'Indigenous Australians continue to affirm their rights to ownership of their land, resources, cultural expressions, knowledge and legal systems. Although colonisation and the assertion of British sovereignty placed enormous pressure on the active practice of the customs and traditions, Indigenous Australians continue to declare rights to all aspects of cultural heritage and cultural life on the basis of their status as original owners of land, law and culture. Indigenous cultural and heritage rights include rights to cultural resources, arts, songs, stories and knowledge.' (Introduction)