Traditional owner responses to legislative recognition of Aboriginal intangible heritage in Victoria

The presentation looks at the intangible Aboriginal heritage provisions recently introduced into the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic). The purpose of this presentation is threefold. First, to describe the provisions of the new AIH regime and to reflect upon its likely practical applications; second, the discussion will examine the place of intangible cultural heritage protection in a range of international instruments. Finally, the discussion will consider the responses of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations to the introduction of the new provisions both in terms of the opportunity to protect intangible heritage, derive an economic benefit from this heritage and to expand the currently limited notions of Aboriginal heritage both intangible and intangible that circulate within the broader Victorian community.