Cultural Protocol
Principles
These Protocols are based on the following principles:
Respect
The rights of Indigenous people to own and control their cultures should be respected. Diversity of Indigenous cultures should be acknowledged and encouraged. Indigenous worldviews, lifestyles and customary laws should be respected in contemporary life.
Indigenous Control
Indigenous people have the right to self-determination in their cultural affairs.
Consultation, Communication and Consent
Indigenous people should be consulted on the way in which their history, community, interviews, lives and families are represented and used.
Indigenous people should be consulted on the use and representation of their Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.
Prior to use, Indigenous peoples should be informed on the implications of consent.
Consultation should address the communal nature of Indigenous society and cultural expression.
Interpretation, Integrity and Authenticity
Indigenous people should be consulted concerning the integrity and authenticity of the ways in which their history, community, interviews, lives and families are represented.
Indigenous people should be consulted concerning the integrity and authenticity of the representation of their cultural and intellectual property.
Secrecy and Confidentiality
The right of Indigenous people to keep secret and sacred their cultural knowledge should be respected. Sacred and secret material refers to information that is restricted under customary law. For instance some information may only be learned or viewed by men or women, or only after initiation.
Indigenous people have the right to maintain confidentiality about their personal and cultural affairs.
Attribution
Indigenous people should be given proper credit and appropriate acknowledgement for their achievements.
Indigenous people should be given proper credit and appropriate acknowledgement for their contributions and roles in the development of stories.
Indigenous people should be given proper credit and appropriate acknowledgement for the use of their cultural material.
Continuing Cultures
Indigenous people have responsibility to ensure that the practice and transmission of Indigenous cultural expression is continued for the benefit of future generations.
This responsibility should be respected by journalists and incorporated in any dealings with material on Indigenous peoples.
Sharing of Benefits
The contribution of Indigenous people should be recognised by payment where appropriate.
Indigenous people have the right to be paid for the use of their Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.
The issue of copyright ownership of the story, image, music, contributions and artwork should be discussed up front.
Indigenous people should have the right to control exploitation of their cultural and intellectual property. If consent is given Indigenous people have the right to share in the benefits from any commercialisation of their Indigenous cultural material.
Recognition and Protection under the Law
Indigenous people have the right to protection of their cultural and intellectual property.
Australian law and policies should be developed and implemented to respect and protect Indigenous rights to their Cultural and Intellectual Property.
ABC Indigenous Resources
Dust Echoes
A series of 12 beautifully animated dreamtime stories from Central Arnhem Land.
Go to the Website
Werde!
Welcome to Us Mob
Follow the lives of central Australian Aboriginal teenagers.
Go to the Website
Mission Voices
Share in the unique culture and history of Victorian Aboriginal (Koorie) people.
Go to the website
Message Club
The site offers school activities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
Go to the website
