In a watershed moment, 13 First Nations clans from across the Roper River catchment have come together in a display of unity. 

Their newly formed alliance, known as the Ropa Woda Governance Council – offers a powerful message for government and industry:

"If you take our water you kill our culture, our identity and our deep traditional spirituality."

The clans include the Mudburra, Yangman, Jawoyn, Manggarayi, Bin Bin.ga, Alawa, Ngalakgan, Ngandi, Ritthangu-Wagilak, Rembarranga, Marra, Warndarrang, and Nunggubuyu people.

Message to decision-makers

First Nations people are calling for a complete ban on all future water extraction licenses in the Roper catchment, legal protection for environmental and Indigenous cultural values, and inclusion of the new Ropa Woda Governance Council in ALL water decision-making.

The Roper River flows year-round, sustaining the famous Mataranka pools, endangered species, and the livelihoods of local communities. Its flows are essential to barramundi, prawn and crab industries in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This isn't just about one river – it's about setting a precedent for Traditional Owner-led river governance across Australia.

Why the Roper is at risk

The Roper River is facing unprecedented threats from large-scale water extraction and fracking, with huge water licenses granted without Traditional Owner consent. Meanwhile, the NT's water laws remain some of the worst in the country, actively enabling environmental destruction.

Songlines

In 2024, Traditional Owners presented parliamentarians with a powerful 13-metre map petition demonstrating the sacred songlines and dreaming tracks across the Roper River catchment. Their message was clear - they want formal roles in planning and protecting these waters that have sustained their communities for thousands of generations.

Mangarrayi Elder Cecilia Lake says the riverways in her community are already drying up because of agriculture, including water-intensive cotton farming.

"We really need to get help to stop this because what's happening now is devastating but we want to protect it for the future," she said.

"It's caused a lot of damage to our lore and our culture."

Stand with the Traditional Owners of the Roper 

Traditional Owners on the Roper have shown incredible leadership – now they need our support. With a new Environment Minister in place and momentum building from the historic Declaration, this is our moment to push for real change.

Take action now and ask Minister Watt to back the Roper.

Together, we can help Traditional Owners secure the decision-making power they deserve over their Country and protect this iconic river system for future generations.