February 2007 Volume 6, Issue 25

The February edition of the Indigenous Law Bulletin begins on a positive note with an archiving project set up by the Tangentyere Council in Alice Springs.  Rosemary Grey discusses the Ayeye project which aims to ensure the local histories, traditions and customs of Indigenous communities are preserved.  It also provides ways of involving young people in cultural activities.

Prue Vines discusses the importance of wills for Indigenous peoples and sets out some of the considerations in drafting such wills.  She notes that in customary law, kinship can determine obligations differently than is the case for non-Indigenous Australians.  Further, in relation to property, the common law focuses on its status as a commodity, while in customary law, property tends to be thought of in terms of obligations.  

In our continuing reflection on the past 25 years of the Indigenous Law Bulletin, we have an article by Nicole Watson, former editor, written on the third anniversary of the death of Thomas ‘TJ’ Hickey discussing issues of racism in the law and in law enforcement.  This is accompanied by two articles from past editions of the ILB, Diana Eades, ‘Cross Examination of Aboriginal Children: The Pinkenba Case’ and Chris Cunneen, ‘The Police Killing of David Gundy’.

We have a practical guide to writing a submission to allow individuals and organisations to express their views on issues that are important to them, such as parliamentary committees on particular legislation.  We also have an article by the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria (‘ILSLAV’) which discusses their approach to Indigenous legal education. 

Kylie Parsons and Brendan Delahunty discuss the work of the New South Wales Ombudsman’s Aboriginal Complaints Unit in improving the relationship between the police and Indigenous communities, with a particular focus on crime prevention, child protection, youth development and preventing domestic violence. 

Finally, we have a review of Dr Rosalind Kidd’s, Trustees on Trial: Recovering the Stolen Wages which addresses the issue of ‘stolen wages’ in Queensland in which people working on government missions and reserves from the 1890s were never paid their wages.  She discusses the need for repayment of these stolen monies and recompense for the poverty suffered by Indigenous people as a result.  She sets out supporting documentary evidence and discusses the situation in Canada and the United States for comparison.  The review is by Helen Burrows.

In our forthcoming September-October edition, we will be addressing issues relating to Indigenous women and the law, including domestic violence.

Archives of the ILB from Volume 1, Issue 1 (1981) to 6 (19) 2006 are available online at <http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLB> and <http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ILB/>.

General Edition

Ayeye: History for the Future
by Rosemary Grey

Drafting Wills for Indigenous People: Pittfalls and Considerations
by Prue Vines

How to...Write a Submission

Circles in the Sand: Creating Pathways and Connections in Indigenous Legal Education
by Eng Bin Chan and Miranda Stewart of Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria

Auditing Police Work in Local Aboriginal Communities
by Kylie Parsons and Brendan Delahunty

Book Review - Trustees on Trial: Recovering the Stolen Wages
by Dr Rosalind Kidd (review by Helen Burrows)

Special ILB Anniversary Reflection

Policing of Indigenous People in Australia: Justice is still Elusive
by Nicole Watson

Aboriginal Law Bulletin Volume 3, Issue 75, April 1995

Cross Examination of Aboriginal Children: The Pinkenba Case
by Diana Eades

Aboriginal Law Bulleting Volume 2, Issue 50, June 1991

The Police killing of David Gundy
by Chris Cunneen

Warning: Readers are advised to note that the above section may contain names of and references to Indigenous persons who are now deceased.

Regular

News and Projects
Recent Happenings February 2007

Stay Connected