Aboriginal Partnerships
Keeping country healthy and culture strong
Aboriginal people have lived in South Australia for at least 44,000 years. Many of South Australia's national parks contain sites of significance for Aboriginal communities. These sites include rock engravings and artwork as well as archaeological material - examples can be found in nearly all our mainland parks from the Far North to the South East - from Witjira National Park to Canunda National Park.
For Aboriginal people, land and waters have many interconnected and complex meanings and values and are central to all aspects of people's lives. Ancestral Stories is the term used to describe the combination of these aspects of life, mythology, law and history. An area of land or water that an Aboriginal person has traditional association with is commonly referred to as 'Country'.
'Country' has many meanings and is integral to the Ancestral Stories. Parks are significant places for Aboriginal people and many areas in parks have Ancestral Stories associated with them.
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Pukutja (Ernabella), Pitjantjatjara Lands |
We recognise that Ancestral Stories belong to Aboriginal people and must be respected.
Aboriginal culture in SA is rich and diverse. It consists of people from the Cooper Creek, Lake Eyre basin and the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara Lands, supporting and representing a number of language groups, including the Arabunna, Dieri, Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara - a living culture which remains active today. The Nullarbor region has archaeological evidence of Aboriginal occupation and artwork, which is culturally significant to the Yalata, Maralinga - Tjarutja, Mirning and Wirangu Communities. The coastal and Murray River regions also support a number of Aboriginal communities. Remnants of the mysterious Karta of Kangaroo Island can be discovered at Murray Lagoon - this culture is now extinct. However the Ancestral stories connected with mainland Aboriginal people, including the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri, remain intact.
All Aboriginal sites in South Australia's national parks are protected by law.
Aboriginal Heritage
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Aboriginal artefacts, Witjira National Park |
Cultural awareness: Respect for traditional and contemporary Indigenous culture to develop partnerships between Indigenous people and parks and wildlife managers.
Aboriginal Heritage sites within parks are managed by us in consultation with the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division (AARD) of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Traditional Owners, Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal Heritage Committees.
Site management includes fencing to exclude feral animals and to protect sites and revegetation programs. Interpretive signs are provided, where appropriate, to educate visitors about the significance of Aboriginal culture. We are keen to extend interpretive programs to include cultural experiences for visitors with Aboriginal Rangers.
Indigenous Land Use Agreements
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Gammon Ranges, South Australia |
An Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) is a binding agreement under the Native Title Act between Native Title claimants and others who have a legal interest in the subject land. An ILUA covering a park will usually address activities associated with ongoing management of the park.
Native Title is the term used to describe the rights and interests of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders that arise from the traditional laws and customs relating to land and water.
Native Title is recognised by the common law of Australia. Title rights depend on Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders maintaining a connection with specific areas of land or water.
Native Title may be extinguished by the grant of certain tenures (including freehold title) or modified or suppressed by inconsistent statutory rights and interests over land or waters, but may co-exist with other statutory rights or interests. The declaration of parks under South Australian law does not alter existing Native Title rights.
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Traditional Elders and Aboriginal Ranger |
The Native Title Act 1993 attempts to define how certain activities - including managing reserves - can be lawfully carried out where they may affect Native Title.
These provisions are in addition to any other legal requirements that might apply. We are working with claimants to address Native Title through the ILUA framework. Further information on Native Title and ILUAs can be found at the National Native Title Tribunal Website.
Cooperative Parks & Wildlife Management
Indigenous knowledge and skills: Recognising and integrating indigenous knowledge and skills with park and wildlife management to conserve biodiversity and indigenous cultural heritage.
Provisions exist within the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to accommodate the involvement of Aboriginal prople in the management of National and Conservation Parks.
This cooperative park and wildlife management framework is now referred to as 'cooperative management' and the concept is reflected in the slogan keeping country healthy and culture strong.
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Goat mustering, Gammon Ranges 1979 |
We will continue to enter into appropriate arrangements for cooperative management with Traditional Owners and us.
There are many other opportunities for the development of cooperative management arrangements which are being actively explored by us in consultation with local communities.
Aboriginal Partnerships
Indigenous training and employment: Creating opportunities through partnerships with communities and organisations to provide training and employment in parks and wildlife management.
The Aboriginal Partnerships Section (APS) was created to coordinate the development and implementation of parks and wildlife programs with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal communities and representative organisations.
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Representatives discussing new |
The focus for these programs is reconciliation (respect, recognition and cultural awareness), resolution of Native Title (ILUA), training, employment and enterprise development, Aboriginal heritage and cooperative management of parks and wildlife.
The key functions for the Aboriginal Partnerships Section are as follows:
- The development of policy and strategic directions.
- Assistance with resolving Native Title issues related through negotiations of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) and other arrangements.
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To assist and promote reconciliation through the development of cultural awareness within the Department.
In partnership
(Fraser Vickery and Frank Young)
Amata 2000 (Photo:Tina Bain) - Facilitate the development of cooperative parks and wildlife management arrangements between DEH and Traditional Owners and local communities.
- To support regional management and communities with ongoing consultation and liaison and advocacy for indigenous communities.
- Develop training and employment opportunities for indigenous people within our Department.
- Support enterprise development and ventures that include the employment of indigenous people - particularly in cultural and ecotourism.
- Develop policies and practices to facilitate protection of Aboriginal heritage and sites of cultural significance.
- Provide assistance in management planning.
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