Engaging Indigenous Economy

In September, the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) convened a conference on Engaging Indigenous Economy.

The event coincided with the retirement from CAEPR of its inaugural director Jon Altman (pictured), now an Emeritus Professor of ANU.

Thirty brief 15 minute presentations reflected extensively on Altman’s work over the last 35 years and on the broader theme of how to engage Indigenous ideas of economy.

Presenters came from America, the Netherlands and New Zealand, as well as from many parts of Australia.

Altman’s ‘hybrid economy’ model was a focus of much discussion, as were many elements of public policy relating to Indigenous people. Presenters revisited and assessed the results of the land rights and native title policy revolutions of the late twentieth century as well as more recent ideas for reforming Indigenous land titles.  

Public policy reasoning around ‘gaps’ was analysed and questioned. Ideas of market liberalism within government policy were contrasted with realities which also involved the return of guardianship to policy. The idea of ‘real jobs’ was discussed in terms of its ‘symbolic work’. Indigenous entrepreneurs were identified and discussed, both in private business and in community organisations.

Visit the CAEPR website to see the conference program which includes 300 word abstracts of the presentations.

CAEPR will publish a book via ANU Press based on the conference.