Inclusive practices, innovative collaboration, governance and recognising cultural capital: environmental law through a cultural lens

"I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not for his or her self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources and through concern for the future generations, the proper care of the environment." --Dalai Lama (1992). Australia and North America share highly urbanised characteristics: urban Australia comprises 87 per cent of population, urban USA 84 per cent, only 13 per cent of Australia's population and 16 per cent of US residents live in the rural areas, which are 97 per cent of the landmass. Rural agrarian communities, and more particularly First Nations, often feel that their natural resource knowledge, interests and their connections to land are depreciated by the politically dominant resource governance paradigm. This chapter will explore the disparity and marginalisation of these communities to conversations about resource management and environmental justice.