CLC | Land and Sea Conference

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19-21 April 2005
Ross River

The Way Forward

National Indigenous Land And Sea Management Conference

Over 400 delegates from around Australia met at the first National Indigenous Land and Sea Management Conference held at Ross River east of Alice Springs, from 19−21 April 2005.The proposal for a national conference arose from a workshop at the National Landcare Conference held in Darwin in 2003.It was suggested that the conference be held in Central Australia and the Central Land Council agreed to host the event.The aim of the National Indigenous Land and Sea Management Conference was to bring together community land and sea managers to share stories and determine future direction for land and sea management across the country.The conference was a great success with a very positive response from delegates who called for a national conference of this kind to be held every two years.

Principles of land and sea management

Respect and Responsibility

The stories connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to country remain everywhere, right across Australia.We recognise these connections even if non Aboriginal laws do not.

Native Title processes can be divisive.We have lost a lot of old people, strong people who have passed away with broken hearts, watching their family divide, their land and sea neglected and their culture ignored.

It must be remembered that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have never stopped fighting for country and the practice of our traditional rights.It is incumbent on us to never give up.Some battles have been won and some are still being fought, and we have lost many of our old people along the way.

It is important to stop and celebrate the wins along the way.Leadership and respect comes from the old people who speak and hold responsibility for country.We must leave a legacy for our future generations.We must continue to embrace the ways of our culture whilst always looking for ways to create a new path forward.

We're worrying for country, how to keep that country clean and strong.They said `you've got no money, you old ladies can't win', but we just kept on fighting, and look now we won and we're the winners today.

Eileen Crombie, Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, South Australia

With the guidance and under the authority of elders, the youth representing our country, people, culture and future, will uphold the rights and responsibilities for caring for country and support the national vision for justice, recognition, communication, national consistency, sovereignty, constitutional change, political process and traditional law.

Statement from the Youth workshop

Whilst land is important to Aboriginal people, land also contributes to people's cultural, social and emotional wellbeing.The cultural benefits of getting people back to country include, getting people back on land, restoring respect for elders and acknowledgment of their skills and their talents.It is a fact that when the level of respect for elders erodes there are a lot more social problems in communities.

Leanne Liddle, Aboriginal Partnerships, Department of Environment and Heritage, South Australia

How to keep motivated in NRM is by having ownership of the outcomes and the process, continuing to be heard by the government and the NRM groups involving Aboriginal people and not just being paid lip-service.Aboriginal people stay 100% in control of the agenda.

Jean Fenton, Rivercare, Western Australia

Coming and Sharing

We must talk and work together as one.We are more powerful when we speak with a united Together voice we need to speak up and be heard by governments and all Australians.

We need to support each other in our struggle to fight for country, protect our knowledge and sustain and build our own programs.We get energy, strength and hope from sharing our stories in our own ways.

There are many successful land and sea management programs happening, right now across Australia.Hearing about these programs and seeing the knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of the participants and leaders gives us the inspiration to keep going.

We need to learn from each other, share our successes and disappointments.

If one group is diminished, we are all diminished.

Monica Morgan, Yorta Yorta woman, Victoria

With the motivation you have given us, we've got a big fire in our belly and when we get back to town, mate we're going to be working.

Nathan Mansell, Tasmania

We need to engage all agencies to work together to pool their money so we have easy access in and easy access out, it is no good having little buckets for this and for that, we are not mind readers.

Jim Davis, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Queensland

It's like going from the unknown to the known, and from the known to the unknown.Bringing the two cultures, the white and black cultures together, balancing them.It makes us really happy that we can do that.Share that knowledge and learn.We share each other's knowledge, vice versa thing.

Cherry Daniels, Yugul Mangi Rangers, Northern Territory

All people from Northern Gulf Savanna Group are also members of other committees and groups.So you end up with all these people working together.When asked to develop a development plan for our Northern Gulf Indigenous Savanna Group I went to each of these groups and asked, could I borrow spokes from each of your community development plans so we can build a wheel too.When they looked at that plan it represents their dreams and their aspirations.We didn't want to build another wheel, we just borrowed spokes and we just pushed it along and it became a wheel so that there is consistency with the development plan.

Ron Archer, Northern Gulf Indigenous Savanna Group, Queensland

People and Country

We need our country and the country needs us.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders young and old, men and women have a responsibility to look after country.Our role in caring for country should be recognised and supported.

Girls and women play a strong role in land and sea management too and this should be recognised and encouraged.

Traditional knowledge walks hand in hand with land management.We have never lost the knowledge of who we are and where we come from.This is the knowledge that we will use to build the future.

We need to come together and work together.Need to put our old people up there on a pedestal.Have them tell the young people what it is we must do as we travel this journey that will bring us back to our rightful place as traditional owners and carers for country.Caring for Country needs to be united to give support to our young people.

Noel Nannup, SW Western Australia

When the ladies have a bad day or worries we keep ourselves busy so as to not think about previous mishaps.Being a ranger makes us feel proud because a lot of work we do involves our country and our people.We learn new skills and revise old knowledge, make friends and share what we know.

Cherry Daniels Yugul Mangi Rangers, Northern Territory

Maintaining language and culture is a tool for relating to country and looking after everything that is on it.Aboriginal people belong to the country the country owns them instead of them owning it.Recording and handing down knowledge is the crucial thing over the next 10 years because the old people are going to pass away.We need the government to help Indigenous Australians maintain culture, language and law.Often the money runs out just after the program has begun and there is no commitment to maintaining them.The government needs to take the issue of maintaining language and culture seriously and back it up.

Veronica Dobson, Eastern Arrernte Tradional Owner, Northern Territory

We need to acknowledge that our old people who hold the knowledge aren't getting any younger and there aren't any mechanisms to ensure that traditional knowledge is transferred.

Melissa George, Murri Network, Queensland

The Way Forward Resolutions from the Conference

Governance

That a strong national network of land managers be established to:

provide a strong voice on land management issues at the national level;
promote land management;
lobby for increased government support and recognition of land management programs and
provide a forum that can consider other national issues relating to land and land rights.

That more opportunities be provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to come together nationally to organise, mobilise and create our own structures.
That traditional decision-making practices be recognised and acknowledged by national, state and territory governments.

traditional knowledge

That a national program be developed to ensure the protection, preservation, revitalisation and continued use of traditional knowledge .
That traditional knowledge and traditional land management be acknowledged, incorporated and utilised in Natural Resource Management planning and on ground works .
That groups and communities are supported to record and maintain traditional knowledge so that it is kept strong and can be passed on to children .
That a universal regime providing for the ownership and protection of intellectual property be developed and applied both nationally and internationally .
That a community education campaign be implemented to ensure that communities and organisations understand issues relating to the protection of intellectual property .

Caring for Country

Caring for Country provides environmental, cultural, economic and social benefits for people and communities.
That Governments start investing in land and sea management programs though the provision of secure long-term funding arrangements.
That a national campaign be developed to promote Caring for Country programs and other community land and sea management initiatives with an emphasis on the broad cultural and social benefits.
That equal, effective, collaborative and reciprocal partnerships should be developed for land management.
That a national audit of Caring for Country programs and projects being undertaken by traditional owners be conducted to determine the true benefits and value of these programs.
That land management programs be community owned, managed and suited to community needs.
That government recognise that current rigid guidelines and short term funding cycles are an impediment to effective land management.
That the rights of traditional owners be recognised in land and sea management.

Youth

That a ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ Youth Network and website be established and resourced.
That a ranger exchange program be developed to allow young people to visit other communities and participate in land management projects around the country.
That regional youth projects should be established to:

share information and talk about success stories and what works;
provide a youth forum and
develop ideas and support networks.

That long term funding support be provided for youth
land management initiatives and training.
That support be provided to encourage active involvement of youth and senior people in land management projects to allow for the transfer of traditional knowledge.

Employment, Education and Training

That Governments provide culturally appropriate investments in employment, education and training.
That people be trained to fill existing jobs on communities.
That steps be taken to ensure that the Job Network works more effectively with and for communities.
That any changes to CDEP must support continued participation and skill development and lead to real jobs.
That any changes to CDEP provide for the continuation and expansion of land and sea management programs.

Economic Development

That Government agencies improve access to mainstream economic and community development programs for Indigenous communities.
That resources be provided to build capacity for understanding and implementing economic development opportunities.
That economic development affecting Indigenous land interests such as tourism, pastoral and mining ventures address issues of sustainable development and financial benefits for the whole community.

Central Land Council

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