A new alliance wants to see more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities financially prosper.
The First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance, the first of its kind in Australia was launched by the Australian National University’s First Nations Portfolio.
Professor Peter Yu, First Nations Vice Chancellor at ANU, says the alliance seeks to change how communities work with governments and private companies.
“It’s fundamentally about reframing this huge gap where there isn’t there isn’t a policy framework.”
Professor Yu says the alliance will look at how First Nations communities can benefit from the country’s transition to renewable energy.
“When you think about where they’re going to access this critical and special minerals, most of its going to be on Aboriginal land.
Therefore, we need to have a new agreement framework that where the communities, traditional owners can actually have an equity stake holding interest in projects.”
Communities in control of their futures
Professor Yu says the only way communities can ensure country is protected is if they have an economic stake and resources to have a say on the future of their homelands.
“The only way we can look after culture, is if we are the ones that are doing it, the only way we can do that is if we have our own income sources.”
Leah Armstrong, co-founder and former Chairperson of First Australians Capital says the only way to see change in communities is if the economic relationship between communities and governments shift.
“To improve life outcomes, we need to direct our energy to building a new, more equitable fiscal relationship between government and First Peoples.”
Moving forward from the Referendum
Professor Yu says he doesn’t expect to see the changes happen quickly, and there are still more barriers blocking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from thriving economically.
“We don’t have the fundamental structures, we don’t have the cash. And we are challenged by the nature of being able to ensure that we’ve got the capable and competent.”
But the professor says the failure of last year’s Voice to Parliament Referendum has highlighted the need for communities to be self sufficient and independent from governments.
“I think everybody would agree posted a referendum in October last year, that there’s no way that you can depend on government, for anything that we were what our aspirations are, this is a matter that we have to own, nobody else can own it.”
Governments are never going to have enough money to provide for us in respect of these matters.
And we should not expect or, or rely on them to do that.
So it’s entirely up to us.”
Feature image: supplied by ANU
You can listen to the full interview with Professor Peter Yu here:
If you liked this article, consider supporting NIRS with a donation to promote Indigenous journalism and media to help inform Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
