Aboriginal self-determination and autonomy

Self-determination is a term used to describe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people take matters into their own hands.

Many Australian governments have been quick to determine what's 'best' for Aboriginal people failing to consult them in the process. But "initiatives developed on the ground, by the people for the people, have a far greater likelihood of working. It's a model for self-determination," says Linda Burney, NSW Community Services Minister and Wiradjuri woman [4].

"We've settled our governance arrangements by ourselves; it's been many years of work by people who have been prepared to put their differences aside and work together on shared goals. The fact that we've taken ownership of the problem is 50 per cent of the solution," adds Sam Jeffries, head of the Murdi Paaki community leader group [4].

We are the people we've been waiting for. —Mary Victor O'Reeri, Aboriginal community of Billard, Western Australia [5]

Aboriginal self-determination requires to Aboriginal people to drop their perceived roles of 'victims' and 'powerless' people and get together to take matters into their own hands. "It's about how we've neglected each other and made up excuses," says Mary Victor O'Reeri from the Western Australian community of Billard [5].

Self-determination in tourism

A high number of tourists to Australia want to interact with Aboriginal people and learn about their culture. This seems to match with what Aboriginal people want—the tourist industry is what they felt was compatible with their cultural, economic and social goals [2].

Tourism is a good way to [pass on cultural knowledge] and it helps to build pride in our young people and helps them to have confidence when talking with whitefellas. —Dillon Andrews, Bungoolee Aboriginal Tours, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia [2]

Aboriginal representative bodies

Aboriginal self-determination is strongly linked to a representative body. Contrary to New Zealand's Indigenous Maori people who have a strong history of unity which helped them face their invaders as one, Aboriginal people of Australia have always been fragmented and acted more locally not the least because of the multitude of languages.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)

In 1990 the Australian government established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). The government body formally involved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the processes of government affecting their lives.

In the early 2000s the ATSIC became more and more embroiled in controversy over its finances, powers and the activities of its last chair. One problem of the commission was that it had to provide some services and it was often blamed for poor delivery, even if the commission wasn't responsible for everything it was blamed for. In March 2005 the Howard government succeeded in abolishing the ATSIC.

National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (NCAFP)

Nearly five years after the abolition of the ATSIC the Australian government announced that it would support a new national representative body for Aboriginal Australians.

The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples emerged from a series of Aboriginal community meetings throughout the country, peak body talks, a national forum and written submissions [6].

The NCAFP will

• be established as a company to be independent of the government,
• have a National Executive elected by an annual congress with representatives from key Indigenous organisations, individuals and community representatives;
• have equal representation of men and women,
• feature an Ethics Council to oversee its integrity and ethics of office holders.

Successful Aboriginal businesses

Imparja Television

Imparja Television is an Aboriginal-owned broadcasting station in Alice Springs, NT, operating since June 1988. Its services include National Indigenous Television (NITV) which was launched in mid-2007, and eight Aboriginal radio stations [3].

Nine Imparja has the largest broadcast area in Australia, covering 3.6 million square kilometres across six states and territories with an estimated audience of 430,000 people. It comes free-to-air and competes with the national market for advertising revenue.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)

Indigenous Business Australia is a government agency which

• assists and enhances Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-management and economic self-sufficiency and
• advances the commercial and economic interests of Indigenous people by accumulating and using capital assets.

One of the tasks of IBA is to help Aboriginal people achieve home ownership. In 2001 Indigenous home ownership was at 32% while the national non-Indigenous average was 68% [1]. IBA wants to raise this rate to 40%. In 2008 its customers come from NSW (29%), QLD (27%), NT (16%), VIC (10%) and WA (8%).

Indigenous Business Australia

Australia's first Aboriginal business book

Check out Neil Willmett's book How to Start a Successful Aboriginal Business in Australia which is Australia's first Aboriginal business book. A guide for every Aboriginal small business starter and owner.

[1] 'Homing in on an untold story', NIT 10/7/2008 p.24 [2] 'Tourism on the agenda', Koori Mail 429 p.37 [3] 'Imparja's new Alice studios officially open', Koori Mail 427 p.50 [4] 'West has some of our very best', Koori Mail 448 p.42 [5] 'A call to action', Koori Mail 458 p.6 [6] 'Govt to fund First People's Congress', Koori Mail 465 p.4