Australian Council of National Trusts

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Heritage Policy

Policy

The National Trust acknowledges the special relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with country and sea and recognises prior ownership and continuing associations, including those of the post contact period. 1

The National Trust recognises the customary requirements and sensitivities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their spiritual and cultural beliefs and traditions.

Implementation Strategies

1. The National Trust will encourage the active participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as members, employees, and on National Trust Boards, Councils and Committees.

2. The National Trust will recognise the existence of customary law and the collective rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and will routinely consult with the appropriate Indigenous people and groups in the identification, assessment, conservation and interpretation of heritage places and values, and in heritage advocacy. 2

3. The National Trust will consider culture, cultural landscapes, country (for definition see footnote 1), built heritage and objects of heritage significance consistent with guidelines published in Australia by Indigenous and cultural heritage organisations and in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

4. Cooperative actions and projects will be sought to be undertaken with appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, Land Councils and communities.

5. After full and adequate consultation the Australian Council of National Trusts and individual Trusts will consider supporting broad Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues in relation to heritage, culture and the environment, and within the ambit of Trust competence will be encouraged to make informed public comment on Indigenous issues at all levels of government.

6. The National Trust will aim to educate the wider community about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and about Indigenous perspectives on National Trust properties and other historical and natural places.

1 An explanation of terms follows. Country: Deborah Bird Rose in Nourishing Terrains defines ‘country’ for Aboriginal people as ‘a nourishing terrain ... that gives and receives life’.

Country in Aboriginal English is not only a common noun, it is a proper noun. People ... speak to country,sing to country, visit country, worry about country, feel sorry for country, and long for country ... country knows, hears, smells, takes notice, takes care, is sorry or happy ... Because of this richness, country is

home, and peace; nourishment for body; mind and spirit; heart’s ease.

Quoted by Ken Taylor, in ‘An Aboriginal Australia Felix: country, landscape and belonging’, Heritage in Trust, National Trust of Australia (ACT), Summer 1998, p 18.

Sea: The Torres Strait Islanders are a seafaring people with their social and cultural life based on the sea.

Consider (point 3): the National Trust will recognise in a practical way …

Educate (point 6): when appropriate, National Trust activities will aim to help increase public understanding and appreciation of Australia’s Indigenous heritage and, in particular, promote the importance of conserving and interpreting this heritage.

2 These should include bodies such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, Torres Strait Regional Authority, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and Land Councils.