 NAILSMA Board in Cairns, September 2005. From left are John Daley,
Joe Morrison, Tom Birch, Gordon Duff, Des Hill, Norman Fry, John
Christopherson (back), Christine Parter,Wayne Bergman, Peter Yu and
Kelly Gardner. Absent, Gerhardt Pearson.
The members of the board are: Mr Peter Yu – Independent Chair
Mr Wayne Bergmann – KLC Executive Director Mr Des Hill
– Kimberley Community Representative Mr Norman Fry –
NLC CEO Mr John Daley – NT Top End Community Representative
Mr Gerhardt Pearson – Balkanu CEO (Absent at meeting) Mr
Peter Guivarra – Cape York Community Representative Ms Kelly
Gardner – Carpentaria Land Council (Standing in for CEO) Ms
Christine Parter – Carpentaria Community Representative Mr
Gordon Duff – CEO CRC Tropical Savannas Mr Joe Morrison
– EO NAILSMA
|
In early September, NAILSMA held its inaugural Board meeting in
Cairns to discuss and plan the future development of not only the
alliance, but also the future development of the Indigenous estate
across the north, with respect to land and sea management and
potential future economic activities. The Board is made up of
partners from the north and importantly, contains a mix of current
and future partners but also community members from each region.
The NAILSMA Board is chaired by Mr Peter Yu, who also represents
the alliance on the CRC Tropical Savannas Board of Management. The
broad outcomes of the board were to update the partners on the
activities of the alliance, as well as to work towards a strategic
approach to the development of the Indigenous estate to create to
maximum benefits to Traditional Owners, who desire to remain,
return or reoccupy their traditional estates.
The main points discussed by the board included consolidating
membership to include the Carpentaria and Torres Straits to
participate, confirming the chair position, development of a
‘Brand’ for NAILSMA to articulate the opportunities
that are presented to Indigenous people in the North and developing
a strategic direction on identified targets. These targets
included; tourism, mining and the general resources boom in the
North, pastoral, border patrol and quarantine, land-use planning,
bush products i.e. food and medicines, correctional services,
construction industry, carbon credits, Indigenous knowledge
maintenance, digital networking, youth leadership, communications,
fire management and water rights.
Overall the Board, whilst not attended by a core partner in
Balkanu, was s successful meeting to commence the development of a
strategic approach to management and development of the
north’s Indigenous estate. It is timely that these
discussions are being held in the current political context where a
number of opportunities do in fact exist. A ‘draft’
vision and mission statement was created and will be further
developed over time in dialogue with the Board, Steering Committee,
partners and communities. Unfortunately Mr Gerhardt Pearson was
unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment.
Also in attendance were Mr Wayne Seekee from Torres Strait Regional
Authority and as observers were Mr John Sheldon, Tracker Tilmouth,
John Christopherson, Tom Birch and Rod Kennett.
The alliance is also working to consolidate our efforts to date but
continue to build and expand to support initiatives in the north
during 2006 and 2007. Much has been achieved by the alliance and
its partners to date, and we look forward to further expansion in
the future.
Important to this is the continued dialogue with Traditional Owners
who obviously own the alliance in the first instance and to work
with other collaborators to ensure that the hard battles in the
past are followed on in a manner that builds on the achievements of
our old people. Finally, it’s been a very hectic year, and
difficult for all of us at times, given the circumstances we find
ourselves in, however there is no doubt that Indigenous management
and development of country will provide rewards for some of our
kids down the track and ensure that they are able to enjoy their
country, culture and kin.
Given the population projections of Indigenous people in the north
and the increasing pressures from many fronts, it’s
imperative that Indigenous people stay in the driving seat to
determine their own futures.
