Arrernte Council

The Arrernte Council of Central Australia Aboriginal Corporation trading as Arrernte Workforce Solutions is an Australian Aborigine council for the Arrernte, Eastern Arrernte, Central Arrernte and Western Arrernte people of Central Australia. Their offices are located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The town of Alice Springs is on Arrernte land, and hence there has been an agreement between native title holders the Lhere Artepe Aboroginal Corporation and the Alice Springs Town Council to share this land.

Arrernte Vision

Werte Mwarre-welcome in the Arrernte languageThe Arrernte Council's board vision is a vibrant and energetic successful business that is ecomomically independent whilst promoting and maintaining cultural identity.To provide leadership to the local,national and international community in achieving social change through business development.

Arrernte mission

Arrernte Council aims to provide leadership through community capacity building for its members.The organisation will obtain economic success through its business division Arrernte Workforce Solutions by promoting the development of real jobs,sustainable employment.The community will maintain and promote cultural values and integrity through new ways of business development acting with respect team work and strengthening partnerships

Arrernte 40,000 years of history

The significance of country for Arrernte people is portrayed in the many dreamings, spiritual tracks and ceremonial places that hold traditional links between Arrernte people and their land. Country is a part of cultural heritage, a part of social interaction and cohesion, and a part of the spirituality of being Arrernte.

The Arrernte Nation extends in all directions surrounding the township of Alice Springs. It is the traditional country of the Eastern, Western, and Southern Arrernte family groups living in the Central Australia region.

Traditionally the Arrernte Nation lived in localised family groups in given areas of country. Each group is identified by their country and language, and is traditionally responsible for its social and cultural management and maintenance. Most Arrernte people lived in closely knit smaller groups, which enabled them to follow their family and cultural practices in a manner consistent with their social and traditional structures. All Arrernte people are linked by a skin system, which forms the basis for social and cultural interaction between and among the individual groups.

The historical development of the township of Alice Springs has had a destructive effect on Arrernte families as it created problems of alienation, inequality and the cultural disintegration of customs when the traditional occupants were forced to move from their country. This can be seen by the conflicts that occurred when many displaced families had to inter mingle with larger Arrernte and other Aboriginal groups in a different country, which caused them to make substantial changes to their way of living. Development of the township of Alice Springs has led to the loss of socio – cultural and spiritual characteristics as well as dispossessing Arrernte people of an economic base which is needed in modern times to achieve self sufficiency and self determination. However there still remains a strong sense of identity and belonging as family, and also as a tribal group amongst Arrernte people who live in either town or bush environments.

Companies owned by the Arrernte Council

Arrernte Workforce Solutions;CAL AccreditedConstruction,Servicing,Recruitment and Event Management

Arrernte Population

The population of the Arrernte region is estimated to be approximately 7,500 people. This makes them one of the largest Aboriginal tribal groups in Australia, but smaller than the Pitjantjatjara.

Alternative spellings

"Arrernte" has been spelled in many different ways, including: Aranda, Arranda, Arunta and Arrente. The CAFL football team is called Aranda Football Team. The names are used interchangeably.

External links

* [http://www.orac.gov.au/Search.aspx?State=Northern%20Territory&StateShort=NT Northern Territory organisation on the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations] Arrernte Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre
* [http://www.aboriginalart.com.au]