Presenters: Dr Janine Gertz and A/Prof Theresa Petray

Abstract:

This talk presents findings from a four-year ARC Discovery project investigating the "prerequisite conditions" for Indigenous Nation self-government. The project included researchers and Indigenous Nation Building (INB) practitioners from Gugu Badhun and Nyungar Nations. Here we focus on our collaborative research with the Gugu Badhun Nation, including online webinars, individual and family group interviews, a week-long on-Country Citizenship Forum, and workshops focused on constitution development. The research was directed by Gugu Badhun and responsive to their priorities, and in the process we identified key factors enabling INB. These include cultivating a shared political identity, challenging settler-colonial power structures, strategically utilising existing institutions, seizing opportunities for change, and demonstrating ongoing commitment to the nation-building process. Our findings emphasize that INB readiness is not solely dependent on external factors but primarily driven by active and sustained efforts undertaken by First Nations themselves. This research provides valuable insights for other Indigenous Nations seeking to pursue self-government pathways.

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