Australia, Aboriginal rights in

For indigenous peoples worldwide, the struggle to gain recognition of rights associated with identities as indigenous peoples is an integral aspect of the quest for self-determination. These struggles take place in complex legal, social, political, and economic fields, and the stakes associated with forms of recognition, such as land rights, are high. In Australia, anthropologists have been involved in Aboriginal rights issues, specifically those concerned with land rights, native title and cultural heritage protection, over many decades. These rights issues reflect the historical and ongoing nature of the relationship between indigenous peoples and nation-states and raise moral issues about loss, restoration, justice and compensation. Anthropological involvement in these issues has not been uncontroversial, mirroring debates in other geographic contexts about the complexities and ambiguities of applied anthropological research.