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- During August 1998 the Central Land Council organised a conference at Kalkaringi in anticipation of the October 1998 Northern Territory referendum on Statehood.
- From that convention a statement know as the Kalkaringi Statement was issued.
- Following that convention another was held at Batchelor, arranged with the participation of the other Land Councils.
- The result was the production of a combined document called the Indigenous Constitutional Strategy document.
- The document states The Aboriginal Nations of The Northern Territory are governed by our own constitutions (being our systems of Aboriginal law and Aboriginal structures of law and governance, which have been in place since time immemorial). Our constitutions must be recognised on a basis of equality, co-existence and mutual respect with any constitution of the Northern Territory.
- The Strategy Document also notes the Aboriginal peoples represented will: Withhold our consent (to Statehood) until there are good faith negotiations between the Northern Territory Government and the freely chosen representatives of the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory leading to a Constitution based upon equality, co-existence and mutual respect.
- The Strategy Document outlines a range of issues that Aboriginal people considered vitally important in the context of Statehood in 1998.
- Many Aboriginal people see Statehood as an opportunity to realise some long held goals in terms of recognition of traditional laws and culture.
- The Statehood Steering Committee is seeking the views of Aboriginal peoples as part of the consultation process. Some have already told us practical outcomes from Statehood are important to them.
- It is only with the participation of ALL Territorians that we will be able to move together toward Statehood.
Northern Territory Statehood Steering Committee
statehood@nt.gov.au
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