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Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP)

Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) refers to creative expressions of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culture, such as:

  • Writing, e.g. a book, poetry
  • Music, e.g. a song
  • Performances, e.g. dance, ceremonies
  • Artistic work, e.g. painting
  • Languages
  • Tangible cultural property, e.g. sacred sites, burial grounds
  • Intangible cultural property, e.g. stories passed on orally

Documentation of Indigenous peoples’ heritage in all forms of media, reports, films, sound recordings. (Source: Artists in the Black, Arts Law Information Sheet).

Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the curriculum may involve the use of ICIP.  While Australian intellectual property law doesn’t protect all forms of ICIP, it is important to respect cultural sensitivities and the importance of ICIP.

The following resources are available to support schools’ use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge and art.

Resource

Agency/Organisation

Video: What is ICIP?

Arts Law Centre of Australia

Information Sheet: ICIP

Arts Law Centre of Australia

Guideline: What are ICIP rights?

Smart Copying

Protocol: Protocols for the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland State Schools

Department of Education, Queensland

Protocol: Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

  • List of principles: page 26
  • Project checklist: page 169-172
  • Templates for cultural sensitivity warning, Traditional Custodians notice: page 173

Creative Australia. Australian Government

Guideline: AIATSIS Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

FIRST Framework

Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)

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