Future Recognise rebrand on the table

Recognise says a rebranding may be on the cards after Aboriginal Australia rejected symbolic recognition in the constitution.

Recognise says it may need to rebrand its campaign after Aboriginal Australia abandoned symbolic constitutional recognition, but says it's in no hurry to do so with the referendum debate ongoing.

Aboriginal leaders at the national indigenous summit at Uluru on Friday rejected a simple acknowledgement of indigenous people in the constitution.

Instead they decided in favour of a constitutionally-enshrined representative body and a treaty.

The change raised serious questions over the future of Recognise, the government-sponsored marketing campaign that has received millions of dollars in funding since 2012 to build community support for the cause.

"As we look through the next couple of months, if there's branding issues to be sorted out then we'll sort them out," Recognise Joint Campaign Director Mark Yettica-Paulson told AAP.

"One thing's for sure, we're not going to rush to a rebrand now because of the strong statement from Uluru."

Mr Yettica-Paulson noted the historic gathering was one of a number of contributing voices to the discussion over what a referendum might look like, and any model still requires bipartisan political support.

"Our best bet is to not start planting stakes in the ground, our best bet is to let the process continue its negotiation and dialogue and keep all things on the table," he said.

Recognise has enlisted high profile Aboriginal ambassadors including Adam Goodes, while footy clubs and companies from BHP to Qantas are also involved.

With Reconciliation Week in full swing, Mr Yettica-Paulson insisted years of Recognise campaigning hadn't been a waste.

He says the Uluru proposals are designed to secure both recognition and provide a counter to the discriminatory elements in the constitution.

On Monday Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce warned the ambitious Uluru proposals were unlikely to garner sufficient support amongst Australians at a referendum.

Federal Labor frontbencher Linda Burney, a Wiradjuri woman, said they were all "very possible" and the task now was to see how they could be applied.

Greens MP Adam Bandt said when it came to a referendum, the parliament was probably more conservative than the Australian population.

"It's time for a treaty in Australia," he said.

"You only have to look across the ditch to New Zealand to see what difference a treaty makes."

The central theme for the 19th annual Garma festival of Indigenous culture, which will take place between 4-7 August near Gove in northeast Arnhem Land.


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Source: AAP



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