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Theme: Perspectives on urban life: connections and reconnections

The 2009 National Indigenous Studies Conference will consider a range of questions facing Indigenous people living in urban and semi-urban / regional areas.  

The Conference provides an opportunity for a diverse range of people to discuss issues of relevance for today’s urban Indigenous population, including community members and organizations, Traditional Owners, policy makers, service and industry providers, government agencies, consultants, academics and researchers.

The Conference will address pertinent topics such as: governance; culture; citizenship; service provision and Government action and will critically examine and evaluate the numerous factors that have led to Indigenous people living in urban areas today. It will bring together broad experience and multi-disciplinary research to inform future policy directions in several inter-related streams, which include:

• People, history, movement. While many groups of Indigenous urban people have witnessed cities and rural towns grow up around them through the course of generations, many have migrated to urban areas. This stream will consider topics such as: who is ‘urban’?; urban identity; history of urbanization; demographic mobility; and the socio-economic needs that are affected by each of these elements.
• The 'Urban'/'Outback' divide. Realities, perceptions and implications; connections and reconnections; the Indigenous diaspora.
• Law and justice. Interactions with the police and justice systems, including alternative sentencing systems; access to justice, understanding of language and rights; prisoner rehabilitation; discrimination; land rights; and rights as consumers.
• Education, economy and employment. Engagement between urban Indigenous groups and multiple sectors: processes, partnerships and outcomes; challenges in the urban environment to employment and effective schooling; concepts of work; opportunities for economic development; capacity building.
• Culture. Maintaining customary knowledge, identity and language; new ways of connecting to cultural heritage housed in urban centres; return of materials to communities and retention of traditions.
• Sport and festivals. The history and impact of Indigenous sporting festivals and cultural programs; activities which support young people, increase opportunity and combat factors which may place youth at risk.
• Youth, health and housing. Health issues; issues of particular relevance to youth in the urban environment; availability and suitability of housing provision; service and industry providers in urban areas.