Description
Station-owner and Ualarai man Michael Anderson provides a rich and in-depth interview on his personal experience with the Murray-Darling Basin from his current base by the Bokhara River. As an executive member of the Northern Basins Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) group, Michael is concerned about the health of the basin and wetlands and attributes much of the basin's issues on poor water flows, poor management of available water and the siltation caused as a result. He urges that the wetlands be registered with an international treaty: the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in order to help ensure its survival.
Michael explains the cultural and spiritual importance of the river systems to Indigenous peoples, delving into the history, language and stories of his Ualarai people. The changes in the fish population, and the traditional practices of his people that were implicit in the flourishing of the basin prior to colonisation.
Mentioned: water rat, mud crab.