Celebrating and Protecting Indigenous Art: Terri Janke at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

16 July 25

By Raine Le Lievre

In NAIDOC week, Dr Terri Janke travelled to Far North Queensland to attend the annual Cairns Indigenous Art Fair – a vibrant event shining light on the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, culture, and advocacy. As a part of the event’s Mark Markers series curated by Jack Wilkie-Jans, Terri presented a keynote on the proposed Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Law (ICIP), highlighting critical issues that the law would need to consider. As Chair of the ICIP Expert Working Group for the legislation, Terri attended the event with the support from the Office of the Arts, alongside Patricia Adjei, Director of Stand-alone legislation team at Office for the Arts, and lawyer Lucy Hannan.

Lucy Hannan, Lawyer, Office of the Arts, Dr Janke, and Stand-alone legislation team at Office for the Arts Director, Patricia Adjei.

Terri addressed the significant gaps within Australia’s copyright law, which currently falls short of protecting the communal, enduring, and often non-material forms of Indigenous cultural heritage. She spoke about the need for legal protocols that empower Indigenous peoples to reclaim, protect, and manage their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions — from stories and designs to sacred practices. A key concern raised was the widespread issue of inauthentic Indigenous-style art in the souvenir market, with studies revealing that a sizeable portion of products sold as Indigenous art are not made by Indigenous peoples. The proposed ICIP legislation aims to address this through stronger protections such as regulating the import of fake items, introducing labelling and certification schemes, prohibiting the creation and sale of unauthorised products, and enforcing penalties for breaches. These reforms would play a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of Indigenous culture and ensuring communities benefit from the commercial use of their cultural expressions.

Dr Janke presenting at Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 

Platforms such as the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair are vital in this progression, illuminating Indigenous artists and creating a space for their work to be seen and celebrated. One of the highlights of the event was the Innovation Award, proudly sponsored by Terri Janke and Company. The award was presented to Alick Tipoti, a renowned Torres Strait Islander artist from Badu Island, for his work Mawaw Danaka (2025). Tipoti’s work intricately weaves the culture and stories of his people through both traditional performance elements and physical artworks. His leadership and creativity inspire a new generation of Torres Strait Islander Artists, and this recognition reflects the importance of Indigenous-led storytelling in reclaiming cultural narratives and preserving knowledge for future generations. 

Terri Janke and Alick Tipoti.  

Events like CIAF play a powerful role in celebrating Indigenous art while also creating spaces for conversations about cultural rights and self-determination. Through this platform, we are reminded of the deep beauty and value of Indigenous cultural expression, and the ongoing work required to protect and honour it.