Understanding kinship: indigenous people and law - 13 March 2012

University of Sydney | Sydney Law School Events

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Please note: places are strictly limited and filling fast.

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About the event

Join the Institute of Criminology for Lynette Riley's 'Kinship' presentation. Lynette Riley, Academic Coordinator of the Koori Centre, University of Sydney, will take participants through a kinship system demonstrating the components of moiety, totem, skin names, language and traditional affiliations, and individual identity. Through Lynette's presentation participants will begin to see why Aboriginal people face particular problems when interacting with the mainstream Australian legal system.

The Law Reform Commission of Western Australia Report Aboriginal Customary Laws (Final Report, The interaction of WA law with Aboriginal law and culture, Project 94, September 2006, p. 66) highlighted the importance of Kinship to Aboriginal people:

"Kinship is at the heart of Aboriginal society and underpins the customary law rules and norms... Importantly, kinship governs all aspects of a person's social behaviour...

It is important to note...that while the kinship system was an undeniable part of traditional Aboriginal society...it is also strongly instilled in contemporary Aboriginal society, including urban Aboriginals...certain kinship obligations, such as the duty to accommodate kin, are taken very seriously regardless of urban or remote location."

Although the kinship systems throughout Australia are extremely varied and it is not possible in this forum to examine the differences between them, participants in the workshop will gain a new and deeper understanding of how a kinship system operates.

By the end of the workshop participants will have gained insight into:

• The social structure of Aboriginal society
• How this social structure and world view differs from the western liberal world view
• How this difference impacts upon Aboriginal people in the Criminal Justice System and the legal system more broadly

This workshop will be of interest to:

• Legal practitioners in Criminal Law, Family Law and Care and Protection, intellectual property, Native Title, and any areas that involve Indigenous Australians.
• Government personnel who interact with Indigenous Australians (especially DOCS, Juvenile Justice and Corrective services)
• The Magistracy and Judiciary
• Police
• Students

The workshop will be facilitated by Tanya Mitchell, Lecturer in Criminal Law and Indigenous People and the Law at Sydney Law School. Tanya was a senior solicitor-advocate with the Aboriginal Legal Service in NSW and also with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency in the Northern Territory before joining Sydney Law School as a full-time academic in 2010.

Numbers are limited to 80 so be sure to register early.

Group discounts are available. Please contact the Institute of Criminology for details. Email:law.criminology@sydney.edu.au

Light refreshments provided.

Lawyers/barristers: attendance at thisworkshop is equal to 2 MCLE/CPD units. For a full program of current MCLE/CPD eligible events, please click here.

Time: 6-8pm (registration from 5.30pm)

Location: Sydney Law School, New Law Building, Eastern Ave, University of Sydney

Cost: Full fee $27.50; SLS Alumni $22; F/T students $16.50 (all inc GST)

Contact: Event Coordinator

Phone: 9351 0238

Email: law.events@sydney.edy.au