These Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Principles are a set of standards which collectively illustrate the expectations of First Nations peoples for how the private sector will interact with First Nations cultural heritage. This document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Business and Investor Guide, which provides further detail. The Principles build on Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country): A vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage in Australia (Dhawura Ngilan), embodying the long-held aspirations of First Nations people for their heritage,1 which were endorsed by the Heritage Chairs of Australia and New Zealand following extensive consultations with First Nations stakeholders and peak representative bodies, advisory councils and committees. The Vision aims to inform policy, underpin legislative change and inspire action to protect and conserve Indigenous Cultural Heritage (ICH).2 The Dhawura Ngilan Vision has four broad statements: 1) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Custodians of their heritage. It is protected and celebrated for its intrinsic worth, cultural benefits and the wellbeing of current and future generations of Australians. 2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is acknowledged and valued as central to Australia’s national heritage. 3) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is managed consistently across jurisdictions according to community ownership in a way that unites, connects and aligns practice. 4) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is recognised for its global significance. These Principles are intertwined and should be read holistically. Together, they signify leading practice in First Nations cultural heritage management by businesses and investors. The Principles are also relevant for governments when they are project proponents. In order to demonstrate alignment with the Dhawura Ngilan Vision, businesses and investors must implement all of the Principles. It is recognised that some Principles will be more relevant to some sectors than others, but others can be implemented by actors in any field. Where a Principle touches the value chain of a business, that business has a responsibility to ensure that it is not doing harm. It is a core element of these Principles that good practice does not offset bad practice. Adherence to ten, or twelve, or fifteen principles does not excuse negligence of the remainder. Implementation of these Principles should be proportionate to the size and influence of the organisation.

Principles for Businesses and Investors. Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country): A Vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage

Resource Key: 4ERBHR2H

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Author:

  • Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Initiative

Creators Name: {mb_resource_zotero_creatorsname}

Place: Canberra, Australia

Institution: Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Initiative

Date: 2024

Language: en

These Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Principles are a set of standards which collectively illustrate the expectations of First Nations peoples for how the private sector will interact with First Nations cultural heritage. This document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Business and Investor Guide, which provides further detail. The Principles build on Dhawura Ngilan (Remembering Country): A vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage in Australia (Dhawura Ngilan), embodying the long-held aspirations of First Nations people for their heritage,1 which were endorsed by the Heritage Chairs of Australia and New Zealand following extensive consultations with First Nations stakeholders and peak representative bodies, advisory councils and committees. The Vision aims to inform policy, underpin legislative change and inspire action to protect and conserve Indigenous Cultural Heritage (ICH).2 The Dhawura Ngilan Vision has four broad statements: 1) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Custodians of their heritage. It is protected and celebrated for its intrinsic worth, cultural benefits and the wellbeing of current and future generations of Australians. 2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is acknowledged and valued as central to Australia’s national heritage. 3) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is managed consistently across jurisdictions according to community ownership in a way that unites, connects and aligns practice. 4) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage is recognised for its global significance. These Principles are intertwined and should be read holistically. Together, they signify leading practice in First Nations cultural heritage management by businesses and investors. The Principles are also relevant for governments when they are project proponents. In order to demonstrate alignment with the Dhawura Ngilan Vision, businesses and investors must implement all of the Principles. It is recognised that some Principles will be more relevant to some sectors than others, but others can be implemented by actors in any field. Where a Principle touches the value chain of a business, that business has a responsibility to ensure that it is not doing harm. It is a core element of these Principles that good practice does not offset bad practice. Adherence to ten, or twelve, or fifteen principles does not excuse negligence of the remainder. Implementation of these Principles should be proportionate to the size and influence of the organisation.

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