Presentation
Effectively engaging with Indigenous communities before, during and after floods
2024 National Floodplain Management Australia Conference
(2024)
Abstract
This paper uses research and practice to identify ways to effectively engage with Indigenous communities before, during and after flood events. It includes quotes and insights from several Indigenous people across Australia.
An effective approach to Indigenous engagement encourages those working in floodplain management ‘to develop their own understanding of and relationship to Country and those First Peoples who relate to it’ (Hromek, 2020). It firstly involves understanding the complexities of Indigenous peoples in an area and asking each community if and how they wish to be engaged regarding Country. Listening, learning and respect are critical parts of the engagement process.
In flood risk management and preparedness processes, Indigenous communities should be engaged separately from the general ‘community’. This enables building trust and conversation leading to the development of flood risk management that includes traditional knowledge of Country.
There are several examples around Australia of discrete Indigenous communities being poorly warned during flood events. Involving Indigenous communities in flood emergency planning is critical to safe response.
Although many Indigenous peoples are categorised as vulnerable people, research has shown that their strong social capital through kinship systems and their bonds to Country enable inbuilt resilience for flood response and recovery. It is thus important for floodplain and emergency managers to recognise and harness these attributes during and after floods.
An important part of the recovery phase is for floodplain managers to provide technical support to a place-based approach where Indigenous communities determine their own future including rebuild and relocation options. Also, Indigenous representation in after-action reviews is highly recommended.
Keywords
- indigenous,
- Australia,
- flood,
- community,
- engagement
Disciplines
Publication Date
May 24, 2024
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Citation Information
Neil Dufty and Roland van Amstel. "Effectively engaging with Indigenous communities before, during and after floods" 2024 National Floodplain Management Australia Conference (2024) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/neil_dufty/86/