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Australia must invest in Indigenous knowledge systems to secure the country's social and economic future, the Dean of The University of Western Australia's School of Indigenous Studies, Winthrop Professor Jill Milroy, told a national Indigenous Business, Enterprise and Corporations Conference at UWA this week.

Professor Milroy said knowledge that existed in Indigenous communities was at risk unless action was taken.

"I do think the one thing we haven't invested enough in is ... Indigenous knowledge systems," Professor Milroy said. "We don't invest in them and without them, I don't think we can get very far."

Professor Milroy said that while universities were choosing to invest in areas that would benefit Indigenous communities - such as Indigenous rock art - funding also needed to be directed to establishing Chairs for Indigenous community knowledge-holders and custodians, as well as archaeologists.

"In terms of an education system, Aboriginal people have the oldest living continuing education system in Australia," Professor Milroy said.  "However, we don't recognise it as a knowledge system.

"While we recognise systems in which Western success can be achieved, it's not clear what the plan is for Aboriginal knowledge systems to be provided at the same level as Western - that is, from zero to tertiary education. Aboriginal knowledge must be respected."

Professor Milroy also talked about the need for a change in rhetoric to focus on a positive future.

"We don't as Aboriginal people imagine our future as a presence,' she said.  "We imagine it as absence," referring to an absence of poverty, grief, suicide, hopelessness and other social issues.

"But having got rid of them, what's waiting for us? What's going to make us happy? What's going to fulfill our potential?"

Professor Milroy said today's Indigenous communities need to draw on a positive heritage.

"Some communities can be successful for some time in some places.  What we don't have is a plan for making sure everybody is successful in all times in all places," she said.

"There are less and less people able to guide and look after our (Indigenous) young people and we really have to consider that.

"Properly resourcing Indigenous knowledge systems in communities would ensure that Indigenous children can draw on this heritage in building a rich future.  It is also important for non-Indigenous children to know the Indigenous stories of the country.

"If we don't teach Latin, English or Chinese languages in Australia, it doesn't really matter because we can learn them somewhere else," she said.  "However, there's an economic imperative to teach Aboriginal languages in Australia."

The Indigenous Business, Enterprise and Corporations Conference , convened by the Centre for Social Impact at the UWA Business School , is being held on 3 and 4 December 2012.

Media references

Tammy Solonec (Indigenous Media Consultant)  (+61 4) 57 877 308
Fiona Allan (Conference Manager)  (+61 4) 08 645 634
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783