Native Title Conference
Brisbane 2011
05/07/2011
Article Source: Aboriginal Way
Our Country, our future was the theme of the 2011 National Native Title Conference, held in Brisbane June 1–3.
Several representatives from South Australia attended including Parry Agius, Osker Linde, Tom Jenkin and Michael Pagsanjan.
The conference is held each year by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and this year was co-convened by the Queensland South Native Title Services and hosted by the Turrbal, Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul Peoples, the traditional owners of the wider Brisbane area.
The conference promotes native title as an agenda for justice for people and country, including the broader relationships between traditional owners and country. A new feature of this year’s conference was The Dialogue Forums, which brought together people from diverse backgrounds and experience to discuss a set question about native title in a collaborative environment Osker Linde represented SANTS at one of The Dialogue Forums - ‘Holding Native Title to ransom’. He discussed some of the challenges of settling native title and the current approach of the State Government in achieving whole of claim settlement.
Parry Agius also participated in a dialogue forum discussing the issue of ‘Development vs Country’ and whether you can have both. In his presentation, Parry emphasized the importance of people in native title – “It is people who file native title claims, it is people who negotiate agreements, it is people who receive determinations, it is people who receive and access benefits, it is people who will continue to look after country and culture.”
Tom Jenkin participated in a panel discussion on ‘when the deal is done’ and the implementation of agreements. Tom discussed the approach of SANTS to implementation through the Implementation and Partnership policy, which aims to position native title groups to manage their agreements and benefits on their own. He also discussed the importance of investing in native title groups leadership, governance and management and not focusing solely on agreements and the agendas of others, and also the importance of partnerships and projects to support the exercise and protection of native title rights and interests.
Michael Pagsanjan and Tom Jenkin gave a paper on Prescribed Body Corporates as an emerging sector in South Australia and some of the opportunities and challenges. Their paper highlighted the significant opportunities that are before us through the forecast resolution of native title claims across much of SA over the next three years.
NT groups will be repositioned in a network of relationships and opportunities involving government, landholders, and industry based on a reinvigorated community governance platform. To realise these opportunities requires the needs of today to be addressed, through strategic investment in PBC development to facilitate governance and compliance, strategic planning, and economic development to ensure community leaders are in a position to guide and strengthen their communities.
Other people to attend the conference included Kerry Arabena, Mick Dodson, Andrew Leach, Mick Gooda, Toni Bauman and Miriam McDonald.
Several representatives from South Australia attended including Parry Agius, Osker Linde, Tom Jenkin and Michael Pagsanjan.
The conference is held each year by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and this year was co-convened by the Queensland South Native Title Services and hosted by the Turrbal, Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul Peoples, the traditional owners of the wider Brisbane area.
The conference promotes native title as an agenda for justice for people and country, including the broader relationships between traditional owners and country. A new feature of this year’s conference was The Dialogue Forums, which brought together people from diverse backgrounds and experience to discuss a set question about native title in a collaborative environment Osker Linde represented SANTS at one of The Dialogue Forums - ‘Holding Native Title to ransom’. He discussed some of the challenges of settling native title and the current approach of the State Government in achieving whole of claim settlement.
Parry Agius also participated in a dialogue forum discussing the issue of ‘Development vs Country’ and whether you can have both. In his presentation, Parry emphasized the importance of people in native title – “It is people who file native title claims, it is people who negotiate agreements, it is people who receive determinations, it is people who receive and access benefits, it is people who will continue to look after country and culture.”
Tom Jenkin participated in a panel discussion on ‘when the deal is done’ and the implementation of agreements. Tom discussed the approach of SANTS to implementation through the Implementation and Partnership policy, which aims to position native title groups to manage their agreements and benefits on their own. He also discussed the importance of investing in native title groups leadership, governance and management and not focusing solely on agreements and the agendas of others, and also the importance of partnerships and projects to support the exercise and protection of native title rights and interests.
Michael Pagsanjan and Tom Jenkin gave a paper on Prescribed Body Corporates as an emerging sector in South Australia and some of the opportunities and challenges. Their paper highlighted the significant opportunities that are before us through the forecast resolution of native title claims across much of SA over the next three years.
NT groups will be repositioned in a network of relationships and opportunities involving government, landholders, and industry based on a reinvigorated community governance platform. To realise these opportunities requires the needs of today to be addressed, through strategic investment in PBC development to facilitate governance and compliance, strategic planning, and economic development to ensure community leaders are in a position to guide and strengthen their communities.
Other people to attend the conference included Kerry Arabena, Mick Dodson, Andrew Leach, Mick Gooda, Toni Bauman and Miriam McDonald.
