By Joe Morrison
Published in 2007, the book titled 'Coercive reconciliation.
Stabilise, normalise, exit Aboriginal Australia', delivers a series
of papers just eight weeks after the Northern
Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007was announced.
The Prime Minister's concept for this Bill was in response to
'Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle "Little Children are Sacred":
The Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the
Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse' that was
authored by Pat Anderson and Rex Wild. The series of papers
presented in the book edited by Jon Altman and Melinda Hinkson
reflect concerns and issues surrounding the Australian Government's
intervention and consider all the recommendations in the 'Little
Children are Sacred' report.
The Caring for Country paper, authored by Joe Morrison, explores
the natural and cultural resource management opportunities in rural
and remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Opportunities are linked to employment, economic development,
community leadership, education, and social and cultural justice
issues. Joe highlights the importance of the flexibility of the
Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme and
that those types of caring for country programs provide sustainable
community-based opportunities for long-term social, cultural and
physical development in the Northern Territory's rural and remote
locations.
Indigenous developed initiatives that focus on 'Caring for
Country' make significant contributions to the conservation of
globally valued environmental and cultural assets.
A copy of the paper 'Caring for Country' can be downloaded from
the section below.
