The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) is set to launch the most comprehensive engagement process in its history, consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about the return and management of country.
Indigenous Australians across the nation will be asked to have their say about how they want to engage with the ILSC and how the organisation can best partner with them to meet their aspirations for country.
The ILSC is a corporate Commonwealth entity which manages the $2 billion Land and Sea Future Fund, which in the last 27 years has been used to purchase and return 6.4 million hectares of country to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.
The extensive nationwide National Indigenous Land and Sea Strategy (NILSS) engagement process will include expert roundtables, an online survey, a hotline and face to face consultations in more than 40 locations around the country.
“The ILSC’s main purpose is to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the return and management of country for their social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefit,” said Group CEO Joe Morrison.
“It is important that the ILSC keeps pace with the evolving aspirations and needs that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have for their country.
“We want to ensure our relationship is based on mutual understanding. We want to drive action and change that amplifies the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“The NILSS engagement is an opportunity to have a genuine conversation about Indigenous Australians’ ideas, aspirations, challenges and opportunities.
“We strongly encourage Indigenous Australians to take part in this engagement so that we can better understand their aspirations and how we can elevate them to achieve their goals.”
The ILSC has prepared summary material with general questions for feedback along with a selection of factsheets devised in consultation with Indigenous experts operating in speciality areas including agribusiness, bushfoods, water, renewables and carbon.
The in-person consultations will take place in urban, regional and remote locations, and are expected to begin on Friday 3rd June at the AIATSIS Summit on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and wrap up in early August.
Following the engagement, the ILSC will produce a draft document that will be circulated to Indigenous partners and stakeholders for their feedback.
The final NILSS plan will set the ILSC’s strategic direction and operations for the next three to five years.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are invited to have their say by visiting the ILSC website: https://www.ilsc.gov.au/