Sovereignty

What this term means, how it is used, and why it matters.

Sovereignty over Indigenous nations was never ceded in the wake of colonisation. Credit: Grant Faint/Getty Images

Definition

Refers to the authority and law of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures that was never ceded, and continues alongside the Australian state.

Context

Includes self-determination, governance, and control over land and resources.

Usage notes

Related terms

Country, Law