ASWA invites you to a timely presentation regarding the future of anthropology in the native title sector and beyond by Dr Julie Finlayson of the Centre for Native Title Anthropology.
There is considerable demand for anthropologists in the native title arena. Research managers suggest that claim work and post-determination expertise requires the services of at least 20 anthropologists, via employment in land councils, Indigenous representative organisations, government and industry. There is a similar demand in cultural heritage. Yet universities are cutting anthropology courses - dissolving anthropology majors and associated staffing of Departments and Schools, based partly on claims of low student numbers, while ignoring industry employment opportunities as has happened here in WA.
The politics of anthropology as a highly sought after body of professional expertise feeds into academic and related debates about Indigenous Studies and the future of education and training in the discipline. How does anthropological expertise sit in the context of asserted Indigenous control of Indigenous Studies?
In the mix of push and pull factors, what roles can we see for anthropologists and the Centre for Native Title Anthropology? Does its presence or absence matter? What are the challenges we face?
In response to these questions Julie will give a contextualised overview (see below) of how CNTA operates in the native title sector, before addressing present and future challenges for applied anthropology.:
Genesis and structure of CNTA and its activities
Delivery modes in the operating environment
While the focus of this talk will be on native title, the content will be of interest to anthropologists and allied professionals in the cultural heritage sector. In particular, we welcome engagement with Traditional Owners on these important matters.
ASWA would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which this event is taking place, and to pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Date: Wednesday 3rd of August 2022
Start Time: 6pm
Where: The Left Bank, 15 Riverside Rd, East Fremantle WA 6158
Entry Fees (includes pizzas):
ASWA/AACAI Member (must have current paid membership): $10
Student (must have valid student email address): $10
General: $15
SPEAKER BIO:
Dr Julie Finlayson has been the Research Fellow at CNTA over the past 6 years. Her interest in professional development for anthropologists has its genesis in workshops for anthropologists run by her while an academic at CAEPR in the period immediately after the introduction of the native title Act. She has papers on native title research published from such workshops in edited volumes by CAEPR.
Julie was seconded to the NNTT for 6 months in what was the Victoria Registry. She has undertaken a number of native title roles such as assisting with native title claim management at Miriambiak (the NTRB in Victoria) during a change management period, running the first mentoring program for native title anthropologists sponsored by the NNTT, and taught native title summer courses at the University of Adelaide.
She was engaged as a consultant anthropologist on the Ministerial team to assess NTRBs for re-recognition in 1998 and toured nationally as part of a multi-disciplinary team to appraise organisational performance of native title representative roles in accordance with the requirements of the NTA.
Julie left consulting in 2004 to join the Australian Public Service (APS). She held a position in the Native Title Branch of ATSIC to whom she had previously consulted. During this period she sat on interdepartmental native title forums in the APS, including stakeholder engagement meetings, and was appointed to roles in change management and governance strategies with NTRBs and NTSPs.
Dr Julie Finlayson is a past president of AAS.