Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Indigenous Knowledge Centre study underway

Consultations have begun for the feasibility study into a National Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

The concept was first raised at last year’s Australia 2020 Summit as a way to support and promote Indigenous cultures and knowledge to the wider community.

The Australia 2020 Summit identified nine key initiatives committed to by the Government, including the broad contribution a National Indigenous Knowledge Centre would make to celebrating and strengthening Indigenous cultures and knowledge.

Highly-respected Indigenous leader and academic, Dr Jackie Huggins AM, is leading the community consultations which began last Friday. Meetings have been held in Blacktown, New South Wales, and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Participants so far have been supportive of a National Indigenous Knowledge Centre and have commented on its importance in showcasing and sharing Indigenous culture with the wider community.

The M.I. Murren Trust, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and the State Library of Queensland, will conduct the feasibility study.

The study will recommend possible roles and models for a National Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are immensely proud of their cultures and heritage and we want to help them share it with the broader community.

Having respect and understanding for the oldest continuing cultures in human history is critical to the Australia Government’s commitment to closing the gap and resetting the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.

I encourage members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, along with the wider community, to provide submissions and participate in the consultations.

For more information about the feasibility study or community consultations, or a copy of the National Indigenous Knowledge Centre Project Issues Paper, visit the National Indigenous Knowledge Centre Project website.

Written submissions are invited and will be accepted up until 31 March 2010.