When Land Owns People

Abstract

This article explains why the author coined the word "ownee" to explain the relationship of traditional Australian Aboriginals to land in a report commissioned by the Australian Government. A similar relationship is found in a number of other traditional indigenous cultures. The belief system that allows land to have power over people means that there need not necessarily be a conflict with a culture that recognises proprietary rights of ownership. In this way the word ownee" can provide a way to minimise conflicts between the two cultures.

Keywords: Land, Ownership, Proprietary rights.

JEL Classification: K11, Q34, R14