Riverkin: Co-creating new forms of river management and care
Riverkin: Co-creating new forms of river management and care
The Nidd, the Shining Goddess. The 3 reservoirs Angram, Scar and Gouthwaite form her hair, brain and heart. Image copyright James McKay. Used under a creative commons licence.
Project team
Dr Josh Cohen, (Water@Leeds)
Project overview
Riverkin draws on expertise of University of Leeds researchers and artists in collaboration with Nidd Action Group to explore riverkinship and its potential for generating alternative approaches to river management in the UK. Riverkin starts with the idea that human-nature relationships were once rooted in kinship, in familial care and responsibility. However, in places driven primarily by capital, like the UK, rivers have become increasingly related to as ‘things’ to be exploited. This evolution from ‘kin’ to ‘thing’ bears significant responsibility for the UK’s current water crises. Reigniting riverkinship could help reverse this crisis. Business as usual is not an option, making it important to test alternatives now. This project has two main objectives:
- Co-create with River Nidd communities and stakeholders their (owned) concept of riverkinship.
- Identify with these groups practical ways riverkinship can apply to water management practices towards improved river-people-community wellbeing.
