The Lingiari Foundation Programs Advancing Indigenous Rights The Lingiari Foundation undertakes research on the development of Indigenous rights in Australia, and the relationship between that movement and the international struggle for Indigenous rights. As an independent, Indigenous-controlled non-government organisation, the Foundation provides a forum for consultation on a broad range of Indigenous issues by government bodies, non-government and community organisations. In addition the Lingiari Foundation seeks to work collaboratively with various organisations and agencies, seeking partnerships in campaigns and supportive activities.  The Foundation is also active around a range of other issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Australians, including language, culture, spirituality, biodiversity, economic development, health, education and environmental sustainability. The Foundation supports campaign work on these issues by providing quality research on Indigenous issues, as well as forums for education and debate, email, direct lobbying and letter-writing campaigns. Promoting Reconciliation The Lingiari Foundation sees the achievement of lasting and meaningful Reconciliation as a vital step for the Australian community – Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples – in determining our common future, and is supportive of all existing efforts in the Reconciliation movement. As an independent, Indigenous-controlled organisation, the Lingiari Foundation aims to create much-needed space – forums, meetings and seminars – for Indigenous people to reflect on the current state and future of the future of Reconciliation from Indigenous perspectives. The Foundation is also an alternative voice on issues of Reconciliation within the non-Indigenous media and other public spaces. The creation of strategic alliances with other Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations is a crucial part of the Foundation’s work. These include Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, Reconciliation Australia and the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education. The Foundation works with these and other bodies to create opportunities for interaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In partnership with the Edmund Rice Centre, for example, the Lingiari Foundation is involved in “Let’s Talk International”, a four-year project to develop young people’s skills in dialogue and negotiation. The program takes Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to other cultural contexts that involve issues of conflict and reconciliation. Participants in the program have interacted with communities in Northern Ireland, South Africa and Central and South America, gaining insights into issues of difference and dialogue that they have brought back to the Australian Reconciliation context. [link to ERC site]. The Lingiari Foundation has also partnered with Common Fate to create a series of activities to inspire Australians of considerable influence to engage in the Reconciliation movement. The Common Fate movement arose from discussions culminating in ideas that we, as Australians, must take our share of the responsibility for the common future that we build. It is our Common Fate. The Lingiari Foundation is often involved in seminars, workshops and speeches that promote the dialogue for Reconciliation and further the awareness of all Australians. Developing Indigenous Leadership The Lingiari Foundation has a strong commitment to fostering the skills and confidence of those young Indigenous people who are the emerging leaders taking the movement far into the next century. The Foundation seeks to work closely with other organisations concerned with the development of Indigenous leadership. There are a number of areas that the Lingiari Foundation believes it can offer as part of its series of skill-building forums for young Indigenous leaders: · Building a strong connections between those young people and the movement’s past and current leadership · Developing analysis skills to enable critical engagement in the Australian social, economic and political environment; and · Developing skills in constructing foundation principles (such constitutional or governance issues) of strong social institutions that reflect Indigenous agendas. The Lingiari Foundation is currently organising its inaugural leadership development event – a ‘sit-down’ of some emerging leaders with established leaders and elders. This program is deigned to promote and encourage intergenerational dialogue and information sharing. The stories and legacies that are part of the current leaderships’ consciousness should be made known to inform the ongoing movement for Indigenous rights. The strategies for future developments should incorporate the wisdom from the current leaders and elders with the fresh approach of the emerging leadership. More than a time for talking, it is a time to seriously address some of the fundamental concerns about the future for the Indigenous peoples throughout Australia.