Record number of speakers gather for native title discussions

 

27 April 2012

Australia’s largest Indigenous policy conference – the annual Native Title Conference - has this year attracted a record 60 speakers addressing a wide-range of native title related topics under the overall theme Echoes of Mabo: Honour and Determination.

The conference, in Townsville from June 4 to 6 - coincides with major celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) decision, more commonly known as the Mabo decision.

Co-convened by the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the North Queensland Land Council (NQLC), the conference is expected to attract around 600-700 delegates from all parts of Australia.

The diverse range of speakers includes representatives from native title representative bodies and service providers across the country including the Central Desert Native Title Services, the Central Land Council, the Torres Strait Regional Authority, the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, the North Queensland Land Council,  Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, the Bardi and Jawi Niimidiman Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, NTSCorp and Waardi Limited & Nyimarr Limited.

Other keynote speakers include the Attorney General for Australia, the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, Mick Gooda (Social Justice Commissioner), Professor Mick Dodson AM (Chairperson AIATSIS), Professor Marcia Langton (Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies University of Melbourne), Helen Bowskill (Bar Association of Queensland), Jeremy Dore (Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency) and Graham Fletcher (National Native Title Tribunal).

AIATSIS Principal, Russell Taylor, said the conference was a must for anyone concerned with native title issues in Australia.

“The Conference is an opportunity for people to come together and engage in debate, including native title holders and claimants, traditional owners, native title representative bodies and service agencies, the Federal Court, National Native Title

Tribunal, Commonwealth and State government agencies, academics, consultants and industry representatives.”

AIATSIS prides itself on ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly represented in the Conference program and that has been reflected with the diverse range of speakers confirmed to participate.”

The Conference program consists of one day of closed workshops for Indigenous people and their native title representative bodies and service providers followed by two days of a public program which may include Indigenous Talking Circles, Women’s Forums, Workshops, Panel Discussions as well as the delivery of Conference papers.

“The major sub - themes will be Recognition, Reform and Revolution, Leadership and Legacies, Families and Youth and Culture and Country,” Mr Taylor added.

Townsville was specifically chosen as this year’s conference host city to follow on from celebrations organised by the Townsville community on Sunday, June 3 marking the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision.