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First Nations Program Newsletter
January 2025
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first edition of the First Nations Program
Newsletter, EDO's quarterly First Nations newsletter that
keeps you updated about our work to protect our unique and
precious environment and communities across Australia and
the Torres Strait Islands.
In this newsletter you will find news highlights about our
program, culture and communities, as well as helpful
factsheets, up-coming events, and lots more!
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Introduction to the First
Nations Program at EDO
The
First Nations Program (FNP) was established in 2020 to work
with and advocate for the rights of First Nations peoples
across all EDO’s work. In June 2023 the Country and
Cultural Heritage Program (CCH Program) was incorporated
into the FNP, as a dedicated nation-wide program
specifically tailored to provide services to First Nations
peoples seeking legal support to protect their culture and
Country.
The First Nations Program is led by Director Casey Kickett,
a proud Noongar woman hailing from the Whadjuk, Yued,
Ballardong and Wardandi Noongar Countries. Casey works
alongside Harriet Ketley, the Deputy Director of the CCH
Program, solicitors Emily Long and Nadja Zimmermann, and
Troy Leishman, a Yorta Yorta man and the team’s First
Nations Justice Administrator.
The First Nations Program focusses on supporting Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander communities in their advocacy to
protect their Country and cultural heritage.
This includes working alongside communities concerned about
their cultural heritage, fresh water sources and drinking
water issues and accessing and looking after Country in a
culturally appropriate way.
Our assistance can include legal education services and
resources, legal information, advice and services and legal
representation.
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If you are seeking advice or assistance,
please contact us by calling 1800 626 239 and press
1 or Click here to
apply for free advice. Our program looks forward to
working with you!
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Environment sector Treaty
briefing with First Peoples Assembly and Environment
Victoria
The
First Nations Program recently attended a briefing for the
environment sector on Treaty negotiations, which formally
commenced on 21 November last year on Wurundjeri
Woi-Wurrung Country in Naarm. The briefing was provided by
the First People’s Assembly and Environment Victoria. You
can read more about the Treaty process here.
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Have your say on the
review of the future acts regime
The
Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) is currently
conducting an inquiry into the future acts regime in the
Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). The future acts regime
provides the legal framework for doing ‘future acts’, which
are acts which occur since the Native Title Act commenced
in 1993 that affect native title rights and interests.
The ALRC has published an issues
paper, which explains the future acts
regime, introduces the Inquiry, and calls for submissions.
A short one-page factsheet about the Inquiry and how you
can make a submission can be accessed here.
The ALRC is seeking submissions on five questions,
which you can access here.
For more information about this inquiry, visit the ALRC
website, or make a submission online here.
Submissions on the issues paper close on 21 February
2025.
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Case note – UN Committee
finds that Finland violated the rights of
Sámi Indigenous Peoples to culture and land
On
8 October 2024 the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
(CRC) and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (CESCR) found that Finland has violated the rights
of Sámi Indigenous peoples to culture and land.
The decision relates to complaints filed by different
members of the Kova-Labba Siida Sámi semi-nomadic herding
community, dealing with mining projects granted on their
traditional territory. Specifically, it was found that the
granting of mineral exploration permits on Sámi territory
without completing an impact assessment and without
effective participation in the decision making, amounted to
a violation of Sami rights.
You can read more about the decision here.
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First Nations Clean Energy
Strategy launched
The
Australian Government has launched the First Nations Clean
Energy Strategy, aiming to empower First Nations
communities and improve energy security through the clean
energy transition.
The strategy provides a national framework for governments,
industries, and communities to build a new
‘business-as-usual” for the clean energy sector.
Its vision is ‘a sustainable clean energy future for all
Australians, with Country and Culture at the heart’.
The strategy outlines principles, goals, and actions to support
self-determination, genuine partnerships, economic
benefits, and access to affordable clean energy.
For more information, refer to the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy
Webpage or email [email protected]
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EDO Factsheets
Please find below our factsheets, designed
to help you understand cultural heritage laws and and
empower you to take action. You can access more resources
on the EDO website here.
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First
Nations Cultural Heritage and Federal Law
Find
out more Click
Here.
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First
Nations Cultural Heritage Laws in Queensland
Find
out more Click
Here.
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Cultural
Rights Under the Queensland Human Rights Act
Find
out more Click
Here.
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Enforcement
powers of Indigenous Rangers in the Great Barrier Reef
Find
out more Click
Here.
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North Australia Savanna Fire Forum
(18th
- 20th February 2025)
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Queensland Indigenous Women Rangers Network
Forum
(3rd
March 2025)
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Indigenous Women Rangers Network Forum
(4th
- 5th March 2025)
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Iain McCalman Lecture
(6th
March 2025)
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If you are aware of upcoming events related to
community and culture, the environment, or law that you would
like to share, please let us know at: [email protected]
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Get Involved
First
Nations Strategic Advisory Committee
The
First Nations Strategic Advisory Committee (FNSAC) is a
respected representative national group of people from six
different First Nations/Countries, who bring their lived
experiences and knowledges of being a First Nations person
to guide EDO in its areas of work which involve First
Nations peoples and communities, including internally. To
read more about the First Nations Strategic Advisory
Committee please click here .
To express your interest in being on the committee - you
can apply here.
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EDO recognises the traditional owners and
custodians of the land, seas and rivers of Australia. We pay our
respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and
present, and aspire to learn from traditional knowledge and
customs so that, together, we can protect our environment and
cultural heritage through law.
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EDO recognises the
traditional owners and custodians of the land, seas and rivers of
Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander elders past and present, and aspire to learn from
traditional knowledge and customs so that, together, we can
protect our environment and cultural heritage through law.
© 2025 EDO. All rights reserved.
ABN 72 002 880 864
Visit edo.org.au
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