Lawyer protecting culture and country

THE lawyer who is credited with establishing Indigenous cultural and intellectual property principles and protocols will speak about her trailblazing work at the Bendigo Writers’ Festival.

Dr Terri Janke operates her own law firm specialising in upholding Indigenous intellectual property.

She studied a PHD, which has since been published as a book called True Tracks.

“The book I wrote advocates for people recognising that Indigenous knowledge contributed to so many things that we use in our society,” she said.

“The Aboriginal knowledge system is very oral and people transfer it by going out on country and talking, they’re not writing these books or writing in science journals to recognise to be a part of the knowledge.

“I’ve spent years doing that, there was lack of government will to do it.

“Internationally this is an issue that many First Nations, traditional knowledge holder groups are dealing with, the laws are not favouring their knowledge system.”

At the Respecting Culture session of the festival on Saturday, 14 May, Dr Janke will be interviewed by Janet Bromley, the First Nations Art Officer at the City of Greater Bendigo.

Dr Janke said Bromley’s role gives more confidence to Indigenous creators, especially when the intellectual property protocols are followed.

“Where I work, I can see that shift over the last 10 years where projects try and have indigenous involvement, but it might be seen as not fully understanding or they’re not really doing meaningful engagement,” Dr Jenke said.

“It was always an afterthought for many years.

“With councils and organisations going the front foot here and using protocols, bringing a person in like Janet, it does make Indigenous people feel more comfortable, they do want to engage with councils and share their knowledge and they get that comfort of feeling culturally safe.”