Author: Marcus Dilena
Dilena, Marcus, 2020 Is there a future for Lajamanu? One that provides a new approach to the governance of Lajamanu, safeguards the rights of the community and progressively seeks to overcome its socio-economic disadvantages, Flinders University, College of Business, Government and Law
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This thesis explores the relationship between the small remote Indigenous community of Lajamanu in the Northern Territory of Australia and the government (federal, territory and shire). It poses the question of whether there can there be a fruitful future for the Warlpiri people that form the Lajamanu community; one which will overcome their continuing socio-economic disadvantage; one which satisfies both the Lajamanu Warlpiri community and government. The purpose of this exercise is to research the possibilities and probabilities of providing a new approach to the governance of Lajamanu that safeguards the rights of the community and progressively seeks to overcome its socio-economic disadvantages.
A significant component of this thesis is extensive qualitative field research to reveal the views and opinions of a wide range of Lajamanu residents (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) and of people engaged in government agencies that relate to Lajamanu. This new research material represents a substantial addition to the existing scholarly literature. The information gained by the field research (detailed in Chapters Six, Seven and Eight) has been linked to the Literature Review (Chapter Nine). The collation of both the literature, the new research and the other relevant chapter material proves to be most revealing. The new research supports and adds to the views and arguments of the literature and establishes that there appear to be certain key factors that could be applied to facilitate changes that will enable a more equitable future for Lajamanu.
There are nine recurring key factors that should be considered in any process seeking to build a satisfactory future for the Lajamanu community. Each factor is of value in its own right and therefore worth adoption, but may be less effective than the application of all nine. The key factors are:
• Sovereignty, rights and retention of Warlpiri identity
• Leadership and management capacity training and assistance: fostering traditional leadership and development in useful ways
• Supporting traditional leadership and management constructs and re-constructs.
• Hybrid or some alternative structured and sustainable socio-economic development
• Education Development
• Freeing up government resources, funding and strategies
• Long term policies, long term sustainable funding and long-term expectations
• Overcoming the sit-down mentality...learned helplessness
• Thinking small and concentrating on each community as a separate entity
These nine key factors are specific to Lajamanu but may also prove to be applicable to other Indigenous communities when adapted and shaped to their cultural needs.
Given the copious amount of well-researched, well-documented arguments in favour of the key factors it is difficult to understand why government has not more enthusiastically opted to explore their worth more fully.
Keywords: Aboriginal rights, policy,responsibility & future possibilities
Subject: Policy and Administration thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2020
School: College of Business, Government and Law
Supervisor: Assoc. Professor Jane Robbins