The AIATSIS Summit provides a unique forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, leaders, and youth along with Academics, Native Title stakeholders, legal experts, GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector and government representatives to come together and collaborate on the issues that matter most to First Nations peoples.
As one of the largest conferences of its kind, the Summit also offers opportunities to support and strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge and governance and provides a forum to network and establish new relationships.
The Summit will incorporate GLAM and Research topics (2-4 June) and Indigenous Country and Governance topics (4-6 June), along with a dedicated Youth and Emerging Leadership stream across the five-days.
Theme - Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future
This year’s theme Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future pays tribute to a world in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights, knowledge, and voices are recognised, respected, and valued by all Australians today and tomorrow.
Darwin Convention Centre
Sub-themes
- Sustainability / Sustainable futures (Caring for land and sea Country) – Understanding of the deep spiritual and cultural connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with their ancestral lands and water and how it influences their ways of being, knowing and doing.
- Rights, Recognition and Representation (Native title, land rights, ICIP, etc.) - Leveraging Traditional Owner rights for recognition and representation, locally, regionally, and nationally.
- Cultural revitalisation and resurgence – Celebrating the strength, depth, and brilliance of the oldest continuous living culture in the world.
- Intergenerational Knowledge – Recognising the invaluable knowledge, traditions and practices handed down from Elders and ancestors and how they shape the present and future.
- Contemporary Innovations – Celebrating the contemporary contributions and innovations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and practices in various fields, including arts, education, and governance.
Summit 2025 Co-host
Summit 2025 will be hosted in partnership with Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation (LNAC) who is one of Darwin's leading community service organisations. The Larrakia Nation has grown strong in recent years and delivers a wide range of programs and services across the Darwin region. LNAC is one of the largest not-for-profit, non-government employers of Aboriginal people in Darwin.
Learn more on Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
News and Updates
AIATSIS Summit Awards 2025
Nominations for the inaugural AIATSIS Awards have now closed. The inaugural Awards program is dedicated to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence across five key categories:
- Excellence in Cultural Revitalisation, Preservation, and Resurgence
- Excellence in Sustainability and Sustainable Futures
- Excellence in First Nation Collection Care and Management
- Excellence in Youth and Emerging Leadership
- Excellence in Contemporary Innovation
Join us at the 2025 AIATSIS Summit Gala Dinner on Friday, 6 June in Garramilla (Darwin), where the winners will be announced and celebrated. Ticket pricing and registration information can be found here.
Sponsors
Principal Sponsor
Major Sponsor
Summit Champion
Exclusive Airline Sponsor
Youth Delegate Sponsor
Exclusive Satchel Sponsor
Coffee Cart Sponsor