Cover of the Spring 2001 edition of ATSIC News. Copyright © ATSIC. Used with permission.

The collection featured this month reflects the special theme of the March 2002 issue of D-Lib Magazine—digital libraries for indigenous peoples. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) web site is a web site created not only for—but by—the Aboriginal people of Australia.

ATSIC is Australia's national policy making and service delivery agency for Indigenous people. Established years ago under the ATSIC Act of 1989, the organization embodies "the principle of Indigenous self-determination and forms the principal agency in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs portfolio."

Content at the site touches on almost every aspect of Indigenous life and culture. The web site is currently organized with sections including:

As part of the Media section, copies of the magazine ATSIC News may be found and read online. (Above right the cover of the Spring 2001 issue of ATSIC News is displayed.) ATSIC News is a quarterly publication produced by the National Media and Marketing Office and distributed to Indigenous communities and organizations. The National Media and Marketing Office also "administers the Public Awareness Program under which community organisations can apply for grants to further public knowledge of Indigenous issues and cultures."

Within the "What's New" section, one finds links to several news items about ATSIC activities. For example, the painting shown on The D-Lib Magazine table of contents this month is part of a May 2001 item about last year's National Aborigines' and Islanders' Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Art Awards. A November 2001 news item provides information about the 8th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Sports Awards. "It is often said there is no force more powerful which unites Australians than sport." ATSIC hosts the National Aboriginal and Torres Island Sports Awards and highlights the sports achievements of the Aboriginal people. Below is a photograph of the official poster for the 2001 Sports Awards

Official Poster for the 8th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Sports Awards. Copyright © ATSIC. Used with permission.

Site navigational aids are numerous to provide the site visitor easy access to information. For example, at the "About ATSIC" page, the following navigational links are prominently displayed: ATSIC at a glance; Annual Report; Budget: ATSIC Act; Corporate Plan; Portfolio; Commissioners and Regional Councils; Administration; Commission Files List; ATSIC Procurement; and Online Action Plan. This list of links merely hints at the the great amount of content related to Aboriginal governance, legal, and policy issues one may find at the ATSIC site.

It would not be possible to list in this D-Lib feature all the resources available at the ATSIC web site. Please visit the site yourself to view this excellent example of collected information about, for and by an Indigenous culture.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) web site is at <http://www.atsic.gov.au/>.

Copyright^© 2002 Corporation for National Research Initiatives

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DOI: 10.1045/march2002-featured.collection