Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Update February 1993" [1993] AboriginalLawB 1; (1993) 2(60) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2

• Update February 1993
• Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Unit
• What Will The Commissioner Do?
• State Of The Nation Report
• Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Unit
• How Will This Affect You?
• "Aboriginal Peoples, Federalism, And Self-Determination" Conference
• Commission On Folk Law And Legal Pluralism
• Second World Indigenous Youth Conference
• "1993 National Social Policy Conference": Call For Papers

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Update
February 1993

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Unit

The Federal Government has appointed Mr Michael Dodson as the first Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner to act as an independent watchdog on Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander (ATSI) affairs. According to the Attorney-General, Michael Duffy:

"Mr Dodson, one of Australia's most respected Aboriginal leaders, will bring to the position a very broad range of experience in championing the cause of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

The new Commissioner will be a member of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).

What will the Commissioner do?

• produce an annual State of the Nation Report
• consult with ATSI peoples to identify and report on issues of concern
• work closely with ATSIC in following up the recommendations of the RCIADIC
• co-operate with other members of HREOC and be a contact for ATSI issues within HREOC

State of the Nation Report

The annual State of the Nation Report will be tabled in Federal Parliament and will assess the effect of programs relevant to the situation of ATSI peoples in Australia and present their aspirations. The first report will look at areas such as employment, health, housing, education and criminal justice.

This means that the public will know what progress is being made by governments at all levels in implementing the recommendations of the RCIADIC and in dealing with the disadvantage and discrimination facing ATSI peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Unit

This Unit is established within HREOC to help the Commissioner produce the State of

the Nation Report. Staff will:

• develop networks with ATSI organisations and communities regarding the co-operation and input to the State of the Nation Report
• work closely with ATSIC which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the RCIADIC's recommendations
• provide information on the role-and functions of the Commissioner

How will this affect you?

ATSI organisations and communities will be able to have input into the State of the Nation Report. The Commissioner will be seeking information on major issues of concern and on the most appropriate sources of information and ways of collecting material for the report.

The report will focus national and international attention on ATSI issues. This is an important part of maintaining pressure on governments at all levels to provide adequate and appropriate programs and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For information contact:

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission,
PO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW, 2001.
Ph: [phone].

"Aboriginal Peoples, Federalism, and Self- Determination" Conference

An important conference jointly sponsored by the Federalism Research Centre, Australian National University and Ngaanyatjarra Agency and Transport Service, Alice Springs, in celebration of the International Year for the World's Indigenous Peoples will be held in Townsville from August 29 - 31, 1993. Papers will cover such issues as: Black and White perspectives on Australian history; the role of state and territory governments and indigenous rights; the Australian Constitution and provisions for sovereignty, self-determination and self-government for Aborigines; State and Territory institutions in Northern Australia; self-government and self-determination and questions of municipal or state power; sovereignty and state legislatures - coping with Aboriginal Customary Law and European Law; and Indigenous People and treaties in Canada. Speakers include; Lois O'Donoghue, Professor Garth Nettheim, Pat Dodson, Professor Henry Reynolds, Michael Mansell, Fr. Frank Brennan, Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton and Mick Dodson.

Further information is available from the conference coordinator.

Dr Christine Fletcher,
Federalism Research Centre,
Coombs Bldg., PO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601.
Ph: [phone]; fax (o6) 257 1893; telex: AA62694 SOPAC;
Email: [e-mail].

Commission on Folk Law and Legal Pluralism

The Commission will meet at the XIII World Congress of The International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences in Mexico, 29 July-5 August 1993. Those wishing to attend and/or to propose papers for presentation should contact:

Dr F. Strijbosch,
Institute of Folk Law, Catholic University,
Thomas van Aquinostraat 6, postbus 9049, 6500 KK Nijmegen,
The Netherlands.
Tel: 080 - 512 086; Fax: [phone].

Second World Indigenous Youth Conference

"Now we shall not rest until we have regained out rightful place. We shall tell our young people what we know. We shall send then to the corners of the earth to learn more. They shall lead us."

That's part of a declaration by five Cherokee Indian nations, of Americas mid-west. It's a sentiment that's going to come to the fore during the Second World Indigenous Youth Conference, one of the highlights of the International Year for the World's Indigenous People.

The conference is to be held in Darwin, at the Mariara Stadium, from 5-11 July, 1993. The gathering is expected to attract more than 2000 Youth and Elders from Australia and the world's Indigenous Peoples. It follows a-highly successful gathering organized last July by the Cree Nation Youth Council in Quebec City, Canada, where delegates voiced their optimism at entering a new era of peace, harmony and understanding among the world's first nations.

The theme of the gathering in Darwin is: Claiming our future: the reality of where we are, and where we're going. Themain conference topics - such as culture, education, environment and development, women in society and indigenous peoples rights - will be discussed with this theme firmly in mind.

One off the findings of the inaugural conference was that it is time for youth to prepare themselves for the struggles to come, and to let them know they too can have input into the decisions that will ultimately affect their futures, and those of coming generations. Youth need to know there is unity among the world's first peoples. These issues must be discussed, however, with respect for our elders and the wisdom and guidance they bring.

If you would like to know more, or would like to register to attend, please contact the Second World Youth Conference Organizing Committee at:

P.O. Box 40133, Casuarina, NT 0811.
Ph: [phone]; fax: [phone].

"1993 National Social Policy Conference": Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS for the National Social Policy Conference, University of New South Wales, 14-16 July 1993. The Conference theme is Theory and Practice in Australian Social Policy / Rethinking the Fundamentals. There will be five main areas: social policy and the economy; ideas, ideology and the welfare state; family, community and the state in social care; inequality; and work and welfare.

Those wishing to offer a paper for consideration by the Social Policy Research Unit are invited to send an abstract of 200 words indicating one of the five areas to which the paper is most closely related. There is also an open section for papers covering other social policy subjects. Papers are also invited on social policies as they affect Aboriginal and Tones Strait Islander people. The closing date for submissions is 31 March 1993. Send abstract to:

1993 Social Policy Conference Papers,
Social Policy Research Unit,
Box 1, Kensington, NSW, 2033.