Attending the 2025 AIATSIS Summit on Larrakia Country in Garramilla (Darwin) was a powerful and grounding experience. Over five days, I joined more than 2,000 delegates from across Australia and around the world, coming together under the theme Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening Our Future. What stood out most was the strength, clarity and consistency of Indigenous voices calling for change that is structural, community-led and grounded in culture.
Across the Summit, there was a strong focus on self-determination through governance reform, legally embedded rights and long-term investment. Conversations around Native Title reinforced the need to move beyond recognition toward meaningful outcomes such as compensation, resourcing and nation-building. Many speakers spoke frankly about the reality that Prescribed Body Corporates remain under-resourced, limiting their ability to exercise their rights and responsibilities effectively. The message was clear: recognition without power and support does not deliver justice.
Hearing from national leaders, including our own Chair Professor Tom Calma AO, reinforced the importance of governments shifting decision-making authority back to communities. Calls to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples highlighted that accountability and sustained investment are essential if self-determination is to move from principle to practice.
The global Indigenous perspectives shared throughout the Summit were also incredibly powerful. First Nations leaders from across the world reminded us that while our contexts may differ, the impacts of colonisation and the pathways to justice are deeply connected. A consistent message was that collective action strengthens our ability to protect culture, assert rights and drive long-term systemic change.
The leadership of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation was felt throughout the Summit. Their cultural programming and on-Country experiences demonstrated how strong Aboriginal leadership benefits not only community, but the broader region. It was a reminder that culture, Country and governance are inseparable.
I was particularly struck by the focus on developing the next generation of leaders. The Youth Stream and presentations from groups like the Koorie Youth Council reinforced that young people thrive when Elders and leaders genuinely believe in them and invest over the long term. Empowerment, as many speakers said, is not a short program or a single intervention, but a sustained relationship built on trust and encouragement.
Sessions on Indigenous data sovereignty strongly resonated with me. The call for data to be collected by and for First Nations peoples, and returned to communities in meaningful ways, aligns closely with the way Ninti One approaches ethical research and evidence. Shifting away from deficit-based narratives toward strengths-based data is critical if communities are to control their own stories and futures.
Leaving the Summit, I felt both challenged and energised. The conversations in Garramilla reinforced that real change is already happening where communities are leading, culture is respected and long-term commitments are honoured. I return to my work with a renewed sense of responsibility to support community-led solutions, ethical practice and the collective voices that continue to shape stronger futures for our people.
December 17, 2025
2025 AIATSIS Summit
Attending the 2025 AIATSIS Summit on Larrakia Country in Garramilla (Darwin) was a powerful and grounding experience. Over five days, I joined more than 2,000 delegates from across Australia and around the world, coming together under the theme Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening Our Future. What stood out most was the strength, clarity and consistency of Indigenous voices calling for change that is structural, community-led and grounded in culture.
Across the Summit, there was a strong focus on self-determination through governance reform, legally embedded rights and long-term investment. Conversations around Native Title reinforced the need to move beyond recognition toward meaningful outcomes such as compensation, resourcing and nation-building. Many speakers spoke frankly about the reality that Prescribed Body Corporates remain under-resourced, limiting their ability to exercise their rights and responsibilities effectively. The message was clear: recognition without power and support does not deliver justice.
Hearing from national leaders, including our own Chair Professor Tom Calma AO, reinforced the importance of governments shifting decision-making authority back to communities. Calls to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples highlighted that accountability and sustained investment are essential if self-determination is to move from principle to practice.
The global Indigenous perspectives shared throughout the Summit were also incredibly powerful. First Nations leaders from across the world reminded us that while our contexts may differ, the impacts of colonisation and the pathways to justice are deeply connected. A consistent message was that collective action strengthens our ability to protect culture, assert rights and drive long-term systemic change.
The leadership of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation was felt throughout the Summit. Their cultural programming and on-Country experiences demonstrated how strong Aboriginal leadership benefits not only community, but the broader region. It was a reminder that culture, Country and governance are inseparable.
I was particularly struck by the focus on developing the next generation of leaders. The Youth Stream and presentations from groups like the Koorie Youth Council reinforced that young people thrive when Elders and leaders genuinely believe in them and invest over the long term. Empowerment, as many speakers said, is not a short program or a single intervention, but a sustained relationship built on trust and encouragement.
Sessions on Indigenous data sovereignty strongly resonated with me. The call for data to be collected by and for First Nations peoples, and returned to communities in meaningful ways, aligns closely with the way Ninti One approaches ethical research and evidence. Shifting away from deficit-based narratives toward strengths-based data is critical if communities are to control their own stories and futures.
Leaving the Summit, I felt both challenged and energised. The conversations in Garramilla reinforced that real change is already happening where communities are leading, culture is respected and long-term commitments are honoured. I return to my work with a renewed sense of responsibility to support community-led solutions, ethical practice and the collective voices that continue to shape stronger futures for our people.
Todd Nelson
Project Manager