Cox, Barbara; McCarthy, Francine --- "1999 Central Australian Women's Law and Culture Meeting" [1999] IndigLawB 94; (1999) 4(25) Indigenous Law Bulletin 18

• 1999 Central Australian Women's Law And Culture Meeting

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1999 Central Australian Women's Law and Culture Meeting

By Barbara Cox and Francine McCarthy

This year's Women's Law and Culture Meeting, held in August, was hosted by senior Pintubi women from Warlukurlangu (Kintore) community, 500 km west of Alice Springs. Approximately 800 Aboriginal women from 20 language groups throughout central, western and southern Australia and interstate attended the meeting. Participation by interstate women was by invitation.

In previous years, two Womeris Law and Culture meetings have taken place; one supported by the Central Land Council ('CLC'), hosted by communities within the southern region of the Northern Territory, and another supported by the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara ('NPY') Womeris Council, hosted by communities within South Australia and Western Australia.

The first Women's Law and Culture meeting supported by the CLC was held in March 1993. It was hosted by senior Alyawarra women from the Utopia area, and was very successful. Since then, similar meetings have been hosted annually by senior Aboriginal women in various communities within central Australia.

Aboriginal women have strongly supported the continuation of these meetings, as they provide a valuable opportunity for performing ceremony and passing on women's culture to the younger generation. The meetings play an important role in keeping women's culture strong within central Australia. They also provide a venue for exchanging knowledge between women who are separated by vast distances, but who nevertheless share links through common ceremonies and dreaming stories.

In response to requests by Aboriginal women, the Central Land Council, on behalf of the host women, annually seeks grant funding and donations to ensure that these meetings are continued. The local ATSIC Regional Councils have been the main sources of funding, with local businesses and organisations also providing funding support through donations. Recently, Community Aid Abroad has also provided grant funding. The Central Land Council assists by providing transport, ensuring medical care is available, organising the food and other on-site requirements, and ensuring access to the meeting and the meeting area is prepared in accordance with the directions of the host women.

Barbara Cox is an Arrernte women from the region north east ofAlice Springs and is CLC Women's Issues Officer.

Francine McCarthy is a Warumungu woman from the Tennant Creek region and is a CLC Policy Officer.