Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra

Founding Director of Heritage Workshop, Dr James Lesh has examined the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, and its exclusion from heritage lists. In turn, Australia's heritage regime, based on the Burra Charter's values system, has faced challenges in recognizing and respecting Indigenous heritage. This is evident in the difficulties encountered in listing the Aboriginal Tent Embassy—a site of historical and cultural significance for Indigenous Australians—on heritage lists. Centralizing Indigenous agency in heritage management offers a pathway forward. This shift would enable a more equitable and inclusive approach to heritage conservation in Australia, recognizing the historical and ongoing significance of Indigenous culture and heritage.