Monthly native title updates
Elders pass on knowledge at cultural camp
In June, three native title groups successfully held a cultural camp at Ilintjitjara, 20 kms north of Iwantja/Indulkana in the APY Lands.
De Rose Hill-Ilpalka Aboriginal Corporation, Yankunytjatjara Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, and Tjayuwara Unmuru Aboriginal Corporation organised the three-day event as a rare opportunity for native title members to share cultural stories, paint, carve, weave, perform inma and cook malu (kangaroo) over hot coals.
SA Native Title Services supported the native title groups by organising transport for members, catering and setting up the camp site. A videographer also interviewed Elders, young people and community members who shared stories for the archives. Look out for the full story in the next edition of Aboriginal Way!
Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people celebrate second consent determination
Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people have celebrated their second consent determination, which took place at Tibooburra in far northwest New South Wales on Wednesday, 3 July.
The consent determination covers 6,367 square km in south-west Queensland, extending in a strip along the South Australian border from Omicron in the south, to Cook’s Well in the north, including areas of the Cooper Creek around Nappa Merrie.
While the Wongkumara people were found to hold native title in this area, it was determined that Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people also have separate and distinct native title rights and interests in the land and waters.
SANTS continued to provide legal representation to Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka Traditional Land Owners (Aboriginal Corporation) after their first determination in the South Australian portion of the Cooper Basin in 2015.
When delivering his judgment, Justice Murphy said: “despite dispossession from their Country by pastoralists, and more latterly by mining interests, the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people have managed to maintain their culture and a deep connection to their Country. That is a testament to their strength, their commitment and their love of Country.”
Aboriginal children need Aboriginal care, April Lawrie reports
An Inquiry into the removal and placement of Aboriginal children in South Australia has been led by SA’s inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, April Lawrie, a proud Mirning and Kokatha woman. The final report, Holding on to Our Future, was released last month.
The report has found that the State is unnecessarily removing disproportionate and growing numbers of Aboriginal children from their families, causing long-term harm to their health, well-being and life chances at rates comparable to that of the Stolen Generations.
The report includes 32 recommendations and 5 actions that could have an immediate impact.
Listen to our interview with the Commissioner
AIATSIS Summit – ‘Celebrating Indigenous Brilliance: Then and Now’
The AIATSIS Summit was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Naarm during Reconciliation Week in June.
This year’s theme, ‘Celebrating Indigenous Brilliance: Then and Now’, is especially meaningful as 2024 marks 60 years of AIATSIS. It emphasises the importance of preserving our traditional knowledge and practices while continuing to evolve and thrive in the modern world.
The summit brought together people from all over Australia (including some SANTS staff and board members) to participate in five days of inspiring and thought-provoking forums and workshops led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, leaders, and youth, as well as some of the country’s leading native title and legal experts, academics, and government representatives.
This year’s co-convener was the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (FPAV), the democratic voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the journey to Treaty in Victoria.
NAIDOC Week 2024
Held across the country from 7-14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’.
The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony will be held in Tarntanya (Adelaide), this Saturday 6 July, and broadcasted live on ABC, from 7:30pm.
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