Indigenous Nationhood in the absence of recognition: Self-governance insights and strategies from three Aboriginal communities.

Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communitieseconomic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communitiesby learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration withthree Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and NSW that are differentially engaged inIndigenous governance processes, the project will identify innovation in community governance, test theusefulness of Australian governance assessment tools, and foster an Indigenous Australian and globalnetwork to share successful strategies. In doing so, the project contributes to an emerging theory ofIndigenous nation building.