Safeguarding Rights to Cultures and Knowledges

New position paper

Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and cultures are safeguarded is not only beneficial for future generations but is also a fundamental human right for Indigenous peoples.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, whilst non-binding, has been formally endorsed by Australia. The declaration outlines the right to cultural continuity, framing education as an important mechanism to exercise this.

In our latest position paper on safeguarding rights to cultures and knowledges, Ngarrngga advocates for embedding Indigenous perspectives, languages, cultures and histories into Australian education.

This is the seventh paper in the Weaving our Stories project.

Read the paper here.

Citation

Hogarth, M. & Tajima, S. (2026). Safeguarding Rights to Cultures and Knowledges: Position Paper. Ngarrngga. https://doi.org/10.26188/32321004

Our calls to action

• We challenge educators, educational leaders, and educational institutions, from early childhood centres to universities, to critically examine their curricula, teaching practices, and institutional cultures to identify and address any biases, stereotypes, or marginalisation of Indigenous perspectives and knowledges, as well as identify opportunities to strengthen this work.

• We urge the Australian government and education authorities to provide adequate funding and resources to support initiatives, which aim to amplify Indigenous Knowledges and perspectives in education.

• We call upon governments and educational policymakers to prioritise the meaningful integration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and knowledges into the national curriculum across all subject areas and grade levels.

• We encourage all Australians, regardless of their background, to engage with and learn about the histories, cultures, and knowledges of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This can be achieved through attending cultural events, reading works by Indigenous authors, and seeking out opportunities for respectful dialogue and knowledge-sharing.

About Weaving our Stories

The Weaving our Stories project highlights the significance of incorporating Indigenous Knowledges into Australian education and includes a series of position papers as well as additional materials to support educators and educational leadership to effectively advocate for the integration of Indigenous Knowledges in their teaching and learning.