Indigenous

The Ayers Rock Resort land "to be divested to the First Nations communities" and to traditional owners is understood to include all hotels, restaurants, shops and staff accommodation, assets worth several hundred million dollars ... The populations are 269, about 300 and 124, respectively ...

Baaka, our new Cultural and Art Centre, looks wonderful! All of us who've been on guided tours inside it are excited about what it will mean for Paakantji people, the town of Wilcannia and our whole region.

For four days a year, pride in The Centre's art closes "the gap" as people, black and white, from near and far, stream in to Alice Springs for Desert Mob. They celebrate ancient stories kept alive on paper and canvas, on clay vessels or as sculptures made from metal, wire or grasses.

A major milestone in Victoria’s decade-long Treaty process has been achieved with the Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria reaching in-principle agreement on Australia’s first Treaty. The first negotiated Statewide Treaty Agreement brings together First Peoples, through the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, and the Victorian Government, to build a new relationship based on respect, trust and integrity.

Two blokes sit on the porch, each cradling a stubby of beer as the sun goes down, talking about times gone by. John Cousins and Frank Fletcher live close to each other out near Pagans Flat. “We were talking about graves,” John said. Frank is 89 years old and lives at Ewingar. He has been pushing to preserve Peter Pagan’s grave at a property on Pagans Flat Road.

Bendigo Bank closed its last remaining banking service in an Aboriginal community 27 days before celebrating the launch of its Aboriginal Reconciliation Action Plan. The Aurukun agency in far north Queensland was one of 27 to be closed in 2022-2023 under the eye of the bank’s now chief executive Richard Fennell when he was in charge of the consumer banking division.

Alex Nelson. This week marks the 34th anniversary of the official opening of the Commonwealth's Jock Nelson Centre in August 1991. This is the splendid Commonwealth building I suggested ought to be re-purposed as the permanent home of the Museum of Central Australia during my presentation at the Friends of the Strehlow Research Centre Symposium in April 2018.

The Walking the Seasons program provides guided walks led by local First Nations Elders and aims to deepen the understanding of local landscapes ...

In the subtropical rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales, a remarkable fruit has quietly thrived for thousands of years. The Australian native finger lime, with its vibrant “citrus caviar” pearls and tangy flavour, was once known only to Indigenous communities.

In 1983, the local Aboriginal people set up a blockade at Mutawintji. Why: Aboriginal people wanted control over their own heritage. They wanted respect for Aboriginal culture.

Joe, Vince and Chris came to visit from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. They have a project which Joe tells us is "primarily to improve the cultivation of quandongs. So we're looking to traditional knowledge as well as we're trying to. I guess you could say, promote Indigenous people to start growing quandongs again."

Yanco Agricultural High School Year 10 PASS students travelled eight hours north to the small remote town of Goodooga to take part in their annual Indigenous Games. The event embraces the theme of Bridging the Gap – creating connections between city and rural communities, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and the young and the old. It is a day dedicated to celebrating culture and fostering social harmony.

Australian health promotion charity, Gotcha4Life Foundation, has today launched a powerful new podcast series centred on First Nations voices, exploring what truly shapes and sustains mental fitness – in culture, in community, and in individuals. The inaugural series is hosted by award-winning Indigenous businesswoman and Gotcha4Life Board Member Mundanara Bayles and produced in partnership with award-winning Black Magic Woman podcast. 

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation have been as appointed Crown Land managers for parts of Yamba’s Pilot Hill reserve including two heritage listed cottages. Celebrated at a special ceremony at Pilot Hill during NAIDOC week, the appointment marks a significant step forward in supporting the local Aboriginal community’s aspirations for the culturally significant area.

The government has invested $11.7 million to acquire the retired stations, totalling 34,773 hectares ... These three acquisitions nearly double new additions for the 2024-25 financial year to a total of more than 73,000ha. The NSW national parks network now totals almost 7,774,000 ha.

Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation has renewed calls as a matter of urgency for a new government approach to address high lead levels in Aboriginal children in far west New South Wales. The call comes after the Far West Local Health District released the latest report into lead levels in Broken Hill children.

We're proud to announce Marnpi Festival, a significant First Nations-led arts and community festival co-designed by Badger Bates and Slag Heap Projects with Anthony Hayward and Nancy Bates, in partnership with The Old Vic Gallery Studio and Premier Automotive Tyres.

Sarah Herrmann. Narungga young people are learning how to sing in language thanks to a short film included in this year's Nunga Screen program. Created by Narungga and Kaurna filmmaker Jacob Boehme, Wild Dog Dreaming tells the story of a cheeky boy cursed to walk the earth as a gadli (dingo).

Horsham man Ronald Marks, who worked in kindergartens and child playgroups less than an hour from Naracoorte, has been convicted in the Horsham Magistrate’s Court of accessing child abuse material ... A Wergaia elder whose face was painted on a silo as part of the iconic Sheep Hills silo art, Mr Marks, 74, pleaded guilty to seven charges against him on July 2.

Rachel Hagan. A Point Pearce educator is reflecting on her personal journey with education and how the space needs to move forward as we recognise the next generation of young Aboriginal leaders for NAIDOC Week ... "From my own personal experience, I feel like I'm made to fit into someone else's box and be what they think I should or should not be as an Aboriginal woman": Tshara Rigney, Aboriginal Community Education Officer and Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation director.

Frank Baarda. Living in Yuendumu and having followed the Death in Custody saga, I was looking forward to the Coroner's report. I was not disappointed. A friend forwarded me the pdf, all 683 pages of it … In case you missed it, here are photos of the edged weapon and the stab-wound.