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Native Title Report 2006: Acknowledgements and Note

Native Title Report 2006

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    • Acknowledgements and Note

     

    Acknowledgments

    The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner acknowledges the work of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission staff (Fabienne Balsamo, Katie Kiss, Hamish McLeod, Jemma Hollands, Dianne Biaggini, Anna Dawson, Christina Kenny, Julia Mansour, Kirsty Champion and Darren Dick).

    Artist Acknowledgement

    cover picture

    The cover photograph is courtesy of the Argyle Diamond Mine. Michael Ramsay Jnr, son of Lena Carey and Michael Ramsay, lives in Bow River. He is cared for by his paternal grandmother Mona Ramsay, a Traditional Owner of the land occupied by the Argyle Diamond Mine.

    About the Social Justice Commission logo

    Social Justice Commissioner logo

    The right section of the design is a contemporary view of traditional Dari
    or head-dress, a symbol of the Torres Strait Island people and culture. The
    head-dress suggests the visionary aspect of the Aboriginal and Torres
    Strait Islander Social Justice Commission. The dots placed in the Dari
    represent a brighter outlook for the future provided by the Commission’s
    visions, black representing people, green representing islands and blue
    representing the seas surrounding the islands. The Goanna is a general
    symbol of the Aboriginal people.

    The combination of these two symbols represents the coming together
    of two distinct cultures through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
    Commission and the support, strength and unity which it can provide
    through the pursuit of Social Justice and Human Rights. It also represents
    an outlook for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social
    Justice expressing the hope and expectation that one day we will be
    treated with full respect and understanding.
    © Leigh Harris

    Note - Use of the terms ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and ‘Indigenous peoples’

    The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner recognises
    the diversity of the cultures, languages, kinship structures and ways of life of
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There is not one cultural model that
    fits all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples retain distinct cultural identities
    whether they live in urban, regional or remote areas of Australia.

    Throughout this report, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are referred to
    as ‘peoples’. This recognises that Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders have a
    collective, rather than purely individual, dimension to their livelihoods.

    Throughout this report, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also
    referred to as ‘Indigenous peoples’.

    The use of the term ‘Indigenous’ has evolved through international law. It
    acknowledges a particular relationship of Aboriginal people to the territory from
    which they originate. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
    has explained the basis for recognising this relationship as follows:

    Indigenous or aboriginal peoples are so-called because they were living on their
    lands before settlers came from elsewhere; they are the descendants - according
    to one definition - of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region
    at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived, the new
    arrivals later becoming dominant through conquest, occupation, settlement or
    other means… (I)ndigenous peoples have retained social, cultural, economic and

    political characteristics which are clearly distinct from those of the other segments
    of the national populations.

    Throughout human history, whenever dominant neighbouring peoples have
    expanded their territories or settlers from far away have acquired new lands by
    force, the cultures and livelihoods - even the existence - of indigenous peoples
    have been endangered. The threats to indigenous peoples’ cultures and lands, to
    their status and other legal rights as distinct groups and as citizens, do not always
    take the same forms as in previous times. Although some groups have been
    relatively successful, in most part of the world indigenous peoples are actively

    seeking recognition of their identities and ways of life.1

    The Social Justice Commissioner acknowledges that there are differing usages of
    the terms ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’, ‘Aboriginal’ and ‘indigenous’ within
    government policies and documents. When referring to a government document
    or policy, we have maintained the government’s language to ensure consistency.

    [1] United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Fact sheet No.9 (Rev.1), The Rights
    of Indigenous Peoples, www.unhchr.ch/html/menu6/2/fs9.htm