Abstract:

Engagement with Indigenous peoples is embedded in an ecological holistic world consisting of webs of social, political, cultural and economic relationships. The connectivity to which ecological thinking often refers does not only exist between humans and the natural world as is often implied. It also encompasses relationships between and amongst human beings themselves - Indigenous and otherwise - and can involve disputes which are multidirectional. Relationships are also nested in changing systems and structures and governance mechanisms which make up situated political economies.

This presentation seeks to bring together theory and practice in a mutually becoming ecological praxis of engagement through the lenses of change and the business of process. Process in this exploration is not to be seen as legal and administrative procedures, but rather as involving specialised communications and tools in place based complex systems. The first part of the presentation considers some of the theoretical issues which arise. The second part reflects on how to take these into account in complex place based systems of decision-making and dispute management practices.

Biography

Toni Bauman is a Director of Dodson, Bauman & Associates Pty Ltd, and until recently was the Senior Research Fellow, Governance, Public Policy, and Cultural Competence, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). She is an anthropologist, coach, mediator, facilitator and trainer who has published widely, made presentations to a range of national and international audiences, facilitated many workshops and forums, and been involved in developing policy for Indigenous organisations and governments. Toni has over thirty years of experience in Indigenous land and native title claims, governance, agreement-making, decision-making and dispute management processes, joint management of protected areas, government policy, art and craft, program evaluation, feasibility studies, tourism and training. She has worked as a staff member and consultant for government departments, statutory authorities and Indigenous organisations.

Her specialisation covers areas such as: community engagement processes; communication skills which achieve sustainable outcomes; Indigenous decision-making and dispute management processes; building partnerships and relationships; alternative consensus building processes such as Deep Democracy; and free prior and informed consent.

In 2016 Toni led the development of and wrote modules for a highly successful online cultural competence program for all Commonwealth employees called Core. She was the chief investigator on the Indigenous Facilitation and Mediation Project at AIATSIS (2003-2006) and subsequently for the Federal Court of Australia’s Indigenous dispute resolution case study project, ‘Solid Work you Mob are Doing’.