Self Determination

Far from being hunters and gatherers, the first Australians may have managed the biggest

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farming estate on Earth, writes Tony Stephens.

The still common assumption is that Aboriginal Australians in 1788 were simple hunter-gatherers who relied on chance for survival and moulded their lives to the country where they lived. Historian Bill Gammage might have driven the last nail into the coffin of this notion.

Gammage draws striking conclusions from more than a decade's research. [node:read-more:link]

Stanford University Report, July 12, 2012

Hunting with fire appears to benefit Australia's small-mammal populations, say Stanford researchers

Western Australia's Martu people set small fires as a matter of course while hunting lizards. But the technique may also buffer the landscape against two extremes – overgrown brush and widespread lightning fires – that hurt Australia's endangered small mammals.

BY MAX MCCLURE [node:read-more:link]

Swan Valley Nyoongars in Western Australia say that they have reclaimed the controversial Lockridge community camp by setting up a tent embassy and have vowed to fight to stay.

The community has been at the campsite since Thursday, when neighbours say they scaled the fences to gain entry.

Reclaiming territory that has been 'country' for Original Australians for at least 38,000 years, Greg Martin from the Embassy presented Herbert Bropho with a Sovereignty Pack that contains copies of the Pacific Islanders Acts of 1872 and 1875.