What are Indigenous-led governance systems?

The term 'Indigenous-led governance' is one that has gained increasing visibility in Australian policy and program delivery.

But what is 'Indigenous-led governance'?

Indigenous-led governance systems act as a specific signifier that Indigenous corporations, Indigenous councils, Indigenous programs and even entities such as native title prescribed bodies corporate are operating within the Western governance system.

What does this mean?

A comparison is a helpful way to see. Indigenous governance systems by nature and design are Indigenous led. That is, the Indigenous ‘led-edness’ is not a feature or characteristic, it is intrinsic. Indigenous law is the foundation and the operational default.

This is compared to Indigenous-led governance systems which most commonly refers to those operating within a broader Western governance system. This might be, for example, within an organisation, business or government, or within a funded program or specific legal process.

Indigenous-led governance systems are operating within a Western governance system.

Why does this matter?

It matters because this positioning of an Indigenous-led governance system as reliant on the permission of a broader Western governance system for its creation, continuity and existence means Indigenous-led governance systems can be fragile.

This is not to critique but to understand and emphasise that there are governance limits in practice.

Recognising this fragility is important both for Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders. For, if any specific Indigenous-led governance system is to succeed in its remit, a responsiveness to this fragility should be built into its processes and agreements (to the extent that it can).

It is also reminder to all stakeholders that an Indigenous-led governance system is by virtue of its relationship to the broader Western governance system, insecure.

And, that an Indigenous-led governance system is not an Indigenous governance system it is a compromise.

Author: Dr Heron Loban, Managing DIrector