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Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
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People on Country, Healthy Landscapes and Indigenous Economic Futures

A CAEPR action-research project focusing on Indigenous well-being through community-based natural resource management

CAEPR is undertaking a 3-5 year applied research project focusing on Aboriginal land and sea management in the tropical savannah of Top End and Gulf Country of the Northern Territory. The research is called 'People on Country, Healthy Landscapes and Indigenous Economic Futures', and it is largely sponsored by the Sidney Myer Fund, but also by the Australian National University (ANU) and the Australian Research Council.

What the Research is About

People on Country aims to transfer skills to land and sea management groups to address two major issues: how their activities are improving Indigenous well-being, and delivering better natural resource management on Aboriginal land and sea country. Working in partnership with traditional owners and their land and sea management groups, the research aims to strengthen Caring for Country projects by:

  • Building partnerships, sharing skills, and capacity development especially in governance.

  • Assisting key Aboriginal organisations and natural resource management agencies with evidence-based research.

  • Using evidence-based research to better inform government policy on cultural and natural resource management on Aboriginal land and sea country and to attract more government and private investments in Caring for Country projects.

  • Helping Aboriginal land and sea managers make their voice heard in national debates such as climate change, water, sea country, fire management, wildlife use and cultural and natural resource management.

What benefits could the research bring to Aboriginal land and sea managers?

The benefits from being involved in the research could include:

  • Having evidence of how and why Caring for Country increases community well-being;

  • Having evidence of the beneficial environmental efforts of caring for country;

  • Being part of a strong voice speaking-up for Caring for Country;

  • Informing government policy so that it recognises and helps traditional owners look after country;

  • Help attract greater government and private investment into Caring for Country projects;

  • Learning new skills and ways of doing things.

People On Country Website

This website will serve as a source for research papers, videos and photographs relating to People on Country, and as a resource for the land and sea management groups involved in the project, providing them with a vehicle to speak to government policy makers about their land and sea management activities.


Recent Additions to People On Country

Outstations/Homelands Communique

Communique to the Prime Minister on Outstations/Homelands Policy, by participants of the joint ASSA/CAEPR Forum on Homelands and Outstations, 27-28 October 2009. [02 November 2009]

Updated Indigenous Freshwater Rights Topic Guide

Indigenous Freshwater Rights Topic Guide by Hannah Bulloch. An updated resource guide on Indigenous interests in freshwater in Australia. [22 October 2009]

People On Country Newsletter, July 2009

The first of our regular POC newsletters designed to keep you up to date with the project’s activities. [12 August 2009]

People On Country Project Report, January-June 2009

POC Project Report, January to June 2009 — outputs and planning. [30 June 2009]

Video: Laynhapuy Fire Workshop

Wanyubi Marika, the Laynhapuy Indigenous Area (IPA) Manager, speaks about a fire management workshop in both Yolgnu Matha and English. [8 May 2008]

Submission: The Abolition of CDEP

The untimely abolition of the Community Development Employment Program. [8 May 2008]

Submission: Community Stores in Remote Indigenous Communities

Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Inquiry into Community Stores in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. [8 May 2008]

Submission: Native Title Agreements and Payments

A Brief Commentary in Response to the Australian Government Discussion Paper ‘Optimising Benefits from Native Title Agreements’ and the Report of the Native Title Payments Working Group. [8 May 2008]

Indigenous Freshwater Rights Topic Guide

Indigenous Freshwater Rights Topic Guide by Hannah Bulloch. A resource on Indigenous interests in freshwater in Australia. [22 March 2009]

People On Country 2008 Annual Report

People On Country 2008 Annual Report: detailing the first year of the People on Country project. [13 February 2009]

Yugul Mangi Rangers 2008 Activity Report

Yugul Mangi Rangers Land and Sea Management 2008 Activity Report: a publication from the Yugul Mangi rangers describing their activities during 2008, including fire management and weed control, with lots of photographs documenting their work on country. [12 January 2008]

Submission: The Importance of Supporting Outstations

Why the Northern Territory Government needs to support Outstations/Homelands in the Aboriginal, Northern Territory and National Interest — Submission to the Northern Territory Government Outstation Policy Discussion Paper. [16 December 2008]

POC Submissions to Government

A number of POC submissions to various government enquiries have been added to the research page, discussing topics such as natural resource managment, CDEP, and climate change. [02 December 2008]

Slide Gallery: Miyalk Women Rangers

A Slideshow Gallery of photographs from the Miyalk Women Rangers, part of the Yirralka ranger program. [26 November 2008]

Partner Page & Summary: Yirralka Land and Sea Management

The Yirralka Rangers information page is now online, including a PDF Partner Summary. [14 October 2008]

Partner Page & Summary: Garawa

The Garawa information page is now online, including a PDF Partner Summary and a series of streaming video interviews. [30 September 2008]

Seminar Recordings: Indigenous Harvest and Management

'Valuing Indigenous harvest and management of dugong and marine turtles: The Bardi Jawi case study', by Geoff Buchanan, Daniel Oades, Mark Shadforth. [27 August 2008]

 

latest additions

Communique to the Prime Minister on Outstations/Homeland Policy
[02 Nov 2009]

Indigenous Freshwater Rights Topic Guide
[Updated: 22 Oct 2009]

POC Newsletter, July 2009
[12 August 2009]

POC Project Report, January-June 2009
[30 June 2009]

The Untimely Abolition of CDEP
[8 May 2009]

Community Stores in Remote Indigenous Communities
[8 May 2009]

Native Title Agreements and Payments
[8 May 2009]

People On Country 2008 Annual Report
[13 Feb 2009]

Yugul Mangi Rangers 2008 Activity Report [12 Jan 2009]

Why the Northern Territory Government needs to support Outstations/Homelands
[16 Dec 2008]

CDEP Past & Future
[02 Dec 2008]

Natural Resource Management
[02 Dec 2008]

27 August 2008

CAEPR Seminar: Indigenous harvest and management

'Valuing Indigenous harvest and management of dugong and marine turtles: The Bardi Jawi case study', by Geoff Buchanan, Daniel Oades, Mark Shadforth. [Listen …]

Laynhapuy Fire Management Workshop

Wanyubi Marika describes the workshop in both Yolgnu Matha and English. [Watch …]

Managing Country with Fire

Garawa Ranger Jack Green talks about fire management. [Watch …]

Bush Tucker

Yugul Mangi senior ranger Cherry Daniels talks about bush tucker. [Watch …]

The Indigenous Estate

'The environmental significance of the Indigenous estate: Natural resource management as economic development in remote Australia' by J.C Altman, G.J. Buchanan & L. Larsen. [More …]

E-mail: peopleoncountry@anu.edu.au
Phone: (02) 6125 0587
Fax: (02) 6125 9730

Centre Administrator
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
Hanna Neumann Building #21
The Australian National University
CANBERRA ACT 0200