Examining the connection between water concerns, water anxiety, and resilience among Indigenous persons: A systematic scoping review

Huynh, Lyndsey; Anjum, Sidra; Lieu, Toney; Horse, Makasa Looking; Martin-Hill, Dawn; Wekerle, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106184

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Aqua nullius and water colonialism not only 'normalizes the dispossession of Indigenous peoples of water' but also 'legitimizes exploitation of water' [19]. This exploitative nature of settler colonialism [49] is manifest in the impact of large on-stream dams, which help to reinforce settler perception of ecosystems 'simply as open lands and waters that belong to them' [62].…”

Section: Aqua Nullius Causes Problems Within Settler State Water Law ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous Peoples continue to be largely excluded from water governance by settler state governments [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Indigenous communities are more likely to experience unsafe drinking water quality [16][17][18][19], as well as being excluded from holding rights to water for economic development [15,[20][21][22]. Impacts of this ongoing water dispossession have physical, mental, economic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Water sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples: Pathways to pluralist, legitimate and sustainable water laws in settler colonial states

O’Donnell

2023

PLOS Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In settler colonial states, the doctrine of discovery that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their lands also took their waters. The original water theft of colonization was underpinned by the erroneous assumption of ‘aqua nullius’ and remains almost entirely unacknowledged and largely unaddressed. Scholarly literature has focused on the injustice of this water theft and the human rights of Indigenous Peoples (under UNDRIP as well as their human right to water). This review shows that aqua nullius also renders settler state water law not fit for purpose in two important ways. Firstly, the legitimacy of settler state water laws is contested, presenting a foundational challenge to water governance, and failing to acknowledge the plurality of water laws in settler colonial states. Secondly, settler water law is experiencing a more widespread failure to deliver ecologically sustainable water management. In responding to the injustice of aqua nullius, foundational reform of settler state water laws can enable the settler state to learn from Indigenous laws that have supported thriving communities and genuinely sustainable water management for millennia. Drawing on examples from Aotearoa New Zealand, the USA, Canada, and Australia, this review shows how acknowledging, and challenging, the false assumption of aqua nullius creates novel pathways for reform, enabling pluralist water laws and water governance models that improve both legitimacy and sustainability of settler state water governance.

show abstract

Section: Aqua Nullius Causes Problems Within Settler State Water Law ...mentioning

confidence: 99%