The Native Title Service Provider responsible for the plot of Queensland land part of the Oscars 'goodie bag' has confirmed no contact from Pieces of Australia or the Academy Awards was made.
Earlier this week company, Pieces of Australia, offered Oscar nominees a souvenir of land - 1sqm - from Queensland as part of their goodie bag at the Academy Awards on Monday night.
Their hamper item offers a small parcel of land in Australia as part of their 'Conservation Gifts Packs' and stipulated in their terms and conditions "you have purchased a symbolic souvenir...of the land".
A digital handbook issued by Pieces of Australia, as quoted by The Guardian, referred to the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network despite having never made contact with them.
"An Aboriginal person, on the other hand, looks at land as something more. They see a living, breathing thing that is deeply connected to their past, present, and future," it states.
"Organisations like the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network, who acts as an industry body, provides valuable resources to Indigenous local organisations."
In a statement made by ICIN, executive officer Anna Boustead and co-chair Cissy Gore-Birch said they have not been contacted by Pieces of Australia.
"The ICIN has no relationship with Niels Chaneliere (Pieces of Australia executive officer) and, to the best of our knowledge, we have not been contacted by him in any way," they said.
"The ICIN has not been approached in any way in regards to The Academy Awards.
"ICIN has not granted permission for any of our information, publications or photos to be reproduced to support the Oscars 'Goodie Bag' or 'Pieces of Australia'.
"It is also important to note that the ICIN does not have any direct relationship with Traditional Owners of the Western Downs region or Barrunggam Nation, where the 'property' purchased by Mr Chaneliere is apparently located."
Queensland South Native Title Services executive officer Kevin Smith said the references made by Pieces of Australia acknowledging the Burungum Nation and the Elders of the land was concerning.
"The website reference to acknowledging the 'Burungum Nation' and paying 'respects to Elders past and present' couldn't be further from the truth," he said.
"He has not even spoken to the Burunggum People, let alone sought their prior permission to use their name in promotional material for commercial purposes.
"I am particularly concerned about the image of an Aboriginal man and young Aboriginal woman appearing beside that acknowledgement if the company hasn't even spoken to those people."
Since the awards, Pieces of Australia have now removed material and ICIN's name from its marketing.
The National Indigenous Times have contacted Pieces of Australia for comment.
