Dear all
ANTaR ACT and ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) will be presenting a special Reconciliation week seminar entitled:
RIGHTS AND RECOGNITION: From Native Title to the Constitution (see poster below)
Guest speakers: Mick Dodson and Masepah Banu
In 1992 the High Court ruled in favour of Eddie Mabo and his co-claimants to recognise that the Meriam people were entitled to ‘possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of the lands of the Murray Islands.’ This judgement overturned the myth of ‘terra nullius’ and led to the Keating Government enacting the 1993 Native Title Act. There was a great deal of landholder scaremongering at the time and subsequently the Howard Government watered the Act down. Nevertheless, this Act enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to claim their rights and interests in land which is not held under freehold title. Whilst processes have been slow, Native Title is starting to deliver real benefits for Aboriginal people. Native title rights are leading to multi-million dollar negotiated agreements, demonstrating that the ‘rights agenda’ can deliver real change on the ground for Aboriginal people. In this seminar the speakers will discuss how Native Title is changing lives in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They will also consider the next step in the ‘rights agenda’, the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution.
When: Monday 28 May 7.15 – 9.30 pm
Where: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre (2nd Floor, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra)
All welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Please rsvp at lisa@actcoss.org.au by 24 May (I apologise for the late notice).
With warm regards
Annick Thomassin
ANTaR ACT
