23 June 2009
DARWIN - The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management
Alliance (NAILSMA) believes current approaches used to engage with
Indigenous people over matters such as the management of water
resources, natural resources, world heritage listing, research,
innovation, and development in general must urgently change if they
are not to profoundly set-back the advancement of Indigenous
people.
“Despite the Australian Government’s recent apology
and support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, there are widening gaps that are stopping
Indigenous Australians from being part of building, managing and
protecting the north for all Australians,” said Chair of the
Alliance Mr Richie Ah Mat.
“Initiatives pertaining to the management, use and
development of the Indigenous estate across the north must have
free, prior and informed consent as their basis if they are to be
successfully adopted by communities.
“Failure to take such a respectful approach will rob
Indigenous people of their place and their contribution to nation
building,” he said.
Mr Ah Mat believes there has been a lack of engagement with
Indigenous people on many important issues in the north that must
be addressed urgently.
“We hear constantly about the failed state of remote
Indigenous communities. NAILSMA wants to contribute positively to
development in the north with all stakeholders.
“We simply do not want a situation in the north, where the
aspirations and rights of Indigenous people to develop and manage
their lands continue to be ignored.
“We must come together and plan strategically, but we must
empower our communities first and foremost,” he said.
CEO of the Alliance, Mr Joe Morrison believes the relationship
between Indigenous communities and other stakeholders must be reset
as a priority.
“It’s simply unacceptable that in 2009, Indigenous
people remain responsive to an insurmountable number of policy
failures that do not recognise and respect the rights of Indigenous
people in the development of north Australia.”
NAILSMA is calling on the Australian Government to support peak
Indigenous organisations across northern Australia, so they can be
properly engaged in decisions about what happens on their
country.
“The Australian Government must support strategic
engagement of Indigenous people and other stakeholders across north
Australia,” said Mr Morrison.
“It is critical that a strategic partnership be formed
with the Australian Government, State Governments, business
community, conservation groups and other sectors to ensure that the
north’s future is built respectfully from a vibrant, well
informed and resourced Indigenous community.
“We need to move away from disconnected, adhoc and
short-term approaches that are removed from the everyday aspects of
Indigenous people’s lives. And most importantly, we must move
away from being the last to be considered in important development
matters to being the first” he said.
“NAILSMA understands the challenges Indigenous people face
with respect to these matters,” said Mr Morrison. “The
alliance is firmly placing itself in a situation to deliver on
reshaping the north under the guidance of Australia’s first
peoples.
“We are calling on relevant governments, NGO’s and
the Business community to work with us to ensure that our
children’s place in nation building is equal to all others in
northern Australia,” said Mr Morrison.
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NAILSMA Alliance: Kimberley Land Council Northern Land
Council Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation Balkanu
Cape York Development Corporation
