Welcome to the Northern Territory Building Effective Indigenous Governance Conference.

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the Mirrar people, who are the traditional owners of the country where we will be meeting.

This Conference is a unique opportunity for us to consider one of the biggest challenges facing the Northern Territory—that of designing and exercising broadly representative, culturally legitimate and practical governing arrangements in Indigenous communities and regions.

The Northern Territory Government recognises the urgency of this need. The Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Policy in the Department of the Chief Minister, the Northern Land Council, the Central Land Council, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, and Reconciliation Australia have convened this conference to help chart a way forward.

Mr John Ah Kit MLA

This is our chance to have an informed, open discussion and to develop a shared understanding of the challenges ahead. From this starting point we can create a more unified commitment from all parties to address the current barriers, develop innovative strategies, and support Indigenous initiatives to build stronger, more effective governance.

I am confident that this conference is an historic opportunity for us all to continue that movement forward—to progressively develop the kinds of agreements, capacities and real partnerships which are urgently needed to build effective and legitimate forms of Indigenous governance in the Northern Territory.

John Ah Kit