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2.2 Two-way governance
- What is two-way governance?
- The governance environment
What is two-way governance?
Problems can quickly arise when different systems of governance interact.
In Australia today Indigenous people are trying to live under two laws—their own and those of non-Indigenous Australia.
This means they need to have internal cultural legitimacy—that is, the support of the people who share the same values. They also need legitimacy with the external stakeholders (like funding bodies or governments) who play an important role in their organisation and community. This is called ‘two-way’ legitimacy—that is, it’s both internal and external.
Sometimes it can be hard to balance Indigenous cultural processes and rules with the requirements set out by government or funding bodies.
Finding that balance and meeting Indigenous and non-Indigenous requirements means having ‘two-way legitimacy’.
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‘Two-ways’ together The logo of the West Arnhem Shire Transition Committee maps out how Bininj people see themselves and the governance arrangements of their region, both culturally and administratively. The two turtles—one saltwater, the other freshwater - represent the inclusion of people from both the coastal/island and inland communities of West Arnhem. The turtles also refer to dreaming stories of the interaction between these two mythological creatures and 'the two coming together'. The Bininj (black) and Balanda (white) hands clasped together symbolise the two working together in local government—working two-ways—for the benefit of all residents of the region. |
See: Resource 2.5 Snapshot—Preparing a vision and a preamble
The governance environment
Your governance is more than just your extended family group, clan, community or organisation.
You are also part of a wider governance environment made up of other organisations, groups, communities, businesses, companies and governments. They all interact with you and influence how well your governance works.
Some examples of what makes up your external governance environment are:
Each of these has a set of rules and ways of getting things done, and influence how a local community or organisation operates.
Sometimes other groups may support your governance approach and goals. Sometimes they may want you to do things differently, or have very different ideas about how governance should happen.
It is useful to make the most of what you have—resources, contacts, people—and work out how to deal with those things that are stopping you from achieving your goals.
See: Resource 2.6 What can we do?—Evaluating governance
See: Resource 2.7 Tool—Stakeholder analysis
See: Resource 2.8 Template—Our governance stakeholder influence
See: Resource 2.9 Quiz–Do this quiz to check your understanding of what you have learnt in this chapter.
Read next: 3. Getting started on building your governance
Read previous: 2.1 Indigenous governance and culture