YMAC FACT SHEET
Return of Materials Returning cultural information to the appropriate party/ies is a critical part of the native title process. The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) outlines how representative bodies, like YMAC, are required to deal with these materials (under section 203FCA). To effectively perform this function, YMAC has developed options for returning such materials, including a best practice process. This approach is used as a basis for engagement (or re-engagement) with Traditional Owners and Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs)1 in a culturally appropriate way. Over the many years of native title research work for each group, a large quantity of research material will have been collected by YMAC anthropologists and consultants. This includes: • photographs, • field notes, • audio and video of interviews/fieldtrips, • maps, • ethnographic and historical documents, and • the Connection Report (and other reports created for native title purposes).
1 Note, for simplicity, YMAC uses the term “PBC” in most publications to refer to both Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBCs). This is in line with terminology that is regularly used in the native title sector.
YMAC has developed a number of different ‘models’ to return these materials to the relevant PBC, which consider the various factors for how this information can be most appropriately returned, including: • cultural sensitivities (e.g. family information and gender restricted information), • legal issues, • ethical constraints, • confidentiality, and • copyright and policies from relevant institutions. YMAC’s best practice model includes comprehensive workshopping with the PBC of all the relevant materials with a committee, Elders and family representatives, as appropriate. Following this process, YMAC can then help the PBC to develop a policy about looking after and accessing the materials in a culturally appropriate way. Our Research Team welcome the opportunity to discuss options and YMAC’s return of materials models with PBCs. Please call our Perth office for more information.