Moving beyond native title: A case study of integrating cultural, environment and economic values on Roebuck Plains Station, Broome, Western Australia

Abstract

Native title recognition may go some way towards overcoming the dispossession of, and discrimination against, Indigenous Australians. Nonetheless, native title recognition brings with it an array of challenges for Indigenous communities. Due to well-documented shortfalls, native title alone does not bring resilience, prosperity or empowerment to traditional owners. Indigenous communities need mechanisms for overcoming risk and uncertainty, such as partnerships, data ownership, internal capacity and culturally driven development agendas. Working in partnership with the Yawuru community of Broome, Western Australia, this thesis has used an adaptive and reciprocal qualitative approach to explore future management directions of a recently acquired asset, Roebuck Plains Station (RPS). Divested from the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) in September 2014 as per Yawuru’s exclusive native title rights, RPS is an opportunity for economic, cultural and ecological values to coexist. Continuing to operate as a commercial cattle station, RPS is set to become a designated Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). This approach to land management has implications for rebuilding the Yawuru nation through their investment in pathways to reliable prosperity and resilience. Following an Ecologically Sustainable Rangelands Management (ESRM) workshop on RPS in February 2015, participants were interviewed about their perspectives and visions for RPS. From analysis of the literature and interview data, four key elements for overcoming the shortcomings of native title emerged: diversification of land uses, the importance of Yawuru’s vision, the necessity monitoring regimes and the role of partnerships. A conceptual model was built, linking these elements to post native title (PNT) challenges identified by participants. In addition, the process of value-adding to workshops with follow-up semi structured interviews was analysed as a mechanism enhancing Indigenous management agendas. This thesis demonstrates how the Yawuru community in their management of RPS, alongside major partners, overcome the shortfalls of native title through culturally driven development agendas. Furthermore, the process of enhancing workshops with third parties enables nuanced discussions on culturally driven development agendas to emerge. This ensures that processes remain reciprocal, respectful and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Yawuru community whilst simultaneously ‘building on common ground’ with necessary partners. It argues that the processes used in this research may be broadly applicable to other Indigenous communities in their PNT negotiations. This thesis concludes with an assessment of the management of RPS as a case study for the changing future of rangelands management and Indigenous development agendas. It advocates for recognition of the role of Indigenous communities, knowledge and aspirations in future development in Northern Australia, in particular the Northern Pastoral Industry. Show more