Protecting 'Living Water': involving Western Australian Aboriginal communities in the management of groundwater quality issues

摘要

Groundwater has a special cultural and spiritual significance for Western Australian Aboriginal communities beyond the "beneficial use" management concept used by western regulatory agencies. All water bodies were believed to have been created in the Dreaming by large water snakes known as Tjila, Kunian, Wanambi or Wagyl, and groundwater represents the underground tracks and home of these creatures. Many contaminated sites are located near sites of cultural significance that may be affected by groundwater contamination. Difficulties in managing such sites are minimized by involving Aboriginal communities at an early stage in the development of a remediation programme.