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About NAILSMA

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA) is an Indigenous led not-for-profit company operating across north Australia. We work to assist Indigenous people manage their country sustainably for future generations.

The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA) is a leader in finding practical solutions to support Indigenous people to manage their land and sea resources into the future. NAILSMA, a not-for-profit company, has almost two decades worth of experience in delivering complex and challenging programs across north Australia.

We provide Indigenous leadership in the delivery of large-scale and complex programs that meet the environmental, social, cultural, and economic needs of Indigenous people across northern Australia. NAILSMA works with all stakeholders to realise its philosophy of Looking after our country ... our way to empower Indigenous people to take control of their lands and sea.

Fast facts about NAILSMA

  • NAILSMA is recognised by Government and business as being at the forefront of Indigenous thinking about water policy and planning, regional marine planning, Carbon, Indigenous Livelihoods and Indigenous youth leadership.
  • NAILSMA has delivered well over $30 million worth of projects across north Australia, partnering with Indigenous Australians, private and corporate sectors, and the public.
  • NAILSMA is regularly selected through competitive processes to implement and deliver land and sea management projects for Federal and State Governments.
  • NAILSMA brokers partnerships with industry leaders to support innovative Indigenous enterprises by delivering hands-on workshops, tools and knowledge in remote areas.

Our Vision, Values and Approach

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Regardless of how large and complex the challenges are in northern Australia, our approach is driven by the need to foster and grow Indigenous innovation and excellence through partnerships and Indigenous leadership - achieving high impact positive outcomes.

Our Vision

We anticipate that north Australia will be a vibrant region where Indigenous traditional knowledge, cultural values and responsibilities to the land and waters are embedded in all environmental, economic and resource management policies and practices.

We will work to achieve this vision by continuing to: 

  • forge equitable partnerships that foster and support Indigenous innovation and excellence;
  • develop programs that help Indigenous people create and sustain better lives through enterprise and employment, while continuing the inter-generational transfer of Traditional and local knowledge
  • promote new investment in Indigenous land and sea management in north Australia;
  • inform the public, corporations and government, in order to increase awareness and recognition of the rights, capacity and appropriateness of Traditional Owners to own and manage land and sea resources; and
  • collaborate on innovative strategies that integrate cultural, economic, water and carbon economy results that build local capacity and control.

Our Story

Regardless of how large and complex the challenges are in northern Australia, our approach is driven by the need to foster and grow Indigenous innovation and excellence through partnerships and Indigenous leadership - achieving high impact positive outcomes.

The origins of NAILSMA can be traced back to the 1990’s, where a growing northern Indigenous estate and population meant a change in how the north is viewed, not just by Indigenous people, but by many others. 

In 2001, we became a member of the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Savannas Management under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kimberley and Northern Land Council and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation to support emerging Indigenous land and sea management efforts.

In 2003-04 several large northern forums were held to seek input into NAILSMA's charter from Indigenous people. In 2012 we became an independent not-for-profit charitable organization. Our current member is the Northern Land Council.

In 2013 NAILSMA was admitted as a Member organisation of the world’s largest professional global conservation body, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and is the first Indigenous-led Australian organisation to become a member.

Why NAILSMA was founded

Northern Australia is home to the world’s oldest living culture and immense biological and cultural diversity that has become recognized as unique by world standards. While Indigenous people have been present for a long time in northern Australia, our views and aspirations regarding the north have largely gone unnoticed. It is imperative that Indigenous people are fundamentally part of the future foundation of northern Australia. In many ways, northern Australia represents an opportunity to get the balance between conservation, development and the broad range of expectations correct. The organisation was established because of the shared history, circumstances, threats and opportunities relating to the granting, then management of the vast Indigenous land and sea estate in northern Australia. Much of the lands where Indigenous people have a form of ownership or interest in, are also home to unique linguistic and cultural diversity, ancient knowledge systems and unique ecosystems.

The Future

Today we recognise that any future for Indigenous land and sea management has to be built on a comprehensive approach that is driven by the Indigenous community with governments, the private, corporate and philanthropic sectors. We are promoting a new model based on robust partnerships through a culture-based economy, which we view as vital to the sustainable development of the north.