Seeing Like a Circle: Perspectives on the Field from a Dialogue on Urban Aboriginal Economic Development (original) (raw)

Successful Urban Aboriginal-Driven Community Development: A Place-Based Study of Newcastle

2017

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) undertakes high-quality, independent research to further the social and economic development and empowerment of Indigenous people throughout Australia. For more than 25 years, CAEPR has aimed to combine academic and teaching excellence on Indigenous economic and social development and public policy with realism, objectivity and relevance. CAEPR maintains a substantial publications program, including Research Monographs, Discussion Papers, Working Papers, Topical Issues and Census Papers. All CAEPR Working Papers are refereed and are produced for rapid distribution to enable widespread discussion and comment. All CAEPR publications are available in electronic format for free download from CAEPR's website: caepr.anu.edu.au CAEPR is located within the Research School of Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Social Sciences at the Australian National University (ANU). The Centre is funded from a range of sources, including ANU, the Australian Research Council, industry and philanthropic partners, and Australian state and territory governments.

Being 'in-there' not 'out-there': Urban planning and Aboriginal peoples

State of Australian Cities, 2017

An Australian myth is that Aboriginals reside only in the f ar reaches of Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Such is f ar f rom the truth. 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics census data evidences an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of approximately 649,171, or 2.8% of Australia's total population, and projects that this population will increase to between 907,800 and 945,600 people by 2026 (ABS 2011). The largest population concentrations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are in New South Wales (208,500) and Queensland (189,000), and they comprise 25.5% of the total population of Northern Territory (ABS 2016). More signif icantly, 35% of this Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population live in Australia's major cities and 20% in regional cities; 50.4% of Victoria's Indigenous population live in metropolitan Melbourne. These statistics conf ound this myth, and deceptively hide 'Country' of kin associations under generic 'Aboriginal' or 'Torres Strait Islander' categories, thereby not depicting real population prof iles about Indigenous Australians. More importantly, the statistics raise questions about the sustainment, capacity and practice of Aboriginal relationships and engagement with their 'home' Country as distinct f rom their adopted or transitionary 'Country' of residence. This presentation will summarise and analyse this statistical data, historical settlement patterns, population structure and the cultural dynamics of Aboriginal populations focus ing in particular upon the urban f ootprints of Melbourne and South East Queensland (SEQ). Further examination of these two urban centres suggests the need f or a f ramework towards the development of contemporary protocols to support Traditional Owners, urban Aboriginal populations, planning prof essionals and governments.

Consulting Whom? Lessons from the Toronto Urban Aboriginal Strategy

International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2014

The research conducted here looks at the current Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) in Toronto. The purpose of this Strategy is to provide long-term investments to support Aboriginal communities in urban settings by focusing on three priority areas: improving life skills; promoting job training, skills, and entrepreneurship; and supporting Aboriginal women, children, and families. This article seeks to answer the following question: Does the UAS provide Aboriginal participants with the ability to effectively participant in the consultation process? It argues that the UAS process of consulting with the urban Aboriginal community does not allow for the effective participation of Aboriginal peoples because of problematics related to consulting in an urban setting and despite the language of partnership, the federal government still reserves the right to make final decisions. These problems diminish the ability to build renewed Aboriginal-State relations based on mutual respect and trust, ...

Agricultural and resource economics and economic development in Aboriginal communities

Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2003

Economic development is seen as the best way for Aboriginal communities to improve their welfare and lessen the considerable disadvantages they suffer. Unfortunately, the economics profession has shown little interest in their plight. Agricultural and resource economists have much to offer in helping to foster economic development in Aboriginal communities throughout Australia. Suggestions are made as to various ways in which our particular interests and experiences can hopefully be applied.

Aboriginal Economic Development (Part 1) Sponsored by LSUC and OBA a Great Success

On June 20th, 2012 in partnership with the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada hosted a legal education program and reception at the LSUC’s Donald Lamont Training Facility in Toronto. The seminar, “Aboriginal Economic Development: The Legal Toolbox — Theory and Practice,” featured a wide range of speakers with legal expertise in Aboriginal economic development and corporate practice. This program was free of charge and open to the profession and public. The June 20th event was held as part of LSUC’s thirteenth National Aboriginal History Month public education equality event1, and as part of their commitment to supporting groups marginalized in the legal sector. This paper summarizes the event.

Building Relationships or Building Roadblocks? A Look at the Winnipeg Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Do Aboriginal–state public consultations allow for the effective participation of Aboriginal participants in the democratic process, given the group’s political marginalization? This paper argues that public consultations are an effective tool for ensuring the successful participation of Aboriginal groups when the consultation process includes mechanisms for redistributing power from governments to stakeholders. Specifically, this paper looks at the federal government’s current Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) in Winnipeg. Although the direction and tone of the UAS is set by the federal government, the members of the Steering Committee, composed of twelve Aboriginal members and three government officials, are the ones who decide which policies and programs will receive funding. Decision-making is done through ongoing consultation with the Steering Committee and the Aboriginal community at large. Employing ideas in Arnstein (1969) and public consultations literature to create an evaluation framework, this paper identifies critical components that must be present for consultations to be fruitful. And, based on interviews with the Steering Committee, it finds that the UAS in Winnipeg is a successful mechanism for enabling the effective participation of Aboriginal participants in the democratic process—a process which is resulting in the construction of a renewed Aboriginal–state political relationship.