Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Update: Dhungatti Agreement on Native Title; Stolen Children Inquiry; Conference on Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; Tjandumurra O'Shane" [1996] AboriginalLawB 67; (1996) 3(85) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2

• Update
• Dhungatti Agreement On Native Title
• Stolen Children Inquiry
• Conference On Royal Commission On Aboriginal Peoples
• Tjandumurra O'shane

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Update

Dhungatti Agreement on Native Title

History is made with the settlement of a negotiated agreement between the Dhungatti people and the New South Wales State Government concerning Dhungatti native title. This is the first time that native title has been recognised on the Australian mainland by any government, under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

The Dhungatti people, who are located near Crescent Head on the NSW north coast, will receive compensation for the use of some of their land by a housing development project.

Stolen Children Inquiry

Wide debate has broken out in the community and media since the Federal Government foreshadowed that, no matter what the results of the Stolen Children inquiry are, it will not be paying compensation to the thousands of Indigenous people who have been forcibly separated from their parents and families as the result of Australia's assimilation policies of previous decades.

The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families is expected to release its report sometime in early 1997.

Conference on Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples

The Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples has over the last five years engaged in that nation's widest enquiry ever undertaken concerning Indigenous peoples. The Royal Commission has examined such areas as Indigenous rights, policies, communities, self-government, the justice system, suicide, and prospects for social change. The Final Report will be released before the end of 1996.

The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada at McGill University in Montreal, Canada will be holding a Conference on the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples from 31 January to 2 February 1997. Speakers will include the two co-Chairs of the Royal Commission.

Registration will be $CAN90 before 13 December 1996 and $CAN140 after this date (and $CAN25 for students). Further information, the Conference programme, and registration forms may be obtained through:

Jose Cadorette
Conference Coordinator
McGill Institute for the Study of Canada
3463 Peel Street
Montreal Quebec H3A 1W7
CANADA
Phone: [phone]S 2658
Fax: [phone]

Tjandumurra O'Shane

Following the horrific petrol attack on Tjandumurra O'Shane at his primary school in Cairns, the Aboriginal Education Program at the University of NSW has established an appeal to assist his family with medical and travel expenses.

Donations can be made through sending a cheque or money order to:

Tjandumurra O'Shane appeal
Account# 54581S
Cashier's Office
University of New South Wales
SYDNEY NSW 2052

For further information, phone the Aboriginal Education Program on [phone].