Indigenous Heritage Marika Behr - Assistant Director, Directorate of Heritage and Biodiversity Conservation (DHBC), EE Branch Martin Rowney - Senior Consultant, Godden Mackay Logan (DEHP member)

What is Indigenous Heritage? ‘Indigenous’ vs ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’. Indigenous heritage is the tangible and intangible aspects of Indigenous culture.

Tangible heritage Tangible heritage is the visible aspects - rock art sites, stone artefact scatters, wooden objects, shell middens, and burials – these have been created by people. Artefact scatters Rock art, engravings Scarred trees Middens Burials

Intangible heritage Intangible heritage is the invisible aspects - the stories, which are represented by places in the landscape, such as mountains, rivers, or pathways. To Indigenous people, these places have been created by the ancestors. Mountains Rivers or creeks Pathways Caves “Sickness Country”

Indigenous heritage Intangible heritage is highly significant to Indigenous people, and is often regarded by them as more important than tangible heritage. There are gender sensitivities in Indigenous culture. Aboriginal men will not talk to women about men’s business (ie. men’s sites or cultural information). Aboriginal women will not talk to men about women’s business. Don’t assume that if you have not been told there is a sacred site on a property, there isn’t one. Don’t expect to be told exactly where a site is or why it is important.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Indigenous heritage is protected under the EPBC Act. Defence must not take actions that have an adverse impact on heritage values (s.341ZC). Heritage Management Plans (HMP) help Defence protect Indigenous heritage. HMPs are prepared by heritage consultants for Defence, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

HMPs There is a heritage management plan for almost all the Defence-managed properties which are on the Commonwealth Heritage List – 136 individual listed places on 62 Defence properties. For example, there are HMPs for Amberley, Nurrungar, Point Cook, Garden Island (NSW), Jervis Bay, Learmonth AWR. A new HMP is being prepared for Yampi Sound Training Area, WA.

HMPs cont. DHBC or Senior Environmental Managers and Regional Environmental Officers can tell you whether a HMP has been prepared for a property. HMPs are important reference documents for your project. They contain information about the heritage values of the place and recommendations for how these should be protected during works. While HMPs can provide overall guidance, in many instances, additional information and consultation with Indigenous groups is required when specific projects are being undertaken. This additional information is usually provided in a Heritage Impact Assessment.

Consultation with Indigenous communities The Australian Government recognises that Indigenous people are the custodians of their culture and are only ones who can talk with authority about their culture. Under the EPBC Act, Defence must consult with Indigenous communities about their heritage. DHBC is preparing Guidelines for consultation with Indigenous communities about Indigenous heritage. The Guidelines will assist in engaging in consultation, and will provide a framework for engaging with Indigenous people.