The River Murray flows through several Aboriginal communities and groups, all of whom have a long, deep and spiritual connection to the river and its environs.

The impact of the 2022 River Murray floods on Aboriginal heritage is significant, and recovery is complex, long and layered.

The Attorney-General's Department’s Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation has been working closely with the lead Government agency for the recovery work, Green Industries SA, and Johns Lyng Disaster Management Australia, jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments.

They have ensured the views, perspectives and cultural authority of Aboriginal people and community are at the centre of recovery work.

Feedback was provided by some Traditional Owner groups early in the recovery phase about their preferred model for cultural heritage management.

Steps were taken to ensure all River Murray Aboriginal groups are at the centre of clean-up activities. This includes a guarantee of Traditional Owners being paid properly for their services and expertise, including being employed in key heritage management roles.

There is a range of Aboriginal heritage that is being assessed and monitored across the river corridor. Some of the most significant Aboriginal heritage sites in Australia are located along the River Murray.

Aboriginal heritage takes many forms and can include, for example, artefacts made of wood, bone and stone, surface scatters, culturally modified trees, campsites, quarries, stone arrangements, ancestral burials, rock arts and other historical places.

Heritage provides Aboriginal people and communities an important link to past and present culture. All Aboriginal cultural heritage is unique and significant, and sites of significance are protected in South Australia.

The endorsed flood recovery model ensures inspections for cultural heritage are carried out on all properties that have opted-in for government assistance, and that private contractors include cultural heritage awareness programs within their standard operating procedures for clean-up activities.

The River Murray Clean- up Project was recently named ‘Project of the Year’ at the SA Aboriginal Building and Civil Construction Academy Gala Dinner.