Over a 12-month period, more than $27.9 million has been invested by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) in partnerships with 30 Indigenous organisations.
These partnerships were highlighted in the ILSC’s Returning and managing Country 2022/23 publication, which sheds a light on the ILSC’s partners, their achievements and contributions to communities.
By sharing these stories, the publication not only celebrates the successes of First Nations businesses and corporations but recognises and supports their important work.
These partnerships have resulted in hundreds of stories of change: from providing a place of healing with the return of land to the Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation in south-east Perth, to creating Indigenous employment and building economic self-determination through the new Normanton Foodworks in northwest Queensland.
ILSC Group Chief Executive Officer, Joe Morrison, said the stories in the Returning and managing Country publication demonstrate the diverse activities the ILSC supports.
Through these partnerships, the ILSC continues its work towards redressing Australia’s historic dispossession of Indigenous people, through the return of Indigenous land and sea Country.
“At the ILSC, we invest in Indigenous peoples to support their self-determination and future as the rightful owners of land, water and sea Country,” said Mr Morrison.
“The stories outlined in the Returning and managing Country document, showcase our peoples’ aspirations coming to life, while raising the profile of Indigenous culture within the community.
“A great example is the $5.4m investment the ILSC made to acquire new properties along the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape on Gunditjmara Country in Victoria.
“The Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation has access to 9,935 hectares of the World Heritage-Listed Country, enabling them to preserve the cultural and environmental significance of the landscape and support connection to Country for Gunditjmara people.”
The Returning and managing Country publication can be accessed by this link.
