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MS1867 

Aboriginal Treaty Committee Papers
1979-1983

 

ACCESS AND SCOPE

Access

Most of the material is open access - reading; open copying and quotation for private study. 
Copyright resides with the authors of texts, letters, articles, etc.  Material which requires Principal's permission to read and copy is Boxes 9-16 (Item 149a); Box 26 (Items 147-149, Items 244-245).

Various typescript documents in good condition. 27 boxes, 246 items.

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HISTORICAL NOTE

Aboriginal Treaty Committee, 1979-1983

The Aboriginal Treaty Committee, a voluntary non-government private body, was established on 29 April 1979 for the purpose of obtaining and spreading information on the need for a formal Treaty agreement between the Commonwealth Government and Aboriginal representatives chosen by Aborigines to negotiate on their behalf. Its activities included the publication of newspaper advertisements, the book, It's Coming Yet, a number of pamphlets on land rights, media publicity, the organisation and encouragement of academic and public seminars and conferences and nine issues of Aboriginal Treaty News. The Committee terminated in November 1983. See also Dr. H.C. Coombs' papers relating to the establishment of the Committee, MS 1897.

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SERIES LIST AND LOCATION GUIDE

 

1-2

Administrative papers of the Aboriginal Treaty Committee 1979-1983

 1-21

3-7

Correspondence

 22-118

7-26

Miscellaneous papers

 119-246

ADMINISTRATIVE PAPERS OF THE ABORIGINAL TREATY COMMITTEE 1979-1983

 BOX 1

Item:

  1. Meeting minutes and agenda.
  2. Meeting minutes and agenda.
  3. Meeting minutes and agenda.
  4. Correspondence with Commonwealth Trading Bank and Price Waterhouse.
  5. Financial statements and Auditor's report.
  6. Finance sub-committee minutes.
  7. Press statements.
  8. Receipts, 1980.
  9. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  10. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  11. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  12. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  13. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  14. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  15. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  16. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  17. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  18. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  19. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  20. Accounts, 1980-1983.
  21. Accounts, 1980-1983.

BOX 2

Item:

21(a)-21(b)  Business entry sheets
21(c)  Bank statements, 1979-1984
21(d) Accounts general journal
21(e) Correspondence record
 21(f) Office banking record, 1979-1980
. 21(g) Payments journal, 1980-April 1981
21(h) Office daybook, 1984
 21(i) Office banking record, 1982-1983
21(j) Bank receipts, 1980-1983
21(k) Banking ledger, 1979-1980

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CORRESPONDENCE

BOX 3

Item:
  1. Office Operations - Childers Street office.
  2. Office Operations - Lease of office and equipment.
  3. Office Operations - Legal correspondence for Committee.
  4. Office Operations - Department of Taxation.
  5. Office Operations - Department of Taxation.
  6. Office Operations - Lectures and interviews by A.T.C. Members.
  7. Office Operations - Correspondence/Committee members.
  8. Office Operations - Correspondence re a Treaty.
  9. Office Operations - Requests for material from non-sponsors.
  10. Office Operations - Support for Treaty - non-sponsors.
  11. Aboriginal Treaty News - General correspondence.
  12. Aboriginal Treaty News - General correspondence.
  13. Aboriginal Treaty News - Subscriptions.
  14. Aboriginal Treaty News - Subscriptions.
  15. Aboriginal Treaty News - Advertising in A.T. News.
  16. Commonwealth Games.
  17. Community Groups - Business community.
  18. Community Groups - Religious community.
  19. Community Groups - Aboriginal organisation - NAIHO, FAIRO, Blackbooks, legal services, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, resource centres.
  20. General groups - Citizens for Democracy and others.

BOX 4

Item:
  1. Conservation Groups - National Conservation Strategy.
  2. Conservation Groups - Human Rights Commission.
  3. Conservation Groups - Environment centres.
  4. Educational Institutions - Student Organisations.
  5. Educational Institutions - Student Organisations.
  6. Educational Institutions - Aboriginal Law Research Unit, University of NSW.
  7. Educational Institutions - Universities and CAE's.
  8. Educational Institutions - Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.
  9. Educational Institutions - Schools.
  10. Media - General file.
  11. Phillip Adams.
  12. Advertising in journals.
  13. Advertising in newspapers.
  14. Advertising sources.
  15. Publications subscriptions.
  16. Overseas Organisations.
  17. United Nations Association of Australia. Correspondence re U.N. Media Peace Prize and copy of award.
  18. Committee Against Racial Exploitation (C.A.R.E.).
  19. Unions.
  20. Aboriginal Land Councils.
  21. 1983 Federal Election Campaign. Fund-raising for Aboriginal candidates.

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BOX 5

Item:

  1. Government, State and Commonwealth - Correspondence with Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
  2. Government, State and Commonwealth - Letter to political parties canvassing attitudes to negotiating a treaty.
  3. Government, State and Commonwealth - Correspondence with politicians.
  4. Government, State and Commonwealth - Correspondence with political parties on general attitudes to Aboriginal issues.
  5. Government, State and Commonwealth - Australian Democrats, correspondence and policy.
  6. Government, State and Commonwealth - A.L.P. policy and comments.
  7. Government, State and Commonwealth - Government lists.
  8. Government, State and Commonwealth - State Parliament correspondence.
  9. Government, State and Commonwealth - Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
  10. Government, State and Commonwealth - Prime Minister (1983).
  11. Government, State and Commonwealth - Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
  12. Government, State and Commonwealth - Office for Community Relations.
  13. Aboriginal Groups - Draft letter to groups and individuals re recording their views, sample questions.
  14. Aboriginal Groups - General correspondence.
  15. Aboriginal Groups - Land Rights, 1979-1980.
  16. Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
  17. National Aboriginal Conference.
  18. Land Rights legal papers - General papers and correspondence with legal services and representatives.
  19. Land Rights legal papers - General papers and correspondence with legal services and representatives.
  20. Land Rights legal papers - Noonkanbah.
  21. Land Rights legal papers - Queensland Land Rights legislation including 'Deeds of Grant in Trust'.
  22. Conferences - 'Implications of an Aboriginal Treaty', Anthropological Society of W.A., April, 1981. 'Aboriginal Treaty or Makaratta', A.N.U., Centre for resource and Environmental Studies, May, 1981. 'Human rights for Aboriginal people in the 1980's', University of N.S.W., Faculty of Law, Nov. 1981.
  23. Conferences - 'Aborigines and international law', A.N.U., Public Affairs Programme, Nov., 1983.
  24. Conferences - 'Fourth Russell Tribunal on the Rights of Indians', Rotterdam, November 1980.

BOX 6

Item:

  1. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Canberra Support Group.
  2. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  3. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  4. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - A.N.U. Aboriginal Support Group.
  5. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  6. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.S.W. Lismore (Ms. Belcher).
  7. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.S.W. Paddington (Ms. J. Byrnes).
  8. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.S.W. Mona Vale (Mrs. P. Beasley).
  9. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.S.W. Gordon ( Mrs. B. Fulton).
  10. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.S.W. Turramurra (Dr. R. Langley).
  11. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Brisbane.
  12. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Bundaberg.
  13. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Rockhampton.
  14. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  15. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Townsville (Noel Loos).
  16. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Boonah-Kalbah.
  17. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Gold Coast 1980-1983 (Sylvia Monk).
  18. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Gold Coast 1980-1983 (Sylvia Monk).
  19. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Q.L.D. Gold Coast 1980-1983 (Sylvia Monk).
  20. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  21. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - N.T. Alice Springs.
  22. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - S.A. Adelaide.
  23. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  24. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - TAS. Ferntree (Tom Errey).
  25. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  26. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - VIC. Melbourne.
  27. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - VIC. Geelong.
  28. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - VIC. Melbourne State College.
  29. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - Interest expressed in support group movement in individual states.
  30. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - W.A. Mt. Lawley.
  31. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - England.
  32. Aboriginal Treaty Committee Support Groups - West Germany.

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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

BOX 7

Item:
  1. Fund-raising projects - Book club.
  2. Fund-raising projects - Book club.
  3. Fund-raising projects - Book club.
  4. Fund-raising projects - Judith Wright-McKinney's correspondence re ATC book.
  5. Fund-raising projects - Film lists.
  6. Fund-raising projects - Film Festival.
  7. Fund-raising projects - Manuscript collection, correspondence with authors, National Library, catalogue.
  8. Fund-raising projects - Manuscript collection, correspondence with authors, National Library, catalogue.
  9. Fund-raising projects - Manuscript collection, correspondence with authors, National Library, catalogue.
  10. Fund-raising projects - Manuscript collection, correspondence with authors, National Library, catalogue.
  11. Fund-raising projects - Manuscript collection, correspondence with authors, National Library, catalogue.
  12. Fund-raising projects - Myer Foundation.
  13. Fund-raising projects - Oral programme.
  14. Fund-raising projects - Publications.
  15. Fund-raising projects - Embroidery.

BOX 8

Item:
  1. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'It's coming yet'.
  2. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'It's coming yet'.
  3. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'It's coming yet'.
  4. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'It's coming yet'.
  5. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'It's coming yet'.
  6. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - 'Making a Treaty: the North American experience', by D. Barwick.
  7. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - Possible publications.
  8. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - Pamphlets, poster.
  9. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - Land Rights publications.
  10. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - Other publications including cards.
  11. Publications by Aboriginal Treaty Committee - Other publications including cards.
  12. Aborigine Art Exhibition, Sydney, 9 January-1 February 1981.
  13. Speakers; volunteers prepared to speak on Treaty concept and other issues to groups.
  14. Letters to and response from supporters during fund drives.
    (Restricted access - held in Box 26)
  15. Letters to and response from supporters during fund drives.
    (Restricted access - held in Box 26)
  16. Letters to and response from supporters during fund drives.
    (Restricted access - held in Box 26)

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BOX 16

Item:

149(a) Envelope address files containing original letter of support.

BOX 17

Item:
  1. Resource material - Land rights kit prepared for Commonwealth Games, 1982.
  2. Resource material - 'Aboriginal rights in international law', by Gordon Bennett, 1980.
  3. Resource material - Human rights Bill, 1973.
  4. Resource material - Aboriginal Land Rights Commission, second report, April 1974 (Woodward report).
  5. Resource material - Papers on Makarrata.
  6. Resource material - Kembi land claim.
  7. Resource material - N.T. Land Rights Bill, 1976, 1979.
  8. Resource material - N.T. land claims negotiation, 1981.
  9. Resource material - Miscellaneous papers on Aboriginal land rights, law and treaty.
  10. Resource material - Transcript of cable to K. Colbung from Indian Association of Alberta, Canada.
  11. Resource material - Aboriginal comments on Makarrata.
  12. Resource material - Murray Island land claim and correspondence.
  13. Resource material - AMAX material.

BOX 18

Item:
  1. Resource material - Papers and tape transcripts by H.C. Coombs concerning Treaty and land rights.
  2. Resource material - Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, papers and report.
  3. Resource material - World Council for Indigenous Peoples Conference, 1981, correspondence and papers.
  4. Resource material - World Council for Indigenous Peoples Conference, 1981, correspondence and papers.
  5. Resource material - World Council for Indigenous Peoples Conference, 1981, correspondence and papers.
  6. Resource material - Sociological studies.
  7. Resource material - Sociological studies.

BOX 19

Item:
  1. Conference papers presented by ATC - Australasian Political Studies Association Conference, August, 1981.
  2. Conference papers presented by ATC - 'Aborigines and international law', ANU, 1983.
  3. Conference papers presented by ATC - 'Race relations', seminar, James Cook University, Townsville, 1981.
  4. Conference papers presented by ATC - 'Race relations', seminar, James Cook University, Townsville, 1981.
  5. Conference papers presented by ATC - 'Race relations', seminar, James Cook University, Townsville, 1981.

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BOX 20-21

Item:

174(a) North American Indians

BOX 22

Item:
  1. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty Committee. Newsletter. 20 May 1980.
  2. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty Committee. Newsletter. 1 October 1980.
  3. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 1.
  4. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 2.
  5. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 3.
  6. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 4.
  7. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 5.
  8. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 6.
  9. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 7.
  10. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 8.
  11. Publications - Aboriginal Treaty News, No. 9.
  12. Publications - Information brief for 'It's coming yet'.
  13. Publications - 'A Makaratta - the legal options'.
  14. Publications - 'The importance of Noonkanbah'.
  15. Publications - 'We call for a treaty', pamphlet.
  16. Publications - 'It's coming yet', by Stuart Harris.
  17. Publications - 'It's coming yet', by Stuart Harris.
  18. Publications - 'Four stories', by Hugh Lunn.
  19. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  20. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  21. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  22. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  23. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  24. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  25. Publications - Land rights pamphlets for all Australian states.
  26. Publications - 'Support a Treaty'.
  27. Publications - 'The Makaratta - some ways forward'.
    201 (a)    Publications - Coombs, H. C. 
                    'Signing an Australian Peace Treaty'
                     Social Alternatives, Vol. 1, nos. 6/7, 1980

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BOX 23

Item:

202-212 Background material used in Aboriginal Treaty News.

BOX 24-25

Item:

213-243 'We call for a Treaty' by Judith Wright-McKinney, manuscript and source material.

BOX 26

Item:

244. Sponsorship.
245. Items added by Judith Wright / August 1988

BOX 27

Item:

246. Senate. Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs. 
        (Reference: Legal Feasibility of Makarrata)
        1982 [Transcript of Proceedings]


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Guide updated by AIATSIS Library April 2001.