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key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lIndigenous people working on country to be recognised28 May 2007 - HREOC Media Release - A new national program creating environmental jobs for Indigenous people is a welcome move by the federal Government, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today. “The Working on Country Program will pay Aboriginal people who have been protecting and managing their lands and seas for generations without any formal or financial recognition,” Commissioner Calma said. “While non-Indigenous rangers and land managers have been formally employed to care for country, Indigenous people have been doing this for their lifetimes, often assisting those employed to do the work, without being paid.” Commissioner Calma said consultations he had had with traditional owners and their representatives earlier this year found that the importance of caring for land, living on land, and the recognition of ownership of land and seas, had priority above all other purposes and activities. “This government announcement of $47 million over four years is long overdue recognition - at last Indigenous people are being financially compensated for their efforts.” He said that up until now program funding was available for land management, but it was often the case that employment was offered to non-Indigenous people who held relevant education qualifications to fulfil the positions. “The importance of traditional knowledge in land management practices, such as fire and water management is being recognised and valued through this Working on Country program,”Mr Calma said. “Programs such as this encourage the retention of the distinctive nature of Aboriginal ownership and use of land, and support the right of self-determination through innovative options for economic development that build on -or are consistent with -cultural practices. He said the program supported Indigenous people in their efforts to meet their aspirations for their lands and seas and also helped to build an Indigenous workforce while also helping the Government to meet its environmental conservation and protection responsibilities. Indigenous Australians live nearly 20 years less than the rest of us.A gap of 20 years is plainly unacceptable. Nor should we accept that Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders end up in hospitals at twice the rate of other Australians. Source: HREOC
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its one year on from the Australian Governments controversial intervention into NT Indigenous communities
action Roll back, listen to Indigenous community voices speaking about the intervention |
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