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Building a Sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body

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Building a Sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body 2008 Building a Sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body An Issues Paper prepared by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Cover image 'The Barunga Statement' Barunga Various artists 1988 Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra, ACT 2008 is the 20th anniversary of the ‘Barunga Statement’, which was presented in June 1988 to Prime Minister RJL Hawke at the Barunga festival. The Barunga Statement calls for Aboriginal self- management, a national system of land rights, compensation for loss of lands, respect for Aboriginal identity, an end to discrimination and the granting of full civil, economic, social and cultural rights for Indigenous Australians. The Barunga Statement painting combined several clan designs from Yolngu country in northeastern Arnhem Land on the left with a large design featuring traditional Central Desert iconography on the right. It visually affirmed the unified demands of the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory and the Land Councils that represented the interests of those who had already attained the first measure of self- management promised by the Land Rights Act (NT) 1976. The Barunga Statement We, the Indigenous owners and occupiers of Australia, call on the Australian Government and people to recognise our rights: • to self-determination and self-management, including the freedom to pursue our own economic, social, religious and cultural development; • to permanent control and enjoyment of our ancestral lands; • to compensation for the loss of use of our lands, there having been no extinction of original title; • to protection of and control of access to our sacred sites, sacred objects, artefacts, designs, knowledge and works of art; • to the return of the remains of our ancestors for burial in accordance with our traditions; • to respect for and promotion of our Aboriginal identity, including the cultural, linguistic, religious and historical aspects, and including the right to be educated in our own languages and in our own culture and history; • in accordance with the universal declaration of human rights, the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights, and the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, rights to life, liberty, security of person, food, clothing, housing, medical care, education and employment opportunities, necessary social services and other basic rights. We call on the Commonwealth to pass laws providing: • a national elected Aboriginal and Islander organisation to oversee Aboriginal and Islander affairs; • a national system of land rights; • a police and justice system which recognises our customary laws and frees us from discrimination and any activity which may threaten our identity or security, interfere with our freedom of expression or association, or otherwise prevent our full enjoyment and exercise of universally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms. We call on the Australian Government to support Aborigines in the development of an international declaration of principles for indigenous rights, leading to an international covenant. And we call on the Commonwealth Parliament to negotiate with us a Treaty recognising our prior ownership, continued occupation and sovereignty and affirming our human rights and freedom. The image and text of the Barunga Statement and the painting are reproduced courtesy of the Central Land Council, Northern Land Council, and the Buku Larrngay Mulka Art Centre. Australian Parliament House, where the Barunga Statement currently resides, provided copies of the image for use in this publication. Building a sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body – Issues for consideration An Issues Paper prepared by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, in accordance with section 46C(1)(b) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) EXTRACT Budget 2008-09: Ministerial Statement on Closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs The Policy Challenge The Australian Government's reform agenda — both in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs and across governments — is to address the structural and systemic problems that are producing appalling outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children — Australian children — is at stake. Time is fast running out. This fact is acknowledged by Indigenous elders and leaders, as well as by government… Indigenous Australians must be involved in developing and driving solutions. Actions like the National Apology are working to build the trust needed to work together on getting results. Our 'closing the gap' commitments require effective engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at all levels. Government needs to involve Indigenous people in the design and delivery of programs locally and regionally, and share responsibility for outcomes. Solutions developed on the ground must be driven by the communities that will ultimately determine their success or failure… The Government went to the election with a commitment to set up a national representative body to provide an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice within government. We will soon begin formal discussions with Indigenous people about the role, status and composition of this body. May 2008 1 Note – Use of the terms ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and ‘Indigenous peoples’ The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner recognises the diversity of the cultures, languages, kinship structures and ways of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There is not one cultural model that fits all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples retain distinct cultural identities whether they live in urban, regional or remote areas of Australia. Throughout this issues paper, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are referred to as ‘peoples’. This recognises that Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have a collective, rather than purely individual, dimension to their livelihoods. Throughout this report, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also referred to as ‘Indigenous peoples’. The use of the term ‘Indigenous’ has evolved through international law. It acknowledges a particular relationship of Aboriginal people to the territory from which they originate. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has explained the basis for recognising this relationship as follows: Indigenous or aboriginal peoples are so-called because they were living on their lands before settlers came from elsewhere; they are the descendants – according to one definition – of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived, the new arrivals later becoming dominant through conquest, occupation, settlement or other means… (I)ndigenous peoples have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics which are clearly distinct from those of the other segments of the national populations. Throughout human history, whenever dominant neighbouring peoples have expanded their territories or settlers from far away have acquired new lands by force, the cultures and livelihoods – even the existence – of indigenous peoples have been endangered. The threats to indigenous peoples’ cultures and lands, to their status and other legal rights as distinct groups and as citizens, do not always take the same forms as in previous times. Although some groups have been relatively successful, in most part of the world indigenous peoples are actively seeking recognition of their identities and ways of life.1 The Social Justice Commissioner acknowledges that there are differing usages of the terms ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’, ‘Aboriginal’ and ‘indigenous’ within government policies and documents. When referring to a government document or policy, we have maintained the government’s language to ensure consistency. 1 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Fact sheet No.9 (Rev.1), The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, www.unhchr.ch/html/menu6/2/fs9.htm. 2 © Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Requests and inquiries concerning the reproduction of materials should be directed to the Executive Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW, 2001. Acknowledgements This paper has been prepared in accordance with section 46C(1)(b) and (c) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth). It has been prepared by staff of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (Alison Aggarwal, Tom Calma, Kirsten Cheatham, Marissa Chorn, Darren Dick and Katie Kiss) incorporating research commissioned from the National Centre for Indigenous Studies at the Australian National University (Professor Mick Dodson, Tim Goodwin, Patrick Sullivan, Professor Peter Veth and Jo-Anne Weinman). 3 Contents Introduction......................................................................................7
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