Aboriginal Way Issue 48, Mar 2012 A publication of South Australian Native Title Services Spirit Festival takes centre stage Tandanya, the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute has hosted another successful Spirit Festival. Thousands of people attended, immersing themselves in Aboriginal and Islander culture. Left is Panjiti Lewis from Ernabella. For more photos from the Spirit Festival turn to pages 8 and 9. Photo supplied by Tandanya andRaymond Zada.Photosupplied Tandanya by Judges and magistrates have The Ripple Effect Supreme Court Judges and with assistance from Courts Administration Magistrates from Adelaide have Authority Aboriginal Programmes Manager taken steps to break down the Ms Sarah Alpers and Senior Aboriginal cultural barriers between Aboriginal Justice Officer Mr Paul Tanner. people and the legal system by The visit promoted cross-cultural spending time on the Anangu awareness between the judiciary and Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Aboriginal communities, and to improve Not only did 17 judges and magistrates understanding between the cultures spend five days and nights on the lands about law and justice matters. visiting communities but a DVD has been Justice Sulan said the trip was also in made of the trip so that others can learn keeping with Recommendation 96 of the from the experience. 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal The DVD is called The Ripple Effect and it Deaths in Custody. explains how decisions made by judges “…that recommendation calls on Australian and magistrates affect entire communities judiciary to make itself aware of Aboriginal hundreds of kilometres away. culture and practices through cultural The DVD was launched at a ceremony in the awareness programs and informal Above: Caption. Sir Samuel Way Building on 21 February. discussion with Aboriginal community and shows commentary and observations The video will be used primarily for members,” said Justice Sulan. The visit to the APY Lands was led by judges and magistrates before, during judicial development, and for cross- by Supreme Court judge and Chair of The video was produced by the Courts and after the trip, as well as observations cultural training within the courts. the South Australian Judicial Cultural Administration Authority in conjunction by Aboriginal people hosting and See page 7 inside for photos from Awareness Committee, Justice John Sulan, with PY Media (based on the APY Lands) participating in the meetings. the DVD launch. Inside: Gawler Ranges Aboriginal community receive native title 6–7 Power Cup to star in AFL Indigenous Round 15 4th anniversary of the National Apology 17 Native title South Australian native campaigner ends title claims update 17-year career Adnyamathanha Nukunu Flinders Ranges. Part settled through Spencer Gulf Region approved determination (March 2009) Not in mediation. Balance of claim in mediation: Federal Court/National Native Title Tribunal. Ramindjeri Southern Fleurieu Peninsula Adnyamathanha 3 and Kangaroo Island. In mediation: Flinders Ranges (application in relation National Native Title Tribunal. to s. 47A and s. 47B of the NTA) In mediation: Federal Court Tjayiwara/Unmuru Adnyamathanha 4 Far northwest SA and adjacent East of Port Augusta extending to APY Lands. In mediation: beyond Quorn and Wilmington National Native Title Tribunal. Not in mediation. Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi Barngarla Simpson Desert Region and Eyre Peninsula. Not in mediation. extending into QLD. Part settled in De Rose Hill-Ilpalka Aboriginal SA through approved determinations Corporation Compensation Claim (September 2008, December 2011) Far northwest SA and adjacent to In mediation: Federal Court/ APY Lands. In mediation. National Native Title Tribunal. Dieri 2 Wilyakali Eastern SA north of Lake Frome East of Flinders Ranges near NSW After 17 years of campaigning for Native Title Management Committees. In mediation: Federal Court. border. Not in mediation. native title rights in South Australia, The Congress brought native title claim Far West Coast Parry Agius, has resigned as Chief groups together, uniting them to become Wirangu 2 Far West Coast SA Executive Officer of South Australian one voice, so that they could form a Eyre Peninsula and West Coast In mediation: Federal Court. Native Title Services. powerful lobby group. In mediation: National Native Mr Agius left the position in January. He also became editor of this paper, Kaurna Title Tribunal. He is planning to pursue some personal – the only Aboriginal Fleurieu Peninsula north to Aboriginal Way Yandruwandha/Yawarrawarrka interests and some private consultancies. community newspaper in South Australia. Port Broughton. In mediation: National Native Title Tribunal. Innamincka area. Not in mediation. Mr Agius was instrumental in changing Mr Agius received the Prime Minister’s the way non-Aboriginal people in South Centenary Award in 2000. Kokatha Uwankara Australia viewed native title. He was also Lake Torrens Region A Churchill Fellowship was awarded to Pending determinations instrumental in establishing a public Not in mediation. Mr Agius in 2005. He used the relations and media campaign aimed at Arabunna scholarship to travel overseas to learn Nauo informing South Australians of the truth Central SA including Lake Eyre how other indigenous cultures had Eyre Peninsula. Not in mediation. about native title. Claim to be settled through approved tackled land rights and ownership. He Ngadjuri Nation determination 22 May 2012. Initially native title rights and any brought that knowledge home to Australia Southern Flinders Ranges negotiations about those rights were and imparted it to native title groups and In mediation: Federal Court/ Dieri taken up by Aboriginal Legal Rights the Federal and State Governments. National Native Title Tribunal. Central SA east of Lake Eyre Movement, where Mr Agius helped Over many years he has sat on many Claim to be settled through approved establish the Native Title Unit in the Ngadjuri Nation 2 committees including the South determination 1 May 2012. mid-1990s. Northeast of the Fleurieu Australian Aboriginal Advisory Committee Not in mediaion. Mr Agius and native title staff promoted (as Chair) and the Aboriginal Enterprises Information provided by the National the rights and interests of Aboriginal in Mining Exploration and Energy Ngarrindjeri Native Title Tribunal – visit www.nntt.gov.au for more about native title. people and established the statewide Limited (AEMEE). He is also currently a River Murray, Lakes and negotiation process, with the South member of the Infrastructure Australia Coorong Region. In mediation: For information on claim activity (other than Australian Government and other mediation) contact South Australian Native Reference Group, a national body set National Native Title Tribunal. Title Services. peak bodies. up by the Federal Minister to develop Those negotiations promoted a national strategic policy framework relationships between Aboriginal and and funding model for infrastructure non-Aboriginal people and cross-cultural planning and development in remote education and understanding, moving all indigenous communities. ALRM parties away from an adversarial process Among his many career highlights is to one where they could jointly identify the establishment of the Aboriginal appoints ways in which native title could co-exist Foundation of South Australia in 2007; with other land interests. an organisation that assists native new Chief Mr Agius promoted not just native title, title groups to realise their native title but all Aboriginal rights and causes. agreements into commercial and Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement sustainable projects. has appointed Cheryl Axleby as is In 2008, Mr Agius oversaw the new chief executive officer. creation of South Australian Native Parry Agius – his name is synonymous Title Services after it was recognised with native title in South Australia. He will Ms Axleby is an Aboriginal woman with an as the Native Title service provider be missed by all who have worked with extensive background in Aboriginal and by the Federal Government. him over the last 17 years. Torrest Strait Islander community affairs. He was one of the key people involved A recruitment process is underway to She replaces Neil Gillespie who left the in the establishment of the Congress of find a replacement. organisation late last year. 2 Aboriginal Way, March 2012 Eringa and Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi achieve Consent Determination Native title rights for two Aboriginal land use agreement (ILUA) with pastoral groups have been welcomed with lease holder in the area regarding the the seventh determination in South co-existence of native title and pastoral Australia and the sixth by consent. lease activities. At a Federal Court hearing on 13 December The Eringa native title holders are in at Bloods Creek, near Mt Dare in the far the process of establishing a PBC north of South Australia, Chief Justice Pat (prescribed body corporate) called Walka Keane made two consent determinations Wani Aboriginal Corporation to deal with over claims from the Eringa and the all native title business in the future. Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi claim groups, Ms Ah Chee said it may be a struggle at to recognise their non-exclusive native first, it is about getting the community title rights and interests in an area of involved. approximately 20,000 square kilometres. “As a community we will want to get Native title holder Marilyn Ah Chee people involved and not just because celebrated the determination by they can read