Social Science

The development of the Aboriginal engagement framework by the Social Science Program is based on recommendations generated from Desert Knowledge CRC projects that focused on governance and leadership. All but one of these reports have been received by the Desert Knowledge CRC and are all in varying stages of review or in the publications process. The project reports that have been closely referred to in drafting this framework are:

• Effective Research and development Collaboration: participatory and capacity building frameworks for involving Desert People (Project Leader Metta Young)
• Desert Knowledge for Desert People: A scoping project on Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (Project Leader Sonia Smallacombe)
• Population and Mobility in the Town Camps of Alice Springs (Project Leaders Tangentyere Council and Centre for Remote Health)
• CLC Development of Protocols and Systems (Project Leader Central Land Council).

The final report from the ‘Visible Approaches to Governance’ (Project Leader Veronica Arbon) project will also inform the Social Science Program.

To date the Social Science Program has organised workshops in Collaborative Methodologies with Waltja, is developing an engagement protocol and has performed a valuable role in communicating principles and methodologies across the Desert Knowledge CRC's research program.

Attached are two Welcome to Country cards: one for use on Arrernte land, and one for use on other Aboriginal peoples' land. The card enforces a protocol for acknowledging the traditional owners of specific Aboriginal country that has been adopted by the Desert Knowledge CRC Board.

The Desert Knowledge CRC policy is to invite a local Aboriginal elder or Traditional Owner to offer a Welcome to Country for all events sponsored or hosted by the Desert Knowledge CRC.

Within the Desert Knowledge CRC, the Statement of Acknowledgement of Arrernte Land is to be used in the following manner:

• On meeting agendas and read out at the commencement of such meetings
• Used by employees when opening meetings involving external stakeholders
• At significant civic events or forums where it has not been possible to organise an elder or traditional owner.

The acknowledgement and repeated use of a Welcome to Country helps to inform people and show a commitment in our endeavour to embrace the concepts behind Aboriginal engagement. The Statement of Acknowledgement is an advisory or suggested set of words. One’s own words can be used to acknowledge Arrernte Country or any other Language Group depending on the particular area, as long as the essential meaning  (honouring traditional custodianship) comes across in the acknowledgment.