More Native Title -

More native title – it’s Patently clear South Australia’s native title groups want the Premier to start talks on the “unfinished business” arising from the state’s 1836 Letters Patent. The Letters Patent is the letter that set out how the state would work and do business.

According to lawyer Shaun Berg, the Letters clearly protect Aboriginal rights to land in South Australia.Mr Berg’s new book Coming To Terms: Land Title in South Australia uncovers new evidence about the settlement of South Australia. A three-day Aboriginal Congress meeting of South Australia at Tanunda heard that the Letters Patent suggests Aborigines retain some predecessor property rightsover the land taken by white settlers.

This land includes the Adelaide plains and a large area of the Fleurieu Peninsula, land previously thought to be exempt from any native title claim. Congress heard that in the early days of British settlement Britain had envisaged a settlement in which Aboriginal property rights were to be recognised and that all grants of land to the colonists required “treaties or bargains” with the Aboriginal people.

Ngarrindjeri elder Tom Trevorrow said it was important that the Premier recognised this “unfinished business” and started to talk. Congress agreed to pursue the Premier to actively engage in discussions.

It is understood the Premier has agreed to hold talks although at time of publication a date had not been set. The Congress meeting was also updated on a range of local issues including the Aboriginal Heritage/Lands Trust Act Review and Aboriginal Foundation of South Australia activities.

The meeting also accepted the resignation of Klynton Wanganeen as chairperson of the Aboriginal Congress of South Australia as he has accepted a position with the newly formed National Congress of Australia’s First People.

Aaron Stuart (Vice Chair) was voted in as Interim Chair with Betty Branson as Vice Chair. The Tanunda meeting also provided an opportunity for the Aboriginal Congress of South Australia Executive to meet with members of the Aboriginal Foundation of South Australia to discuss partnership arrangements.

Among those who attended were Klynton Wanganeen (Chairperson of Congress), Grahame Tonkin (Director of AFSA), Aaron Stuart (Vice Chair of Congress), Rick Allert (Chairperson AFSA), Vincent Branson (Treasurer of Congress), Clem Lawrie (Public Officer of Congress), Valerie Fuschtei (Congress Member), Arthur AhChee (Congress Member), Matthew Morrison (Congress Member), Diane Young (Congress Member) and Samuel Mastrosavas (Congress Member).

The next meeting of the Aboriginal Congress of South Australia will be held in Port Augusta late June.