Day 1: Wednesday 5 November 2003

Welcome to Country

Ms Yvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional Owner, Mirrar Country

Session 1: Indigenous Governance – Northern Territory and International Comparisons

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Professor Mick Dodson AM, Chair Institute for Indigenous Australia, Australian National Universtiy

Developing Effective Indigenous Governance in the Northern Territory – The Way Forward

Mr John Ah Kit MLA, Minister for Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs

Getting Started and Keeping it Going – The Catalysts for Sustaining Strong Governance in the United States: Are there Lessons for the Northern Territory?

Professor Stephen Cornell (USA) Director, Udall Centre for Studies in Public Policy and Professor of Sociology and of Public Administration and Policy, The University of Arizona; Co-director of the Harvard University Project on American Indian Economic Development

Governing First Nations in Canada: The Comparative Policy and Practical Community Challenges - Are there Lessons for the Northern Territory?

Mr Neil Sterritt (British Columbia, Canada) Gitxsan Leader, President of Sterritt Consulting

Session 2: Governance on the Ground—Indigenous Perspectives on Regional and Community Governance Initiatives

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Mr John Christopherson, Chair, Coburg Peninsular Sanctuary and Marine Park Board

Thamarrurr Regional Council

Mr Leon Melpi, Mr Tobias Nganbe and Mr Mathias Nemaluk, Councillors, Thamarrurr Regional Council

Nyirranggulung-Mardrulk-Ngadberre

Mr Robert Lee and Ms Veronica Birrell, Councillors, Nyirranggulung-Mardrulk-Ngadberre

Chair:

Mr Eddie Cubillo, Chair, ATSIC Yilli Rreung Regional Council

Regionalisation and ATSIC

Commissioner Kim Hill, ATSIC NT North Zone

Miwatj: An Emerging Model

Mr Tony Binalany, Chair and Mr Banambi Wunungmurra, Councillor, Miwatj Provisional Governing Council

Chair:

Mr Mathew Bonson MLA, Member for Millner

Regional Governance Debate in the Torres Strait

Mr Terrence Whap, Alternate Deputy Chairperson of the Torres Strait Regional Authority

Tiwi Islands Local Government

Mr Maralampuwi Kurrupuwu, President and Mr John Cleary, CEO, Tiwi islands Local Government

Day 2: Thursday 6 November 2003

Session 3: Getting Started and Sustaining Good Governance

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Ms Michelle Adams, State Policy Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services

Indigenous Regional Futures: Data Needs for Good Governance

Dr John Taylor, Senior Fellow, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research

Developing Corporate and Institutional Strengths: What is Needed for Good Governance?

Ms Laura Beacroft, Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations

Financial Management and Business Systems

Ms Leah Armstrong, Executive Director, Yarnteen ATSI Corporation

Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (CRC): Harnessing Research and Jurisdictional Collaboration to Sustain Governance Initiatives

Mr Harold Furber, Board Member, Desert Knowledge CRC and Ms Elizabeth Ganter, Joint Theme Leader, Desert Knowledge CRC

Session 4: Strong Culture, Strong Governance: Getting the Match Right

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Mr Gatjil Djekurra OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation

What is Cultural Match and Why is it so Important? Lessons from 14 Years of the Harvard Project

Professor Stephen Cornell (USA) Co-director of the Harvard University Project on American Indian Economic Development and Dr Manley Begay (USA) Co-director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, Harvard University

Indigenous Traditional Authority and Decision Making: Their Role in Creating Legitimate and Capable Governance

Mr David Ross, Director, Central Land Council

Rethinking Community Development, Resources and Partnerships for Indigenous Governance

Mr Darryl Cronin, Research Fellow, Northern Territory University

Strong Families: The Roots for Strong Governance

Ms Theodora Narndu, President, Palngun Wurnangat Womens Association and Ms Catherine Phillips, Project Officer, Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services

Session 5: The Legislative and Constitutional Frameworks for Effective Governance

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Ms Karmi Sceney, Manager of Indigenous Education, Department of Education, Training and Employment

Northern Territory Statehood and Constitutional Protections: Issues and Implications for Future Aboriginal Governance

Mr John Daly, Deputy Chairman, Northern Land Council

The Role of Land Councils and Traditional Owners in Supporting Effective Indigenous Governance

Mr Norman Fry, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Land Council

Hastening Slowly: Legislative and Policy Reforms for Indigenous Community Governance under the NT Local Government Act

Dr Will Sanders, Fellow, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research

Learning from Government Reform: The lessons from Other Australian Jurisdictions

Mr Tony Tapsell, CEO, Local Government Association of the Northern Territory

Session 6: Informal Discussion Sessions

Legislative Frameworks – Support and Reform

Mr Tony Tapsell, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Association of the Northern Territory

Alternative Dispute Resolution for Governance

Ms Toni Bauman, Research Fellow,
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Studies

Mr David Ross, Director, Central Land Council

Developing Corporate, Financial and Business Strengths

Ms Laura Beacroft, Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations

Discussion with Speakers from the
USA, Canada and New Zealand

Mr Jason Glanville, Policy and Programs Director, Reconciliation Australia

Desert Governance

Ms Veronica Arbon, , Principal,
Batchelor Institute and Ms Elizabeth Ganter,Joint Theme Leader, Desert Knowledge CRC

Government Forum: Coordination,
Agreements, Partnerships, Pool Funding and Innovation

Ms Sharon Clark, Capacity Building Projects Manager, Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs

Regional Authority Forum

Mr David Coles, Executive Director Local Government and Regional Development, Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs

Day 3: Friday 7 November 2003

Session 7: Leadership for Governance

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Ms Kez Hall,

The COAG Trial: The Leadership Challenge for Governments in Supporting Indigenous Governance

Mr Neil Westbury, Executive Director, Office of Indigenous Policy, Department of the Chief Minister and Mr Stephen Hunter, Deputy Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services

The Responsibilities and Challenges Facing Indigenous Leaders: Insights for the Northern Territory

Dr Manley Begay (USA) Director of the Native Nations Institute at the Udall Centre for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona; Co-director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, Harvard University

Future Leaders: Developing and Sustaining their Contribution to Good Governance

Ms Nicole Kilgour

Session 8: Capacity Development for Effective Governance

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Professor Mary Ann Bin-Sallik, Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Research and Education

Capacity Development for Indigenous Leadership and Good Governance

Professor Mick Dodson AM, Chair, Institute for Indigenous Australia, Australian National University

Education and Literacy for Governance: A Community View

Ms Esther Djayhgurrnga, Principal, Gunbalanya School

Hands-on Governance Training: Experience from Community Workshops with Canadian First Nations

Mr Neil Sterritt (British Columbia, Canada) Gitxsan Leader, President of Sterritt Consulting

Capacity Building for Indigenous Governance in the Northern Territory: Where to From Here?

Ms Sharon Clark, Capacity Building Projects Manager, Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs

Session 9: Where to From Here—Outcomes and Next Steps

»Paper

»Presenter

Chair:

Ms Jackie Huggins, Co-Chair, Reconciliation Australia

Overall summary of the key issues raised and outline of possible recommendations and ideas for consideration and follow up

Mr Jason Glanville, Policy and Programs Director, Reconciliation Australia

Wrap up and closing of the conference

Ms Marion Scrymgour, Member for Arafura