The TerritoryLabor Government hosted an Aboriginal Place Naming Forum in Alice Springs thisweek to hear directly from the community regarding their experiences, needs andexpectation around the use of Aboriginal languages in place names across theTerritory.
The naming ofplaces in the Northern Territory is important to preserving and commemoratingthe Northern Territorys history, culture and its people.
This Governmentis focused on ensuring that places across the Territory recognise and elevateAboriginal identity, language and history in the everyday.
An importantcomponent of this is engaging with the community across the Northern Territoryto develop and enhance Aboriginal place naming practices.
The Forumcoincides with a regional meeting of the Place Names Committee for the NorthernTerritory as well as a meeting of the national Permanent Committee on PlaceNames.
The nationalPermanent Committee on Place Names is carrying out a review of the nationalPrinciples for the Consistent Use of Place Names, a set of nationalprinciples and practices for place naming.
As stated bythe Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler:
The Territory Labor Government promised to elevate ourAboriginal heritage to make it a part of the everyday, and the naming andrenaming of places is one way of doing this. It also highlights ourGovernments strong agenda on local decision making.
2019 is theInternational Year of Indigenous Language and it is only right that wecontinue to develop and work with Aboriginal people on place-naming practicesin order to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal people, their history andtheir culture.
We arelistening to the community - once feedback is received, the Place NamesCommittee will develop a priority dual and Aboriginal place naming list inconsultation with communities.
I thank all ofthe local government councils and organisations for being so supportive becauseits important that we engage with the community right across the NorthernTerritory to further develop and enhance our current practices - this is a goodexample of how communities can be involved in their planning system.
