culture, science, history, economy and development.
The MFR Council believes rivers are the lifeblood of our Nation, and is focused on protecting their sacred National Heritage Listed Fitzroy River’s Right To Life from proposed invasive developments. Giving voice to many Kimberley Traditional Owners, the film depicts the profound and complex inter-relatedness between culture, Country, Living Waters and people. As a call for action, it also reminds audiences of the reasons why, in the age of the Anthropocene and Climate Emergency, it is more important than ever to listen to Indigenous voices, as they hold solutions for the future of humanity and of our planet.
Visit the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council website
Download this document [ PDF ]
