ISSN 1839-5279 40 WILL YOUVOTEFOR? NT ELECTION:WHO WARNING : August 2016 1976 -2016 TH

LAND RIGHTSANNIVERSARY LAND THIS ISSUE CONTAINS MANY IMAGES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEASED volume 6. 6. number 2. .4 P. TREATY, YEAH? PG. # .6 P. PICKING WINNERS LINGIARI ARTAWARD: PG. # PG. ## FREE P. 23 NEWS EDITORIAL Bleakest or most exciting times for our mob? Land Rights News Central A WEAKENED Prime expertise, allowing Aboriginal Australia is published by the Minister has scraped together people to manage their own Central Land Council three a narrow victory after an services, the statement said. times a year. election campaign where It also called to restore more The Central Land Council Aboriginal interests barely than $500 million cut from the rated a mention, leaving many portfolio under Prime Minister 27 Stuart Hwy wondering what the next Tony Abbott, including funding Alice Springs parliament has in store for First for the National Congress of NT 0870 Australians. Australia’s First Peoples and Despite a boring campaign new peak representative bodies tel: 89516211 and a widely acknowledged for education, employment and www.clc.org.au crisis in Aboriginal affairs, calls housing “as a matter of national email [email protected] for change from indigenous priority and urgency”. leaders rarely cut through. The statement echoed the Contributions are welcome One of those moments Northern Land Council’s came in June, when many of Joe Morrison who, a week Australia’s peak indigenous earlier, lamented that times in bodies gathered in Sydney Aboriginal affairs have “never SUBSCRIPTIONS to demand a new standalone been bleaker” since former department to deliver programs PM Tony Abbott moved the Land Rights News Central that advance Aboriginal people. portfolio to PM&C. Australia subscriptions are The signatories of the The CEO of the NLC caused $20 per year. Redfern Statement want a stir when he implored LRNCA is distributed free responsibility for Aboriginal Mr Turnbull to replace the affairs to be removed from the responsible minister, the to Aboriginal organisations Department of Prime Minister hapless Senator Nigel Scullion. and communities in Central and Cabinet (PM&C) and given In a speech to the National Australia. to a standalone department Native Title Conference Mr To subscribe email: managed and run by senior Morrison called the minister New senators Malarndirri McCarthy and Pat Dodson (Shadow Assistant [email protected] indigenous public servants. a “failure” and accused him of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) with Linda Burney (Shadow Minister for Policy and service delivery waging an ideological campaign Human Services) . The first Aboriginal woman in the lower house has must be brought together to against land councils and land called Senator Scullion a “failure” as Indigenous Affairs Minister. ensure a central department of rights. indigenous people at heart and comparison, offers only a He cited the “fiasco” of the a commitment to work with the fragile bundle of rights that can ADVERTISING Indigenous Advancement institutional architecture, not be readily extinguished.” Strategy and the “ill-fated” work against it”. He suggested turning Mr Advertise in the only for the dole scheme (see story He said the minister had Scullion’s campaign on its head. newspaper to reliably p.8) as proof that the “meddling always wanted to replace the “If the Land Rights Act reach Aboriginal people in and micro-managing” minister Aboriginal Land Rights Act is good enough for the remote Central Australia. was “not up to the job”. with inferior native title rights Northern Territory, why isn’t Mr Morrison implored Mr (see story p.12). it good enough for the rest of Next publication date: Turnbull “to find a new minister “Senator Scullion knows Australia?” Nov 2016 [who] has the interests of that the Native Title Act, by continued on p.12 Rates are available online at www.clc.org.au/land- rights-news OR email: Bail changes target teenagers [email protected] OR Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel A LAW proposed by the Ms Weste said the proposed to be more about his own re- call 89516211 Scullion has been reappointed Territory’s CLP government laws would hit already election chances than good despite calls for his demotion. that would land even more vulnerable and disadvantaged justice outcomes. youths in jail while they wait to Aboriginal children and “The NT government is using go to court has been slammed impose an unnecessary cost on one of the oldest tricks in the by legal and human rights taxpayers. books, which is to beat the law Missed opportunity to groups. Amnesty International said and order drum using harsher Chief Minister Adam Giles the changes would backfire by policies, but we know they don’t said that if his government is harming young people. work,” the Human Rights Law protect sacred sites re-elected teenagers who are ”There’s so much potential for Centre’s Ruth Barson told accused of repeat property (this) to lead to kids committing NITV. THE NORTHERN Land act,” he said. offences will no longer even more serious crimes and The Australian Bar Association Council has described the Giles “And that was because there automatically get bail. becoming further entrenched in said on any one night, 53 per government’s review of sacred were no recommendations “This will be one of the first that system from an early age,” cent of youths in detention are sites legislation as a missed covering measures such pieces of legislation we will be Amnesty spokesman Julian indigenous, with mandatory chance to strengthen the law. as mandatory sacred site putting forward,” Mr Giles told Cleary told AAP. sentencing laws the main reason Among the review’s 39 clearances for major works.” the ABC. Mr Cleary said jailing kids why Aboriginal youths are so recommendations are stop work AAPA’s CEO Ben Scambary He said he’d “had enough” before they had appeared in overrepresented in jail. powers that may improve sacred said stop work powers “might of young people, labelled by court to answer charges “is “The reimprisonment rate site protection. prevent issues such as the site his government as “young clearly not a last resort”. for Aboriginal children is The Aboriginal Areas damage that occurred at Bootu mongrels”, repeatedly breaking The NT already locks up higher than the retention rate Protection Authority (AAPA) Creek.” into houses and stealing. young people at five times the of school. It’s just a national welcomed the recommendations In 2013 mining company OM Australian Lawyers for national rate. Three out of four disgrace and we’ve got to but NLC CEO Joe Morrison Manganese was fined $150,000 Human Rights says the law youths are in jail while they do something about it,” the told the ABC he believed the for desecrating a sacred site would breach Australia’s wait to go to court. association’s president, Patrick government’s review team did known as Two Women Sitting international human rights “What makes the Chief O’Sullivan, QC, said. not consult custodians of sacred near Bootu Creek. obligations. Minister think that doing more The Australian Red Cross’ sites. Dr Scambary said currently Vice president Kerry Weste of the same is going to get us a 2016 Rethinking Justice report “I think that there could have AAPA can’t stop mining if has said the United Nations better result?” asked the North found that there are better been more comprehensive sacred sites are being damaged. Convention on the Rights of Australian Aboriginal Justice approaches. responses given by Aboriginal “Which has been a difficulty at the Child and other UN rules Agency’s Jonathon Hunyor. It has praised a plan traditional owners and times where we are aware on the require that jailing youth “It’s very easy to talk tough, developed by the broad range of custodians, who in fact are very spot that a sacred site has been awaiting trial must only be used but we’ve been doing that for indigenous and non-indigenous concerned about sacred site damaged, but we don’t have as a last resort and then only for decades.” organisations that make up the protection.” the power to stop work, only to the shortest time. “It’s been an absolute failure Change The Record Coalition. Mr Morrison said he agreed provide advice that an offence “They also require that and promising more of the The plan is a whole of with recommendations such under the act might be being whenever possible, detention same isn’t leadership,” he said. government strategy to drive as increased penalties for committed,” he told the ABC. pending trial should be replaced Given that last year’s NT solutions by setting justice desecrating sites, but thought it But he said the recommended by alternative measures, such crime figures show falls in both targets and working in did not improve the existing law stop work power would change as close supervision, intensive property crimes (down by 4.8 partnership with Aboriginal in a meaningful way. that. care or placement with a family percent) and motor vehicle communities. “There was a missed (See p.4 for NT parties’ or in an educational setting or theft (down by 12.7 percent), opportunity to strengthen the policies) home,” she said. Mr Giles’ announcement seems

2 August 2016 NEWS NT housing What does land rights mean today? vote looms Peggy Granites THE HEAT of an election campaign Yuendumu may seem a strange time to start consulting about fixing the Territory’s It means everything we know public housing system. about our land and getting our Yet that’s just when Chief Minister land back. It is exciting that Adam Giles wants to begin talks about outsourcing government we can show our young ones responsibility for building, managing what land means to us. and maintaining remote houses to an “independent” new body. If re-elected, he wants to set up a new Remote Housing Development Authority (RHDA) he says will give communities “more say”. Raymond Palmer A steering committee including the Amoonguna land councils is scheduled to start consultations about the RHDA in August. Land rights is really important Aboriginal organisations were wary for us, we need to fight for it. of the announcement’s pre-election It is really hard but we need timing and some said the time for to stand up and keep on going talking is over. forward, not backward. We “We cannot afford to wait until need to do that all together. next year for the NT government Once we do that, we can win. to actually do something to address the critical housing shortage in town camps,” said Tangentyere CEO Walter Shaw. Others believe even a belated Desley Rogers Kelvin Morrison attempt at a solution is welcome, as Brumby Plains Karangari long as it’s genuine. “Both major parties share It is good that we’ve got our own land back from It means to look up at sacred responsibility for the NT’s our ancestors leaving the storylines safe. Where I dysfunctional public housing model,” sites, teaching how to live the life said CLC director David Ross. come from, we claimed that land back and that’s of old time days. I do that all the “We want to work with whoever a good thing. It’s there for our children. When we time, taking my kids out bush, wins the election on replacing this are gone, they’ve got a land to call their own home. get them away from town. failed system with real community control.” Mr Ross said a new housing system must not leave communities with the liability for the run down housing stock. Valerie Martin, But he questioned how giving control over remote houses to a board Yuendumu appointed by the NT government would result in independence and It means to put our input greater community control. across to the ministers. Not He asked the government to explain only something to do with how the RHDA will be any more the land but something new accountable than the Department of to be done: to upgrade the Housing. education, the health and the For the consultation process to be housing system which is really fully transparent the government going down. must share the data, particularly financial modelling, that Aboriginal people need to be able to genuinely participate in decisions about the Rameth Thomas future of Aboriginal housing said Mr Ross. Mutitjulu “This includes details of the new national partnership agreement, Lands rights to me is to hold including where funds for new houses our land and have proper law will be allocated and what the federal and culture and to educate our government’s requirements are.” young so they can learn our culture harmoniously and not The federal government has not be offended by white people committed to fund any houses after who degrade our sites and 2018 and the Giles government will disrespect our land. To have not accept subleases over houses a place for future generations beyond that date because it does not to keep this land strong. want to be stuck with a liability it cannot fund. Meanwhile, its undfunded election Shirleen Campbell promise of over $2 billion for new Alice Springs houses and upgrades came with a Dianne Stokes sting in the tail. Karlumpurlpa Ms Price said if she is re-elected Land rights is our knowledge, our culture our new public housing tenants wil be put stories. It keeps us young people healthy if we Land rights means a lot to on six months’probation and face a understand and follow our old people. I have me because I was told by old tougher penalty system. been following my aunty to land council meetings people that our land is the Tenants will be slapped with and parliament house and all that and I like the country of our ancestors. That demerit points - from one point for energy and passion. It’s strong, you can feel the is why it is important to tell making too much noise to three power. It’s given me the opportunity to take on our stories for the people to points for violence or vandalism. see and know about what we Once tenants have six demerit that power and pass it on at the same time as I’m learnt about the country. points they will be evicted. listening to the elders.

August 2016 3 NT ELECTIONS NT ELECTIONS - Who will you vote for Land Rights News asked the candidates of the NT’s main parties about their policies. on 27 August?

Scott McConnell Gerry McCarthy Chansey Paech Bess Price Tony Jack Heidi Williams To be announced To be announced Vince Forrester Stuart Barkly Namatjira Stuart Barkly Namatjira Stuart Barkly Namatjira

Australian Labor Party (ALP) Country Liberal Party (CLP) The Greens How will you Territory Labor will undertake the Territory’s In partnership with land councils and peak bodies. The Greens support Aboriginal people’s right most comprehensive ever devolution of decision Our initiatives include: to community controlled governance and support Aboriginal making to local communities. services through representatives they’ve chosen 1. Community Champions Program: 14 Officers themselves. organisations We will be devolving local government, education, (all Aboriginal) to identify needs and support housing, aspects of the justice system and health community aspirations. The Greens will support good governance in the NT, over ten years. by providing long-term funding to Aboriginal 2. Our Indigenous Business Development Officers: especially those organisations, helping them create strong plans It will be at the pace and to the degree that local 18 Officers to provide direct access to a panel of and business structures. When anyone works based in remote people wish allowing time for capacity building governance experts. For example the Urupunga alongside Aboriginal people to do this, we insist of local organisations. Aboriginal Corporation at Arlparra. communities, they must use processes of genuine participation, We will work with local organisations to 3. First Circles Program: direct policy access to engagement and consultation with Aboriginal to achieve good understand workforce development needs and Cabinet for 30 emerging Aboriginal leaders. people. undertake agreed training plans. Including paying for members to undertake governance? We want an independent board that Aboriginal We will provide outposted public sector Certificates II and IV in Leadership and people can appeal to if they feel like someone is employees to help organisations. Governance. taking advantage of them. We will also provide extensive leadership courses 4. Our Local Authority Initiative: A direct say We propose removing the shires and replacing for younger indigenous people to develop long for Aboriginal people in remote communities them with Aboriginal community councils, term skills. in the delivery of policies and programs in their reinstating remote Indigenous communities and communities. governance training of local representatives. The Greens support long-term funding to help make this happen.

Will you ensure Yes. All legislation in the Northern Territory is created Yes. Territory Labor will not amend the Sacred Sites and amended through the Northern Territory We will do all we can to ensure land councils that the Sacred legislation without agreement from the land Parliament processes. and the AAPA board are consulted regarding any Sites Act is not councils and the AAPA Board. These processes include substantial public amendments to the Sacred Sites Act. amended without consultation with all stakeholders. The Greens candidate for Namatjira says: “As far as The creation and amendment of laws is a I’m concerned, Sacred Sites belong to Aboriginal the consent of carefully considered and robust process aimed people. They don’t belong to anyone else. They the four territory at promoting and protecting the interest of all are our sovereign right and claim.” land councils and Territorians. The Greens support Aboriginal people’s right to The Sacred Sites Act is a good example in that practice and revitalise culture and have cultural the Aboriginal it promotes and protects the cultural interest of property protected. We recognize that culture is Areas Protection Aboriginal Territorians. country and country is culture. The Country Liberal Government supports the The Greens want to protect precious places like Authority (AAPA) purpose of the SSA and as per normal will ensure Sacred Sites, because this helps protect the health board? that full consultation will be undertaken on any and wellbeing of our country and its people. proposed amendments to the Sacred Sites Act. Sacred Sites deserve the strongest level of protection possible.

Will you reform Yes. The CLP Government listens to Aboriginal Yes, the Greens want to give housing contracts Labor will provide $1.1 billion to remote housing people in remote communities – we have heard to local providers, for building and maintenance. the NT’s remote over the next 10 years. your need for Local Control. Consequently, we The Greens propose housing systems and are establishing Remote Housing Development housing system This will build 6500 additional living spaces. management come under governance of local Authority (RHDA) to provide local control to local Aboriginal councils, with systems for appeal if We will return tenancy management and repairs to ensure communities. people feel someone is taking advantage of them. and maintenance to local control. that housing Prior to commencement, we will complete a The Greens want to build local capacity with We will re-invigorate the Housing Reference community engagement process to seek the effective training for Aboriginal people, and management is Groups and provide local housing officers. advice on how the RHDA should operate. systems to ensure professionals who come to handed over to We will work with locals to determine how We will deliver an additional 152 new houses over communities properly consult and engage in local or regional housing is to be devolved, when and to whom. the next two years under our revised National culturally appropriate ways. community Locals will determine housing arrangements in Partnership on Remote Housing. The Greens want a comprehensive consultation their area - whether it is to regional councils, We will prioritise local Aboriginal people and process about the best ways to develop Aboriginal housing local authorities or local or regional housing businesses to deliver as much as possible of employment and social enterprise in remote organisations? associations. the construction, repairs and maintenance and communities, and we want to implement the We will provide support for those organisations to associated services. recommendations. If so, how? have the capacity to undertake this work.

4 August 2016 Australian Labor Party (ALP) Country Liberal Party (CLP) The GreensNT ELECTIONS Will you ensure Yes. Yes. Vincent Forrester says: “An equitable share of the Our commitment to new funds includes increasing The CLP Government has invested $155m from NT’s infrastructure budget of around $1.5bn would that outstations the Homelands Extra funding and being prepared the Commonwealth into housing, such as Arlparra be a lot more than $20m. I am standing up for an and homelands to work jointly with local outstation / homelands houses. Additionally, we have invested $22m p.a. equal distribution of wealth, no matter where we live. organisations to provide new housing in jointly to deliver services to homelands and outstations. It is our right to live on country. So we must support continue to receive services on homelands.” funded arrangements. Our Homelands Extra Program has successfully a minimum of $20 Labor is open to new commitments in outstations invested $14 million into outstation houses, $20m “The homelands movement has been really million per year for and homelands on a case by case basis. in Municipal and Essential Services, along with important for returning people to country. It has been $7.3m in Housing Maintenance Programs. There shown to improve people’s health and wellbeing.” municipal services, are also $4m Special Purpose Grants major projects The Greens support increasing funds for service and commit new or large equipment on Outstations. provision and the right for Aboriginal people to funds to increase The Centre of Appropriate Technology assessed determine what and how services are delivered. This traditional owners have aspirations for economic includes government services such as health, early service delivery? activity on their homelands. The CLP will partner childhood development, education, training, housing, with the CLC to support people to utilise their lands community infrastructure, employment support and for economic purposes. policing. This will support ‘closing the gap’. What is your We support bilingual education and promoting The Country Liberals Government currently “We are the sovereign people,” says Vincent Aboriginal languages in schools. supports nine schools to deliver bilingual Forrester. “Bilingual education is our right. position on Labor will stop the current CLP Indigenous education. The CLP Government is implementing Indigenous language teachers need to be recognised bilingual education Education Review actions except where they are the recommendations from the “A Share in the for their skills. To stop education in our and our kid’s supported locally. Future” indigenous education review. This includes language is to stop their education.” and promoting developing and implementing policy to guide Together with communities we will establish key The Greens support Aboriginal people’s right to Languages and Cultures programs and increasing Aboriginal short, medium and long term goals for education bilingual education and cultural programs in schools. Indigenous workforce and capacity, through outcomes in each region or cluster of schools. We support Aboriginal peoples’ right to spiritual languages and scholarships and early careers programs. We will create community led schools with local traditions, histories and ways of thinking about the teachers in NT The Country Liberals Government has also boards allowing locals to determine the pathway world. developed an Indigenous Employment and schools? schools can take to achieve agreed goals. The Greens support Aboriginal people to establish Workforce Strategy to provide a framework for and control education systems, if they choose to. If locals want this to include bilingual education or recruiting, developing and retaining Indigenous education in language this will be their decision and employees at all levels in schools, regions and work This includes long-term funding for processes of it will be backed by a Labor Government. units of Department of Education. This strategy was planning and consultation, and for training and launched in May 2016. employment of Aboriginal teachers.

What will you Children will be at the centre of government. The Country Liberals’ will invest $19m towards “A “We need to rework the system so that teachers We will develop an early childhood plan led by the Great Start Great Future Plan” to provide a whole- use the language skills and codes of students so that do to improve Deputy Chief Minister. of-government framework for improving the health, they can emerge from school with bi or multilingual both early years We aim to have every child ready for school day education and wellbeing. competence,” says Vincent Forrester. one. We will: This program will provide greater coordination of The Greens recognise poor education outcomes and secondary • provide an additional $8 million for nurse early year’s services by categorising investment and are often the result of poverty, dislocation, education for home visits identifying priority areas for action. marginalisation, health and housing worries and • expand Families as First Teachers children in remote The government’s “A Share in the Future” Indigenous a loss of control of schools at the individual and • allow local communities to decide how to community level. focus locally on children. review, found that secondary education outcomes in communities? remote communities in the NT were unacceptable. So to improve outcomes, we need to work broadly. Labor will support parent choice in secondary The Country Liberals strategy will improve Indigenous The Greens want long term support for wellbeing education. We will provide all schools with secondary education outcomes by providing programs alongside schools. additional $124 million including: • $80 million for more teachers options and support for Indigenous students and We want to train and employ more Aboriginal • $32 million for behaviour support their families to make the best choices to maximise teachers. We want bilingual and cultural programs • $8 million for an active life, health and arts student opportunities in the secondary years. and we want to support Aboriginal people to curriculum program. determine how schools teach their children. How will you • Invest in children through our early childhood Let us have an honest conversation about this. The Greens say it’s a national priority to reduce the strategy, an additional $124 million in There are lots of conversations about the high number of Aboriginal people in prison. address the high education and $1.1 billion in remote housing rates of imprisonment but no-one talks about why “They are building prisons instead of looking at the imprisonment rates to tackle underlying causes of crime. Territorians are in prison. issues,” says Vincent Forrester. The most common sentencing offences in 2014 The Greens want ‘justice reinvestment’. of NT Aboriginal • Invest in youth engagement strategies, to were Acts intended to cause injury 50%, followed We want more funding for legal aid services, more people, especially provide healthy activities all year round by Offences against justice procedures, government support for Aboriginal people to access legal aid. young people? security and government operations at 22% and • Target primary health and provide Traffic and vehicle officers at 10%. We want more funding for programs that help keep services as close to home as possible. Aboriginal people out of jail, like cultural leadership Successful programs such as the Sentenced to a programs on country. Job Program has been operating for 3 years and • Scrap the Alcohol Mandatory Treatment system, provided vocational training with real world work We want an inquiry to find out which laws are reintroduce the Banned Drinker’s Register opportunities linked to a job in the community. It unfairly targeting Aboriginal people. and allow TBLs to be determined by Police. has reduced the return to jail rate to 17% against Then we want a process of community engagement the rest of the general prison population of 49%. • Provide court diversion into treatment and consultation to see those laws changed. A dramatic drop! and rehabilitation for people where the underlying cause is alcohol abuse, It provides skills that are useful and transferable to mental illness, drug use or disability. a wide range of work settings in the community, attaches prisoners to a connected network focused • Repeal the paperless arrest system. on the outcome of transitioning them successfully, many for the first time, to a mainstream living experience that includes paid work and strengthens them to avoid returning to prison.

What steps • Expand skills training programs in schools. The Country Liberals believes that education and ‘I propose we reintroduce CDEP in areas where it • Utilise school facilities for adult education, jobs provides opportunities, choice and improved has been removed,’ says Greens candidate, Vincent will you take to especially in literacy and numeracy for working life. quality of life. Forrester. increase training, • Work with Aboriginal organisations to develop an A strong economy will directly support education The Greens want to support Aboriginal communities employment economic prospectus for regions. services. We have committed to invest all onshore to develop an economic base. • Expand business grants to ensure indigenous gas royalty payments directly into education. We want contracts for bush work to stay in the and enterprise people get an opportunity to get support. This will help grow the Northern Territory’s number bush, with training if necessary. opportunities • Provide capital grants to assist the development one asset: Our People. That means good support and training for work in remote of Aboriginal tourism, arts and culture operations. We will create local jobs for local people, by requiring which leads to proper, recognised jobs, with careers • Ensure infrastructure works go local. 70% ofcivil and construction contracts under $5 structures and professional recognition. communities? • Support land and sea rangers and caring for million in remote Aboriginal communities go to local We want Aboriginal people to be able to take country programs. businesses by 2017. supervisory roles. • Expand the number of Aboriginal workers in We will support local business to start, run and grow The Greens want a comprehensive consultation health and education. with real on the job training and employment. process about the best ways to develop Aboriginal • Grow Aboriginal involvement in the fishing employment and social enterprise in remote industry. communities, and we want to implement the • Support Aboriginal agribusiness, especially recommendations. pastoralism and horticulture efforts.

August 2016 5 NEWS Treaty push gathers more strength MOMENTUM for treaties is gathering on the Prime Minister and the leader of everywhere, despite Prime Minister the opposition to commit to talks about Malcolm Turnbull’s warning that a national treaty. treaty talk could derail the proposed Among the 150 representatives from constitutional recognition referendum. Aboriginal land councils, legal services, NAIDOC person of the year, educator native title bodies and community Chris Sarra, told the PM: “When you organisations from around Australia was have the courage and you are bold Michael Mansell from the Tasmanian enough, my people [Queensland’s Aboriginal Centre. Gurang Gurang and Taribilang Bunda] Mr Mansell said a national treaty are ready to speak with you about a would provide a single standard across treaty.” the board and give justice to all. Victorian Aboriginal leaders are “While we would be willing to talk hoping to sign one or more treaties with about a [Tasmanian] state treaty, their state government within two years. there would be little point in engaging Two days of discussions in Melbourne with the Hodgman government. We in late May ended with tentative would be looking to a national treaty agreement on the process. to protect Aboriginal heritage and “Today marks the end of phase one,” force the state government to abide Jason Mifsud, executive director for by the Commonwealth definition on Aboriginal Victoria, who moderated the Aboriginality,” Mr Mansell said. Malcolm Turnbull disagrees with Pat Dodson and Bill Shorten about a treaty. Photo: AAP talks, told The Age newspaper. But Mr Turnbull warned that talk of “We’ve come an enormous way and a treaty would jeopardise a referendum talking about what a post-constitutional peoples must be equal, empowered we’ve got a long way to go.” for constitutional recognition. recognition settlement with indigenous partners in deciding what such a After an initial meeting early in 2016 He was reacting to comments from people looks like? Yes I do,” Mr Shorten settlement should look like.” and regional meetings in four Victorian Labor leader Bill Shorten, who signalled told the ABC in June. Many prominent campaigners for country towns, the group decided to he was open to discussing a formal He also said “equality, injustice and a constitutional recognition, such as appoint a steering committee and meet agreement between the government and post constitutional settlement might not Tanya Hoesch and Warren Mundine, again in November. Aboriginal peoples. change an election – but they could well have said Australians do not need to Within days of the consensus, a “Do I think we need to move beyond change our nation.” choose between constitutional change national conference in Darwin called just constitutional recognition to “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and treaty. Constitutional change referendum faces uphill battle DOUBTS about whether a weakened Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be able to deliver the promise to recognise Aboriginal people in the Australian Constitution are growing in the wake of the close election result. Many conservative Liberal and National Party MPs are not convinced of the need to change the nation’s founding document or are actively resisting and prepared to break ranks with a leader they despise. The ABC and Sky TV’s commentator Patricia Karvelas reported that one MP told her the promise had “never” gone through the party room and that ordinary party members would never accept even the most superficial and basic change to the Constitution. The PM is torn between this group and Aboriginal people who will never accept tokenistic changes. Unlike his predecessor Tony Abbott, Mr Turnbull has not made a referendum on constitutional recognition his signature issue. Indigenous leaders met with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and opposition leader Bill Shorten in Sydney last year. Ms Karvelas wrote in The Australian newspaper that conservative MPs could committed to that constitutional broader Australian community in to settle on a proposal that has wide campaign against the referendum once recognition,” he said. the referendum, but it also has to be support before the referendum goes a question is presented. “But we obviously have to have the an amendment that is meaningful, ahead. But Mr Turnbull used the form of words, the amendment, coming that sings, that speaks to the First However, May next year, the date 49th anniversary of the 1967 from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians.’’ suggested by Mr Abbott because it antidiscrimination referendum to reject Islander communities because it has Former member of the referendum coincides with the 50th anniversary reports about division in his ranks. to be an amendment that is not only council and now Labor senator Pat of the 1967 referendum, looks like a “My party, my government, is acceptable and supported by the Dodson wants a series of conventions deadline that is unlikely to be met. Indigenous consultations about recognition have started - but what about the Territory? CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN Aboriginal and Cabinet, which is paying for the Melbourne in June and July. and forms of self-determination is far people will get a chance to have their meetings, said “regional dialogues” for Representatives of land councils, more beneficial than any constitutional say about constitutional recognition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander native title holding and other peak recognition could possibly be,” Mr before the government decides what the Australians will take place in “up to 18 bodies discussed referendum options Mansell told NITV. referendum question will actually be. locations” around the country. and the process for the second round The Referendum Council is But at the time of writing it was The Referendum Council wants of regional meetings around Australia. considering the outcome of the unclear how many meetings will be held these meetings to “discuss options for One of them was Tasmanian leadership meetings before organising in Central Australia later this year. a referendum proposal that could be Aboriginal leader Michael Mansell. the regional meetings. It is expected that there will be at supported by indigenous people”. “The view expressed at the Once those meetings have wrapped least two and that one, possibly the last The regional meetings follow three Melbourne meeting of 100 people is up, the council plans to submit a final meeting, will take place at Uluru. indigenous leadership meetings that a treaty capable of delivering land, report to the government and the The Department of Prime Minister in Broome, Thursday Island and empowerment, guaranteed resources opposition.

6 August 2016 NEWS Stirling and Neutral Junction native title recognised at last TRADITIONAL OWNERS of two Errene/Warlekerlange, Errweltye, adjoining pastoral stations north of Kwerrkepentye, Rtwerrpe, Tyarre Tyarre Alice Springs have received recognition and Wake – attended the court sitting. of their right to hunt, gather, fish and The Central Land Council filed the conduct ceremonies on their land. native title application in 2011. The almost 15,000 square kilometre “The traditional owners were determination area covers the whole concerned about the protection of of Stirling Station and parts of Neutral sites and wanted to have a say over Junction Station. exploration on their country,” CLC Justice Reeves made the native title director David Ross said. consent determination at a special sitting The native title rights co-exist with the of the Federal Court on the Hanson River pastoral leases, which will continue to be on Stirling Station in April. run as cattle stations. The determination also secures The Eynewantheyne Aboriginal traditional owners’ right to negotiate Corporation will become the Registered over future exploration and mining. Native Title Body Corporate that holds Anmatyerr and Kaytetye speakers the rights and interests on behalf of its from 13 different landholding groups - members. Akalperre, Amakweng, Alapanp, Arlwekarr, Native title holders Dudley Haines, Joseph Thompson and Justice Reeves at the determination. Arlpawe, Arnerre, Arnmanapwenty, Another piece of Simpson puzzle returned EASTERN ARRERNTE traditional the title to 18,000 square kilometres of owners have received Aboriginal the Simpson Desert returned by former freehold title to a missing piece of their Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2011. vast Simpson Desert land claim. Following representations from the The grant concluded one of the largest Central Land Council, Senator Scullion and longest running land claims in the agreed in May 2014 to hand the area Central Land Council region, almost back to the traditional owners. four decades after it was first lodged. “There’s plenty of sacred sites there Senator Nigel Scullion handed title to and we still have plenty of ceremony and the 110,000 hectare area, also known as pass the knowledge on,” the late former NT Portion 4208, back to the Atnetye CLC chair Lindsay Bookie said during Aboriginal Land Trust in a ceremony at the 2011 Simpson Desert handback Santa Teresa in June. ceremony. Federal member for Lingiari Warren “Our culture has stayed really strong Snowdon also joined the traditional and we know all the places and all the owners from the Uleperte and Uleralkwe stories and songs.” estate groups for the ceremony. Mr Bookie was one of the claimants “It’s a 36 year long history with the who gave evidence about their cultural sad effect that a lot of the people who and spiritual links to country in hearings should have been here to collect the title, held in the Simpson Desert, but not a the original claimants, aren’t here today. traditional owner of the land to be Jeffrey Oliver and Alan Drover at the handback ceremony. God bless them,” said CLC director handed back on Monday. David Ross. He said even though the Simpson can control visitors’ behaviour a bit around like some travellers have done,” Former Aboriginal Land Desert was remote, people were still better because they will have to have a Mr Bookie said. Commissioner Howard Olney heard the strongly connected to their country. permit. “They’ve got to look after the country, Simpson Desert Land Claim in 2009. “The traditional owners already look “We want them to keep our country we’ve all got to do it.” NT Portion 4208 was not included in after that country but now it’s ours we clean and not chuck their rubbish Mt Denison and Narwietooma native title celebrations

SPECIAL SITTINGS of the Federal negotiate about exploration and mining.” Court at two remote Central Australian These rights will co-exist with the Mt outstations have confirmed native title Denison and Narwietooma pastoral for traditional owners of two pastoral leases, which will continue to be run as properties near Alice Springs. cattle stations. Justice Rangiah handed down two The Mt Denison native title holders non-exclusive native title consent belong to the Rrkwer/Mamp/Arrwek, determinations at Cockatoo Creek and Yinjirrpikurlangu, Janyinpartinya,Yanarilyi M’Bunghara outstations in June. and Ngarliyikirlangu landholding groups. During a sitting at Cockatoo Creek, east of Yuendumu, he recognised native title “It also gives them the right over the whole of Mt Denison Station, more than 2,700 square kilometres. to negotiate about exploration The determination at M’Bunghara Narwietooma native title holders with Justice Rangiah at the determination ceremony. outstation, one day earlier, was in and mining.” relation to an area covering the whole of Narwietooma Station, almost 2,700 Their native title rights and interests square kilometres, and a portion of the will be held by their Registered Native Dashwood Creek where the claimants Title Body Corporate, the Mt Denison proved exclusive possession. Aboriginal Corporation. CLC chair Francis Kelly said he hopes The Narwietooma native title holders the Mt Denison determination will are Western Arrernte and Anmatyerr improve the relationship between the speakers and belong to the Imperlknge, traditional owners and the pastoral lease Urlatherrke, Parerrule, Yaperlpe, holders. Urlampe, Lwekerreye and Ilewerr “It will make it easier to share the landholding groups and people who have country,” he said. rights and interests in the area of land Mr Kelly said the court’s known as Kwerlerrethe. determinations recognise the groups’ The Wala Aboriginal Corporation will rights to hunt, gather and fish, as well become the Registered Native Title Body as to conduct cultural activities and Corporate that holds their rights and ceremonies on their land. interests. Mt Denison native title holders celebrated at Cockatoo Creek. “It also gives them the right to August 2016 7 NEWS Nuke dump: our gain, their pain?

Hookina is the name of the spring near the proposed dump site – a very special place for Adnyamathanha women. Photo: Friends of the Earth

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN Aboriginal He said his people are still traumatised communities may have dodged the from atomic weapons testing in the bullet of a nuclear waste dump but 1950s and don’t want any more nuclear spare a thought for the Adnyamathanha projects forced on them. traditional owners of the Flinders “We won’t become the world’s nuclear Ranges. waste dump.” A pastoral property near Hawker in “My heart goes out to the South Australia is now the only site left Adnyamathanha people,” said Central on the list. Land Council chair Francis Kelly when The property was also on the federal the news of Central Australia’s lucky government’s shortlist of six possible escape broke in April. storage sites for low and medium level Mr Kelly expressed surprise that the radioactive waste. government claimed “broad levels of Adjacent to the Yappala Indigenous community support” for the dump. Protected Area, Wallberdina Station was “What about the people who must nominated by a former Liberal senator. Adnyamathanha traditional owners Heather Stuart, Regina McKenzie and Enice Marsh look after that country?” he asked. He did not consult with his Aboriginal near the proposed dump site. Photo: Friends of the Earth “Nobody asked them and they must neighbours, the Adnyamathanha [people really be in shock.” of the rocks], before putting forward the Traditional owner Regina McKenzie property. broke down during an interview with It’s something the Adnyamathanha the ABC. have in common with the residents of “Every waste dump is near an Oak Valley, Walkabout Bore, Titjikala Aboriginal community. Don’t you think and Santa Teresa, near the Arid Gold that’s a bit confronting for us? When it Date Farm close to Alice Springs and happens to us all the time?” they are just as feisty when it comes to Ms McKenzie is a member of fighting the plans for the dump. Viliwarina Yura, the corporation that “This is in our sacred country with owns the land right next to the proposed a very important spring just nearby. waste site. This is another example of cultural In May she visited former Federal genocide. This cannot happen,” said Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg in Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Residents of Titjikala, Santa Teresa, Walkabout Bore and Oak Valley: “They have worked Melbourne. Association CEO Vince Coulthard. hard to have their voices heard and are breathing a big sigh of relief”. He promised her an independent He said his people were not consulted heritage assessment and more before the shortlist was whittled down Like much of the Flinders Ranges, remember the atomic weapons tests consultations. to a site on their country and had been the area has great cultural and spiritual at Maralinga and Emu Fields and the But Ms McKenzie’s people are shown “no respect”. significance for the association, which ongoing denial around the lost lives and determined to hold the government The members of his association own strongly opposed the Beverley uranium health impacts for Aboriginal people,” accountable for an even more important the Wilpena Pound Resort and welcome mine in the eastern Flinders Ranges. Arabunna elder Kevin Buzzacott told promise: that it will not force a nuclear around 160,000 tourists a year. “We have long memories. We AAP. waste dump on an unwilling community. Is the work for the dole scheme hurting Aboriginal jobseekers? AFTER just one year of the Community People on CDP must take part in government prior to proceeding with it, return to CDP activities. Development Program (CDP) activities such as landscaping, cleaning as did many Aboriginal organisations and “[Then] the payments are resumed and researchers, welfare organisations and rubbish, walking children to school and leaders.” the back payments are made,” he said, job providers say the work for the dole fixing houses for 25 hours a week, five Job providers, such as the Arnhem adding that claims people were getting scheme is failing remote communities days a week, or risk having their payment Land Progress Aboriginal Association less money were “false and inaccurate” and creating hardship for jobseekers. cut or suspended. (ALPA), reported that a rise in welfare and that payments had been delayed “at They have called for changes to the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister penalties under the program was hurting worst”. scheme in the wake of government Nigel Scullion has defended the program. people. He backtracked when the Department figures that show more people had been He said the number of jobseekers in “We’re seeing more friction between of Human Services confirmed that penalised under the $1.5 billion scheme remote communities with suspended families, an increase in fighting in and short term penalties were not repaid. than had found work. payments was probably closer to 4,000 around the store. We’ve even had an Researchers from the Australian and the overall number of those turning assault of one of our managers,” ALPA continued on p.12 National University (ANU) said data up for work for the dole activities had CEO Alastair King told the ABC. from the federal employment department gone up. ALPA runs work for the dole shows that more than 6,000 CDP The ABC has reported that programs and supermarkets in Top End participants had found work that approximately 45,000 penalties were communities, Cape York and the Torres Strait. Mr King said fresh food sales at ALPA “Most people cycle in and out of programs stores had dropped 10 per cent since the federal government tightened rules on because they’re not getting the support they penalties for CDP participants. Sales of baby food and meat had need to enter the workforce.” dropped more than 20 per cent and people were buying cheaper tinned and lasted up to 13 weeks between July and handed out in remote Australia in the processed food. December 2015. second half of last year. He also said people were arriving at But the ANU’s Lisa Fowkes told the “These penalties are harsh,” said work for the dole activities hungry. ABC these participants were in the Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Mr King said he was confident the sales minority. Council for Social Services. figures were connected to CDP penalties “By the end of last year you were nearly “It means people are going without because the two trends started at the twice as likely to have received an eight food, they’re going without the essentials same time. week penalty as you were to have gotten and the minister needs to urgently Senator Scullion denied the penalties a 13 week job,” she said. investigate these deeply concerning were causing harm. Ms Fowkes said the five per cent of statistics. “It’s false and misleading to claim that CDP participants in remote Australia had It’s clear to us when this scheme this had some sort of an impact on the been slapped with more penalties than was proposed that it would be harsh, remote economy,” he said. the 95 per cent of people in other work that it would be unworkable in Senator Scullion said financial penalties Jobseekers have been penalised. for the dole programs across Australia. remote communities. We advised the only applied until a person agreed to

8 August 2016 NEWS Mother of Reconciliation?

JUNE OSCAR AO, one of the Fitzroy Valley suffer from odds with each other to talk Australia's most energetic the highest rate of alcohol- constructively. Aboriginal advocates, has related diseases in the world. "That’s what I do …and I won the Desmond Tutu With the Marninwarntikura think this is what everybody Reconciliation Fellowship. Fitzroy Women's Resource should be doing”, she said on The prestigious international Centre Ms Oscar helped to being nominated for the award. award, named after South uncover the exceptionally high Whether that qualifies Ms Africa’s Bishop Tutu, celebrates number of children afflicted Oscar for the title ‘Mother individuals doing extraordinary with fetal alcohol spectrum of Reconciliation’ or not, the work in reconciliation. disorder (FASD). former partner of ‘Father of Ms Oscar, from Fitzroy Her strength and determination Reconciliation’ Senator Patrick Crossing in the Kimberley, helped her community win Dodson, is in great female received the honour for her a landmark legal ruling that company. outstanding community stopped the flood of alcohol in Past winners of the Desmond health achievements and for the area. Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship advancing Aboriginal policy at Among Ms. Oscar’s remarkable include Myanmar leader and all levels of government. strengths is getting often Nobel Peace Prize laureate Indigenous children born in angry groups that are at Aung San Suu Kyi. June Oscar at the Fitzroy Women’s Resource Centre. Photo: Kim Anderson Arrernte women speak out about breast screening DAWN ROSS and Marilyn you can’t feel it and the breast anybody,” she says. “I said to Smith are passionate about the screening machine will catch my kids, you need to go get importance of breast screening it,” she says. tested all of you. And I said to for Aboriginal women. “I was really feeling healthy. my sisters, ‘you mob need to go Both Arrernte women were I didn’t feel sick.” and get tested’.” diagnosed with cancer and Marilyn was diagnosed on her Breast cancer is the most are sharing their stories to 59th birthday. common form of cancer for encourage other women to have She says the benefits of women in Australia, and the regular breast screens. screening outweigh any worry second most common cause of Dawn was diagnosed with women may have about having cancer related deaths. breast cancer in 1997. the test, particularly because This means it is particularly She had taken her sick catching it early can mean important for women to make daughter to the Alukura you’re around to spend more an appointment when they Women’s Health Service time with your family and receive the invitation letter in Alice Springs, where friends. from BreastScreen Australia. BreastScreen Australia offered “Don’t be shy because it will The Australian Government Dawn a free test. save your life if you can get it has expanded the invitation for The diagnosis shocked her, early, the staff are all women free breast screening to include but she felt lucky that she had and you can take a friend or all women aged 70 to 74. been tested. family member with you” she Adding five years to the After undergoing treatment says. screening means an additional Dawn Ross wants all women to have regular breast screens. in Adelaide she’s been declared “Please go and get yourselves 600 breast cancers may be clear of the disease and now checked.” detected each year, with the Strait Islander women to detect clinic, or visit one of the stresses how vital screening is. After her experience, she is potential to save many lives. breast cancer early. mobile clinics when it comes “Breast screening is really adamant that her family and Having a free BreastScreen To get a test, call 13 20 50 and to your community or for more important even when you are friends get breast screens. test every two years is the best make an appointment at the information, visit australia. feeling well because sometimes “You know it can happen to way for Aboriginal and Torres nearest BreastScreen Australia gov.au/breastscreen.

August 2016 9 NEWS

ANDREW GLENN, from Alyuen, CAT encouraged the group to fix up an remembers how handwashing was the existing building and designed a laundry only way to get clean clothes on the with a shower and a toilet at the back. In the wash at Alyuen outstation near Aileron. Mr Glenn was one of three locals For years, a laundry for family and CAT employed on the $90,000 project, visitors was a distant dream for the along with Stanley Tilmouth and Trevor residents because money was tight. Glenn. But things are changing for Alyuen, “It was very good to work on it,” Mr thanks to exploration compensation Glenn said, “I worked with Neil the money from the the Nolan’s Bore Mine. plumber, got some money for the kids,” “We’ve now got a laundry and can he said. use the washing machine,” Mr Glenn Nola Glenn was another community says of the bright yellow building the member to get involved in the project. community planned with the support of She organised a painting for the the Central Land Council’s community laundry door and will help plant shrubs development team. and flowers around the building. After meeting and comparing a The new Alyuen laundry is one of 12 number of contractors, residents chose community development projects the to work with the Centre for Appropriate Nolan’s Bore Community Development Alyuen residents have a new laundry, thanks to exploration income from Nolan’s Bore. Technology (CAT) on the project. Working Group has funded since 2014. Munungurra’s solar for diesel swap starts a trend A TINY community east of Tennant Australia (IBA), an organisation that is have to withdraw lots of capital and can Creek has become a permanent home for funded by the federal government to change systems as technology improves. traditional owners and inspired larger promote economic independence. "We can go back and renew our lease communities to follow suit, thanks to a The community switched off the upon the latest technology that comes deal that saw it replace diesel generators generators, with dramatic results. in, so we're not stuck with the system with leased solar panels. Its power bill halved over a three we've got," Mr Smith told the ABC. Despite having money in the bank month period, the population grew from The corporation pays the leasing costs members of the Munungurra Aboriginal three to 40 and now there are local jobs from its investment income until it owns Corporation could not afford to live and and even a school. the power system outright. work on their country because the cost IBA was new to solar projects but The promise of cheaper power has of diesel power was just too high. managed to find Mr Smith an indigenous transformed the community. Graeme Smith, the corporation's power company from Queensland that "With solar and with [population] CEO, told the ABC they paid for specialises in solar power systems. numbers we were able to get services. two generators to run power to two Allgrid Energy recommended a panel We've got School of the Air now because permanently occupied houses out of and battery system for Munungurra. we've got 15 kids," Mr Smith said. eight. "[Solar] energy that they're not using The corporation has also won "We’d be going through $600 to $700 will get stored in the batteries, and government contracts to repair and a week in diesel," he said. they'll use that energy at night-time maintain houses and to run work for "Because we have no employment on when the sun goes down," said Ray the dole programs. community, people weren't able to pay Pratt, Allgrid CEO. “Munungurra certainly created a bit for the diesel. So they decided to live in IBA bought the Allgrid solar system of a buzz,” said the IBA’s Ray McInnes. town, look after their kids at school, get at a cost of more than $200,000 and He is now working to repeat the houses in town, and just go on the dole." leased it to the Munungurra Aboriginal outstation’s success in larger Aboriginal But then the corporation leased a solar Corporation. communities in the Northern Territory, power system from Indigenous Business Leasing meant the corporation didn’t Queensland and Western Australia. Gina Smith with the solar energy system. Writing off the stereotypes, one chapter at a time She started by trialling her survey questions with a group of young people. They told Josie, ‘People always tell us what they want us to learn, nobody ever asks us what we want to learn about’. “And what they most wanted to learn about was family history, land and its stories, bush foods, songs and dance and hunting,” she says. The research left Josie feeling more optimistic about the future. “Young people have less time to learn and fewer people to learn from, yet traditional knowledge is still highly valued and part of their belief system. It’s a big part of young peoples’ identity.” “The tricky bit is how to ensure Family and friends surround Dr Josie Douglas (centre) during her graduation ceremony. that when learning opportunities are available that they’re presented in a way “WHEN YOU’RE doing research it can graduation ceremony at Charles Darwin stereotypical about young people not that will interest young people. They are feel like it’s never going to end,” laughs University (CDU) in May. being interested and not wanting to really discerning learners, they’ve got Dr Josie Douglas as she recalls how her After many years working alongside learn. I understood that some of these high expectations of how they learn and four “amazing and very patient” children linguists and researchers in collaboration concerns were very real. who they are learning from. supported the thesis that has earned her with older people on knowledge projects, “However, I also knew that what “In doing a PhD about young people a PhD. Josie came to the “slow realisation that young people were feeling, what they I didn’t forget about old people who “I had my youngest son saying: ‘Have are really a central part of it all. I also you finished that chapter yet?’ He was included their thoughts and views.” celebrating every time another chapter “In the community a lot of the assumptions were Josie acknowledges all those who was done.” really negative and stereotypical about young people embraced her research with open hearts Josie’s husband Richard Foster also and minds. provided great support. not being interested and not wanting to learn. “People were so welcoming and I’m “I could not have gotten through so indebted to everyone who took part without having him by my side every Some of these concerns were very real.” in the research for sharing their stories step of the way. He was so encouraging with me. I wouldn’t have a PhD without and supported my dream from the very young people’s voices were missing in were doing, how they were learning that.” beginning,” the Central Land Council’s the discussion about keeping Aboriginal and their attitudes and aspirations “I’m incredibly grateful for that and senior policy officer remembers. knowledge strong”. towards traditional knowledge were I hope that I’ve done justice to their Surrounded by family and friends, “In the community a lot of the underinvestigated and taken for stories.” Josie received her doctorate at a assumptions were really negative and granted.” 10 August 2016 NEWS Yapa have their say on Child care ideas LOOKING AFTER little kids with Canberra to support children, youth and the WETT road ahead disabilities and fundraising are among families. the ideas Laramba child carers took back There was no government funding, from a national child care conference. so the women needed to work out ways Susie Stafford and Irene Floyd, from to run the service. They were busy the community’s child care centre, are fundraising,” she said. still drawing on inspiration and lessons “We also talked about Foetal Alcohol they took away from the sixth gathering of the Secretariat for National Aboriginal “We also talked about Foetal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in Perth. Alcohol Spectrum Disorder “The conference was all about caring (FASD) and thought we could for young children, celebrating stories, Yuendumu education champion Barbara Martin looks ahead to WETT’s next decade. growing and taking action to inspire learn more for my community each other to strengthen culture,” said and the children who might be THE WARLPIRI Education and Training communities, such as early childhood Ms Stafford. Trust (WETT) wants Yapa to help review programs, youth and media projects and Attending workshops and talking to affected by this.” its community driven programs and to community learning centres. their peers has given her ideas to try guide their future development. Community residents on the WETT back home. Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and thought Ten years after WETT was launched Advisory Committee have overseen “One lady shared her story about we could learn more for my community with the support of the Central Land WETT since it started in 2005. starting up a new Aboriginal service in and the children who might be affected Council, it’s started surveying residents The committee and the CLC’s by this,” she said. of Willowra, Yuendumu, Nyirrpi and community development unit are not Little children with FASD, a serious Lajamanu about the programs. only looking back at what they have disability that is caused when pregnant “It’s good to look back at how WETT achieved but are also looking ahead to women drink alcohol, have a better started, how it’s going, what’s been plan for the next decade of WETT. chance in life when they get help early. successful and how to make things The CLC has hired Ninti One, a The Laramba child care centre is now stronger,” said Valerie Patterson, a company that specialises in research, educating its staff about FASD and plans founding member of the WETT Advisory innovation and community development to do more to support affected children Committee. in remote Australia, to do the research. and families. “It’s a good time to think up new Community researcher Latisha Ms Stafford and Ms Floyd attended programs, too, that will work and make Bartlett is the youngest member of the the conference thanks to the Nolan’s our communities happy.” Ninti One research team that includes Bore community development project. WETT uses royalties from Newmont’s John Guenther and former WETT Their trip was one of 12 community Granites gold mine to improve education Advisory Committee member Samantha driven initiatives in which the traditional and training outcomes for Aboriginal Disbray. owners of the mine invested more people in the Tanami region. The team plans to finish the than $330,000 of their exploration The trust has supported programs community surveys in September and Nolan’s Bore exploration money paid for compensation money. designed by and for members of the four present a review report by next March. Laramba’s trip to the child care conference. CLC’s community development model resonates overseas

THE CENTRAL Land Council has rent and so on. become the first Australian organisation “That makes us unique because the to present to a high powered others rely mostly on money from their international forum on community governments or international donors,” driven development. he said. The Australian government invited This year’s conference theme of CLC director David Ross and his team to inclusion of indigenous peoples created a conference in Vietnam’s mountainous an opportunity for the Australian north to showcase the CLC’s community government to share the CLC’s “highly development program. relevant” development model, according The presentation laid the groundwork to a DFAT spokesperson. for closer collaboration with policy “DFAT reached out to the Department makers and community development of Prime Minister and Cabinet to seek practitioners from 15 countries around the participation of policy makers and the Asia Pacific region. practitioners from community driven Remote Aboriginal communities used to top down government policies may be surprised to learn

that Australia is a big supporter of community driven David Ross and Danielle Campbell took the CLC’s innovative approach to Vietnam. development in other countries. those who shape Australia’s policies Meeting people who have no option Between them, they support development initiatives in Aboriginal on Aboriginal and international but to take care of their own survival has community driven initiatives estimated communities,” he said. development. strengthened Mr Ross’ views about the to benefit up to 500 million people. “The CLC’s presentation of its unique “There is an opportunity now for the aim of community development. They gather once a year to talk about intercultural engagement approach Australian government to think about “It’s about taking responsibility for what is working and how to deal with resonated strongly with peers from how it could start to better support the driving the change you want and not common challenges facing programs other countries working with indigenous kind of community driven development waiting for governments to change,” he that empower communities to take communities.” approaches at home that DFAT supports said. charge of their own development. The former manager of the CLC’s overseas,” Dr Campbell said. The conference made the CLC The Australian Department of Foreign community development program, But the conference wasn’t all talk. team realise “how often we are Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has helped the Danielle Campbell, said there was much The CLC team also travelled to projects really out on our own in Australia, yet World Bank, a major financier of the interest in respectful and transparent around the town of Sapa, home to many there are all these countries taking global fight against poverty, to organise decision making processes that work of Vietnam’s indigenous peoples, also community development very seriously and fund the CDD conferences for the across cultures. known as ‘hill tribes’. as an effective way to alleviate poverty,” past three years. “We talked a lot about Aboriginal They wanted to meet people who Dr Campbell said. Mr Ross said conference participants and non-Aboriginal people together have successfully joined forces to lift Now setting up the Northern Land were surprised to learn that Aboriginal finding ways to navigate the different themselves out of poverty in a country Council’s new community development communities suffer extreme poverty and accountabilities that Aboriginal people without a welfare system. program (see story p.26) she hopes both disadvantage and wanted to know what have - their own cultural and governance Raising pigs and goats for sale or land councils will be able to continue the CLC was doing to help. arrangements and what the Australian growing traditional medicines for to share lessons with community “We told them we support Aboriginal government expects,” she said. cosmetics were among the choices local development practitioners around the people to use their own income from The CLC hopes to continue these indigenous people have made to turn world. continued on p. 24 mining, compensation, national park discussions back in Canberra with their lives around. August 2016 11 NEWS Returned CLC leadership team takes aim at “top down” ABA changes

Not happy with Senator Scullion’s planned changes to the Aboriginals Benefit Account: CLC delegates at the Yulara Pulka council meeting in April.

FRANCIS KELLY and Sammy Wilson and Owen Torres. committee by two per land “He declined most of the count, not the government’s.” Butcher have secured second Delegates also chose five council in November and add recommendations of the CLC director David Ross terms as Central Land Council members for the Aboriginals two hand picked members. advisory committee and has accused Senator Scullion of chair and deputy chair Benefit Account (ABA) Advisory CLC and NLC delegates picked his own projects,” he refusing to invest in projects respectively, but members put a Committee which makes associated with land councils. few new faces on the Executive recommendations about $500 “It’s time he handed responsibility for “ABA-funded projects are Committee. million of ‘royalty equivalent’ deliberately farmed out to less “I’m very grateful to the funds. Aboriginal money back to the elected capable organisations, even delegates for allowing me to Valerie Martin, Barbara when the land councils have a finish the job I began in 2014,” Shaw, Philip Wilyuka, Harry representatives of Aboriginal people.” better record of getting results Mr Kelly said after the vote at Nelson and Kelvin Morrison and have been asked to deliver the April council meeting at were all elected. have strongly condemned the told the NT News. those projects by Aboriginal Yulara Pulka near Uluru. But not all of them may get minister’s proposed changes as “It’s time he handed people on the ground.” The new executive team are to serve their full three-year yet more top-down control over responsibility for Aboriginal “It is a contrary and arbitrary Ngarla Kunoth-Monks, Norbert terms. a less than transparent process. money back to the elected abuse of power,” Mr Ross told Patrick, Teddy Long, Sid Minister Nigel Scullion wants NLC chair Sam Bush-Blanasi representatives of Aboriginal the Native Title Conference in Anderson, Michael Liddle, Leo to cut the number of CLC and accused Senator Scullion of people,” Mr Kelly said. Darwin in June. Petrick, Jasper Haines, Sammy NLC representatives on the hijacking the ABA. “It should be our priorities that continued from p. 8 continued from p. 2 Call for native title veto right His spokesman said to the CLC director David Ross Senate. ABC that he “could have been told the same conference that But despite a record number CAPE YORK Land Council clearer”. governments of both parties of Aboriginal candidates, chair Richie Ah Mat wants But Jobs Australia, the had “completely lost their especially on the Labor side, native title holders to be able organisation that represents way” in Aboriginal affairs, with the election again fell short of to veto development. CDP providers in remote “predictable and tragic” results. producing a parliament whose Mr Ah Mat said this would communities, said the minister While it remains to be seen make up mirrors the number ensure the benefits were was wrong. properly shared and help “There are very large numbers “They don’t know what the solutions are, and streamline negotiations over of people who are incurring developing Australia’s north. penalties which they never their own governance and implementation Mr Ah Mat told the regain,” said David Thompson, capacity is the lowest it has ever been.” Developing Northern Australia the CEO of Jobs Australia. 2016 conference in Darwin in Back when Senator Scullion how the Prime Minister will of indigenous people in the June that Aboriginal people announced the four year respond to these challenges population. could make or break the program he promised it from Aboriginal organisations, Pauline Hanson, however, government driven northern Richie Ah Mat. Photo: Cape would “re-engage our First he can at least count on is back stronger than ever, development agenda. York Land Council Australians”. strong advice from Aboriginal with a national platform to He said native title holder Jobs Australia said this hasn’t members on both sides of again express racist and anti- consent should be an “iron- similar power over their land to happened. Parliament House. Aboriginal views. clad, non-negotiable condition that of traditional owners who “All sorts of things have been Her return has raised fears for development”. hold land under the Aboriginal tried and have generally not that her One Nation team will “Consent will not be given Land Rights Act (NT). succeeded in these communities. drag Mr Turnbull’s party even unless there are reasonable Northern Land Council This initiative looks like it is further to the right. benefits from the development CEO Joe Morrison earlier going very fast down that same Whoever ends up advising for traditional owners,” Mr Ah told the National Native Title path,” Mr Thompson told the the PM on Aboriginal affairs, Mat said. Conference Aboriginal people ABC. he could do worse than to listen were still not being treated as Tangentyere Employment to former Aboriginal affairs “Consent will not be partners in development. Services, which runs CDP in minister Fred Chaney. He blamed Northern Territory Alice Springs town camps, “Disempowering Aboriginal given unless there are and federal government believes financial hardship has people does not make them reasonable benefits hostility to land councils for increased since the start of this responsible for their own creating problems. year. futures, it infantilises them. from the development Mr Ah Mat said a veto “The town camps get a Working on them instead of for traditional owners.” right in the Native Title Act lot of visitors from remote Joe Morrison has called for with them reduces them to would improve the situation communities. They’re arriving Senator Scullion to be replaced. despair,” Mr Chaney said during and simplify the process for in town and they’ve been National Reconciliation Week. “The Native Title Act needs investors while ensuring suspended for not attending Former NSW Labor minister “This is the next big to be amended to provide locals have more say over their activities last week,” said Linda Burney became the first adjustment we have to make, that traditional owners must development. Tangentyere’s Matthew Ellem. Aboriginal woman in the Lower learning to work with, and it consent to all development, “We must unite to demand Mr Ellem said visitors who House, while former NT Labor requires different mindsets and including mining, where native all development requires our can’t afford to chuck in increase minister Malarndirri McCarthy different skills. Post election title exists. This must also be consent, but also to agree on pressure on struggling town and former CLC director Pat perhaps we can start to work reflected in state legislation.” model which makes consent camp households. Dodson were elected to the seriously on that.” Adding a veto right to the law processes simpler, quicker and would give native title holders cheaper,” he said. Vincent Lingiari at Wattie Creek (Daguragu), Northern Territory] when they had water on tap, 1977. Photo Michael Jensen. Source National Library of Australia 12 August 2016 SINCE THE WAVE HILL WALK OFF From little things big things grow pursuing her Masters Degree in Public Health and works among world class researchers at the Menzies School of Health 1966 Research in Darwin. She said loving what you do Vincent Lingiari always makes a difference. “I also have a good routine leads the Wave and try not to let anything get in my way because I’m doing this for myself and my family,”she Hill Walk Off Quintaysha Thompson graduated with a Bachelor of Humanitarian said. and Community Studies from Charles Darwin University. “I wanted my kids to achieve KEV CARMODY need look own performances,” her mum what I didn’t,” her mother no further than Quintaysha Rosyln Frith said. added. Thompson for proof that his “I always believed that she “Family support is the key. If land rights anthem still rings was going to do something they miss out on that they won’t true in Kalkaringi. special with her life and would go anywhere.” As a little thing Ms Thompson be very successful.” Ms Thompson agrees. showed early promise. Sure enough, Ms Thompson “If it wasn’t for my family’s “She was very bright and became one of the community’s support I wouldn’t have made it used her initiative to have her first students to finish high school. this far. With the right support own little discos and create her Now the young mother is anything is possible.”

Vincent Lingiari at Wattie Creek (Daguragu), Northern Territory] when they had water on tap, 1977.

Photo Michael Jensen. Source National Library of Australia 1968 -1970. Creek land. Wattie for Gurindji Request of Australia National Library Documents: 40 YEARS OF LAND RIGHTS

1978 Land Rights 1976 - 2016 The Warlpiri Kartangarurru-Gurindji claim becomes the CLC’s first successful land claim. 1985 Uluru Kata Tjuta is handed back to traditional owners who lease the area back to the federal government for 99 years. 1975 Patrick Dodson becomes the CLC’s first Charlie Perkins and Wenten director. Rubuntja elected CLC’s first chair and deputy chair.

1976 1983 The Australian Aboriginal custodians protest against parliament passes a dam that would have flooded the Aboriginal Land sacred sites north of Alice Springs. Rights Act and the CLC publishes the first issue of Land Rights News.

1988 Wenten Rubuntja (CLC) and Galarrwuy Yunupingu (NLC) present Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the Barunga Satement calling for a treaty. Mr Hawke promises a treaty by 1990. A convoy of NT Aboriginal leaders drives to Sydney to protest against the Bicentennial celebrations.

1993 The Australian parliament passes the Native Title Act. One year later, the CLC 1997 becomes a Native Title The sunset clause in the Representative Body. Aboriginal Land Rights Act takes effect. No more new land claims can be lodged. 40 YEARS OF LAND RIGHTS Land Rights 1976 - 2016 2005 The Warlpiri Education and Training Trust and the Uluru Rent Money projects kick off the CLC’s community development program. Since then, the program has helped Aboriginal groups to drive their own development by investing $58 million of their royalty, compensation and rent income in many hundreds of community projects.

2004 The CLC negotiates the joint management of 20 national parks leased back to the NT government. 2015 Since 2012 members have invested The CLC marks its 40th all rent income from the park leases birthday with the launch of in community development projects. the oral history collection Every Hill Got A Story. 2016 2000 It celebrates winning back A joint meeting of Territory more than 417,000 square land councils at Kalkaringi Lajamanu’s Wulaign Rangers (now North Tanami km of Aboriginal freehold celebrates 40 years of Land Rangers) become the CLC’s first ranger group. land. Rights and half a century Today the CLC’s ranger program supports 10 since the Wave Hill Walk Off. ranger groups managing more than 300,000 square km of Indigenous Protected Area and other Aboriginal land.

2008 Traditional owners commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Coniston Massacre.

NEWS Turnbull government denies ranger program changes, ignores good news

Kaltukatjara rangers are disappointed that the government has taken no action on the review.

THE TURNBULL government has denied reports Federal Labor promised to double Aboriginal that it plans to radically change the Aboriginal ranger jobs before it lost the July election, while ranger program but has kept very quiet about an the Greens went one better by committing to independent review that confirms the program’s extend the ranger program for 15 years. success. Central Land Council director David Ross said Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion the commitments backed “one of Australia’s admitted he was reviewing the ranger program biggest Aboriginal success stories”. Josephine Grant uses her tablet for photos and videos. but said he had no plans to force ranger groups “It’s a sound investment in our future to only hire participants of the controversial work generations, our shared environment and is a for the dole scheme or cut the time anyone can long overdue example of politicians listening to be a ranger. Aboriginal people when they tell them what’s He denied knowledge of a leaked presentation working,” he said. Josephine’s from the Department of Prime Minister and “Voters in remote communities, no doubt, Cabinet published by the Crikey news web site expected more from the Prime Minister’s ‘jobs in July that discussed a major overhaul of the and growth’ slogan than work for the dole,” Mr program. Ross said. double delight The presentation appeared to fly in the The opposition commitments would have face of a federal government review which seen the number of ranger jobs double from IF WINNERS are grinners Josephine Grant’s trademark shows Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) the current 100 to 200 and allowed the CLC to cheeky smile must have been twice as wide when she found and Aboriginal ranger programs smashing set up ranger groups in communities that have out that she bagged two awards in one month. disadvantage and creating meaningful persistently been asking for them for a very long The Central Land Council’s ranger support officer took out the award for leadership in protected areas management in “Most of our kids want to be rangers when they the NT Rangers Awards, as well as a photography prize. The CLC often relies on Ms Grant to co-ordinate its five northern ranger groups and nominated her for the NT grow up. That helps to keep them at school.” Rangers Award because of her great communication skills, experience and resourcefulness. employment in remote communities while also time. “Josephine has been a wonderful mentor for our rangers protecting the environment. Labor’s promises had communities and ranger and has built strong relationships with her colleagues and The review found that every dollar the federal groups excited. traditional owners,” CLC director David Ross said. government spent on these programs creates “The men and women in our group were really “She leads by example and has inspired many younger almost three dollars in social, economic, cultural happy about the election announcements because women to pursue ranger careers.” and environmental benefits. if the opposition had won more of their families Ms Grant, who joined Tennant Creek’s Muru-warinyi It also listed program benefits such as low cost would have gotten proper jobs and training Ankkul Rangers in 2012, also received the Women on land management, higher tax income and fewer looking after country, together with our elders Country Award in the 2016 Working on Country photography welfare payments. and children,” said Benji Kenny. competition. Other benefits included community members The co-ordinator of the CLC’s Kaltukatjara She took her winning picture, Burning Warlmanpa gaining jobs and qualifications, stronger rangers last year travelled to Canberra to lobby Country, on a recent burning trip. communities and less violence. politicians for more ranger group funding. “Milwayijarra traditional owners, with the help of the The glowing review should have given the Mr Kenny’s team of only six rangers operates Muru-warinyi Ankkul Rangers and a helicopter, undertook Turnbull government bragging rights during the on the smell of an oily rag to manage feral ground burning and passed on knowledge of sites and federal election campaign. animals, weeds and fire across the five million country to younger people,” she said. Instead, it quietly buried the good news after hectare Katiti Petermann IPA. “The rangers also graded an old road to improve access to sitting on it for months, vacating the field to the Australia’s newest IPA completely surrounds 10 sites which can now be visited and managed.” opposition and leaving ranger groups worried and dwarfs Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. about their future. “Most of our kids want to be rangers when The review, by Social Ventures Australia, they grow up. That helps to keep them at school investigated the benefits gained from investment but their chances of landing a ranger job are low in five IPAs. because there are too few of those jobs,” he said. It found that between 2009 and 2015, an Mr Kenny said the CLC’s ranger program is investment of $35.2 million from federal so popular because it has been developed with government and third parties generated $96.5m Aboriginal people and combines the latest worth of positive outcomes. What’s more, 28 science with Aboriginal ecological knowledge. of 35 program outcomes directly aligned with “Our ancestors have worked on this country government priorities. for thousands of years to protect it and look The report said IPAs and ranger programs are after it. They were rangers before our time and “effectively overcoming barriers to addressing everything that we are doing today is the same as Indigenous disadvantage and are engaging what our ancestors have done,” he said. Indigenous Australians on country in meaningful Last year, his colleagues and CLC delegates told employment to achieve large scale conservation Senator Scullion to expand rather than overhaul outcomes”. the ranger program. Territory Labor responded with a promise “It’s working. Don’t change a horse in the of additional powers and an extra $14 million middle of the race,” Tjuwanpa ranger co- dollars for NT rangers if Labor wins the NT ordinator Craig LeRossignol warned the minister. election in August. The government has been criticised for treating Josephine’s winning photograph Burning Warlmanpa Country. Most of this can be spent on expanding existing Aboriginal rangers jobs as something less than groups. ‘real jobs’. August 2016 17 RANGER CAMP Rangers camp with old friends to learn new skills

MORE THAN 80 CLC rangers took part “If you don’t keep on top of Buffel in intensive professional development grass it just grows back and grows back at this year’s ranger camp at Blue Bush worse”. Station, an Aboriginal cattle property The fast growing weed was introduced north west of Tennant Creek. by the cattle industry as stock feed, but The camp’s hosts, Gina and Chongy it is very bad news for native plants and Howard, are old friends of the CLC. animals. After working at the CLC for decades “Buffel burns hotter than most native the couple now train high school grass. It just burns the seeds altogether students in station skills. so the native grass can’t grow back. A group of their young VET students Birds would have to move to another had a chance to watch the rangers in spot to find seeds,” said Anthony. action as they undertook accredited The rangers use tablet computers they training in 4WD, all terrain vehicle and call cyber trackers to record where they chainsaw operations. find threated species, ferals and weeds. Over the three days of the camp, “We can mark the areas where the students observed as the rangers also weeds are so next time we can go back learnt to identify and kill weeds and and see how it has gone, if we kill them handle chemicals. off or if there is new [buffel] grass,” Project management and multimedia said Cleveland Kantawara from the workshops were also part of the packed Tjuwanpa ranger group. program. CyberTracker is a picture-based At night ranger groups honed their software on the tablets that was presentation skills by speaking in front developed in Africa. It allows expert of everyone about their work. trackers to collect GPS data and other

“It feels more comfortable because you’re with your own people. We speak language, laugh and tease each other. Culture is a big thing.”

CLC chair Francis Kelly noticed how information about plants and animals confidently many of the rangers spoke even if they have low levels of literacy. up and praised them for looking after The 10 CLC ranger groups use the country. tablets for anything from weed mapping “They’re proud of what they do and and control, burning, waterhole they are keen on more training,” he said. monitoring and threatened animal “One thing I’m really proud of is that surveys. some of them got certificates. That They feature maps to help them is important for their communities navigate country and can be used because they teach others on the side. to download books in Aboriginal “It’s not only for themselves. They languages. Cleveland Kantawara, Ritchie Williams and Ainsley Gorey record animal tracks with the Cybertracker. take the kids out on excursions so they The rangers gave the tablets a good can experience the work and activities workout when they monitored a weeks later with a promise to double the “It would be great to do something of ranger groups.” wetland with the traditional owners of number of ranger jobs if Labor won the like that at Parks [the Parks and Wildlife Ranger groups are relatively small in Blue Bush. July election it lost). Commission (PWC)], to see other people’s size compared to the vast areas of land This year’s camp kicked off with a Next up, senior policy officer Josie perception, see what other rangers think for which they are responsible. visit by Lingiari MP Warren Snowdon, Douglas facilitated the ranger forum. and if it’s working out for them” said Alex Part of this daily work is the battle of who thanked the rangers for their A regular feature of every ranger Hanley, who looks after the Alice Springs controlling buffel grass. work and foreshadowed a Labor camp, the forum is an important Telegraph Station Reserve. “Buffel grass is a big thing. It Party announcement about ranger opportunity for the groups to share One of three Aboriginal PWC rangers at overgrows and takes over some of the funding. their experience about what’s working this year’s camp, Alex said he had a great native grass. Birds eat seeds of the (Opposition leader Bill Shorten well and what needs improving. time. native grass and buffel grass comes followed up a few “It feels more comfortable because and kills native grass which the birds you’re with your own people.” need,” said North Tanami ranger, “We speak language, laugh and Anthony Rex. tease each other. Culture is a big thing.”

18 August 2016 RANGER CAMP Why I’m a CLC ranger

Ranger forum: groups discuss changes to the program.

Ranger Barbara Petrick. Photo: ABC Lateline

MURNKURRUMURNKURRU ranger to find now but we can still find where they Willemina Johnson from Kalkarindji has are buried. Gurindji and Warlpiri heritage and spends It’s very emotional, especially for the old most of her spare time fishing. people. They cry and make us feel a bit sad “The elders tell us stories from the Wave but we have to be strong as rangers because Hill Walk Off, an important story. This year’s we’re the ones working on the grave sites.” 50th anniversary is a really big one. We’ll be Arltarpilta Inelye ranger Barbara Petrick working through the weekend. There will be a lives with her family at an outstation south Rangers check the professional developement plan for the camp. lot of people and the Northern Land Council of Atitjere, close to an important water hole. “I learned both ways about the land and that’s what I want to do as a ranger now. To pass on what I’ve been taught by the elders to the younger generation, especially to the teenagers, getting them away from technology. ”

will be meeting with the Central Land Council. “The inspiration and love for my land Since I started with the rangers I learned came from my grandfather, a hard working about weeds, water monitoring and fencing stockman and also from my grandmother, a around important springs. We’re also looking very had working Christian lady. I learned after bush graves. There were five or six both ways about the land and that’s what I different tribes living and working all over want to do as a ranger now. To pass on what Wave Hill Station and they used to bury their I’ve been taught by the elders to the younger deceased all over the country. They’re hard generation, especially to the teenagers, getting them away from technology. I’m still learning from the elders. We took Rangers Helen Wilson and Christine Ellis learn to maintain a chainsaw. the young girls out to a sacred place where a lot of us had been taken as we went through puberty and turned into women. We teach them how to respect the land and how they are connected to the land and the relationships. Last year I took my 14 year old here. We do see differences in the teenagers when we take them back on country. This is my second ranger camp. I love it. When I applied I wrote that it was my dream job as a little girl. I wanted to protect my land and keep it safe, like the elders have done for thousands of years. Being a ranger is the best thing you can ever be. This is my dream job. I’ll never give up the ranger’s job for another job. You can chuck a million dollars at me, I don’t want that, because my land is more Willemina Johnson cares for bush graves. precious to me than anything else.” Warlpiri ranger Chrsitine Ellis revvs up her chainsaw. Fighting fire with fire

THE 2016 burning season is in from South Australia, Western full swing from the APY lands Australia and the Northern to the Tanami, thanks to some Territory met with ranger great planning earlier this year. groups and organisations A visit to Willie Rockhole has from the cross border area kicked off monthly burning in Docker River to plan three trips around Kintore. collaborative burns around the The seven trips planned vast Katiti Petermann IPA. for this year provide casual Country visits with the elders employment for families and a organised by the Kaltukatjara chance to visit country. There rangers were a highlight of are never enough cars to fit in this year’s Waru Committee all willing workers. gathering. Further south, Anangu elders Cross border Waru Committee planning pays off: the Willie family celebrates the first burn of the season. August 2016 19 OBITUARIES Vale Napangardi Watson, artist and force of nature

“You took her on at your peril”: Judy Napangardi Watson exhibited in Sydney in 2006. Photo: Warlukurlangu Artists

“IT IS WITH immeasurable sadness textured surfaces worked in a vigorous their repertoire in their contemporary Cecilia Alfonso, manager of that we write to let people know that “dragged dotting” style. visual re-creations of country. Warlukurlangu Artists, says many, if Napangardi died peacefully last night in Napangardi was a colourist almost Many Warlpiri, like Judy and her late not most of Napangardi’s works for sale her beloved home town of Yuendumu. without match. sister Maggie Napangardi, elected to use online, are fakes that she had minimal She was much loved by all of us. We will The best of her canvases are exemplars the wildest, most inventive of palettes to involvement in making. all miss her and her formidable talent of the vivid and explosive use of colour represent their country and as a means Often she was posed for a photo very much.” Warlukurlangu Artists adopted by many artists working at of re-affirming their relationship with it. holding a painting made by someone Facebook message, May 18, 2016 Warlukurlangu – a Warlpiri word for a Artists like Judy and Maggie else “in her style”. Judy Napangardi Watson was indeed “place of fire” just west of Yuendumu. Napangardi have therefore frequently Alfonso warns potential buyers to formidable. I first met her at Yuendumu In 2004 Gloria Morales, who’d trained made use of bands of bright colour as a carefully check the provenance of any sometime in 2005. as a curator at the National Gallery in means of activating the surface of their paintings attributed to Napangardi, and She was tiny – perhaps all of five feet Canberra, joined Warlukurlangu and canvases to create an illusion of motion, indeed many central Australian artists, tall, with stove-pipe legs and arms and helped to refine Napangardi’s use of so important as a means of simulating that are offered online. an elfin face, but you took her on at your colour beyond what had been a relatively body painting and depicting Warlpiri Napangardi was more than just an peril. limited palette. narratives of travel through large tracts artist and an impressively supportive Napangardi was born around 1925 at Soon Napangardi was mixing her of country, and particularly necessary champion of family and clan. Yarungkanji on Mount Doreen Station, own colours and helping to explode the to portray the Women’s Dreaming with She was also a formidable hunter. As west of Yuendumu in the Tanami Desert. myth that, as curator Judith Ryan put it, accuracy.” Alfonso told me: “When we would go Her ancestral country was far to the “Indigenous art is concerned only with Success, however it is measured, hunting the other ladies would come west at Mina Mina, the subject of and colours of earth and desert.” always comes with a price though and back with one goanna. Judy would come inspiration for many of her paintings. Author and former Lajamanu school for Napangardi, support of her very back with six fat ones and a cheeky grin.” Not long after she started painting principal Christine Nicholls wrote extended family meant that on occasion in the mid-1980s she developed her that the availability of new colours she was literally hit upon. She was also By Bob Gosford distinctive style of painting using afforded Warlpiri artists “a means of pressured to participate in the sweat- contrasting bands of colour with heavily innovation, enabling them to expand shop art trade in Alice Springs.

20 August 2016 OBITUARIES Vale Kunmanara Baker, dignified genius who left lasting treasures KUNMANARA BAKER was a person of great dignity and good sense, and a genius as an artist and creative maker. She passed away on the 17th of April and will be missed greatly by family and friends, colleagues and admirers. Kunmanara was born on the 13th of November 1943 at Pukatja (Ernabella), on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY) in South Australia. Her mother’s country is near Wingellina in Western Australia and her father’s near Kanpi in South Australia. Kunmanara was a traditional owner for Uluru Kata Tjuta. She attended the Ernabella Mission School set up in 1940 by the Presbyterian Board of Missions and began working in the art centre or ‘craft room‘ as it was first known, while still at school. From 1963 she worked there continuously as a fulltime artist until she moved to Alice Springs for dialysis treatment in 2005. Kunmanara did not marry but ‘grew up’ three daughters of close family. Kunmanara Baker - an artist of “unusual ability and imagination” who enjoyed an unbroken 50 year career. She was chairperson of Ernabella Arts Institute, and later gave batik workshops [woven grass] baskets, carved and work and her life, and quietly without from 1994 to 2002 and later continued at the National Museum of Ethnology at poker work decorated punu [wooden judgement, expected it of others. her contribution as Anangu Mayatja Osaka, Japan. artefacts], hand spun woollen mukata A great teacher, she patiently and [manager], assisting the art centre Her first print on paper was editioned [beanies and other head coverings], as carefully showed younger artists the co-ordinator. in Osaka. well as art on a string: hand painted and new, Western, art making techniques. Her lifelong friendship with the late As a print maker, from 1983 she threaded gum nuts and ininti [bean tree Kunmanara moved gracefully in two Deaconess Winifred Hilliard, craft room created many limited edition prints seeds], liriku [necklaces] and minaku worlds. The great works she created advisor of 32 years at Ernabella, was on paper using solar and metal plate [bracelets]. from the fusion of these worlds of her seminal. etching, lithographic and linocut Kunmanara had a profound influence lived experience are a lasting treasure. Hilliard recognised immediately techniques. on everyone who knew her. She set the that Kunmanara had unusual ability Her two different print images of the highest standards for herself in her By Hilary Furlong and imagination and gave her every Minyma Malilanya [the woman Malila] encouragement and opportunity to story are superb works. explore a wider world. One of the sites associated with this Kunmanara was also a long serving story is close to her father’s country member of the Pukatja Community and she enjoyed taking people to see Council, helped to found the APY artists’ the eerie underground cave where this advocacy body KU Arts and was an particular mamu [evil spirit] lived. active member of NPY Women’s Council Both prints are in national collections. from its beginnings. Kunmanara worked as a ceramicist In 2000 Kunmanara was part of the from 1998, first at the JamFactory group of women who performed the workshops in Adelaide and from 2003 Seven Sisters Inma [ceremony] during in the Ernabella Arts ceramic studio. the opening ceremony of the Olympic She used under glaze decoration on a Games. variety of vases, platters and bowl forms The Ernabella Choir, of which she was and pioneered a variation on the ‘lost also a founding member, was close to wax’ batik technique using a tjanting Kunmanara’s heart. She performed with [applicator] and wax to decorate it around Australia and in Fiji. terracotta forms. In Alice Springs she regularly attended As a young painter she produced the Flynn Memorial Church and sang jewel-like small works in gouache on there enthusiastically until the end of paper and as a mature artist she moved her life. to major acrylic works on canvas. Kunmanara made her living as a Kunmanara created five original professional artist in a career spanning designs for a suite of terracotta In 2000 Kunmanara was part of the group of women who performed the Seven Sisters Inma [ceremony] during the opening of the Olympic Games.

50 unbroken years as one of Australia’s platters, which were mass produced most gifted contemporary Aboriginal and sold nationally under the Adelaide creators. JamFactory label. She worked first with textile and fibre, Her series of fabric designs, screen making hand spun and loomed woollen printed at Ernabella, were landmark fabrics of superior quality. achievements that were both She provided the original walka commercially successful and collected [designs] for the hand pulled woollen by major institutions. Kunmanara with one of her handspun sheep wool and emu feather beanies. floor rugs which she and the other young After moving to Alice Springs Ernabella artists made, which are now Kunmanara collaborated with fellow collectors’ items. ceramicist Robin Best. Their work - When batik, the Javanese technique Settlement - was shown at London’s Central land CounCil online for decorating cloth using wax and dye, Victoria and Albert Museum in 2005. ClC digital photo archive: http://clc.keepingculture.com was introduced to the Ernabella artists Writing a Painting was a keynote in 1971 Kunmanara became a leading exhibition at the 2006 Adelaide Festival ClC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CentrallC exponent. of Arts. She produced countless original works Alongside her use of Western land Rights news Central Australia on cotton and silk including scarves and materials she also adapted her own http://www.clc.org.au/land-rights-news/ clothing. cultural practices. ClC website: www.clc.org.au In 1975 she visited Indonesia with In Alice Springs she made some of the two other Ernabella artists to refine most refined and sophisticated tjanpi ClC FReeCAll 1800 003 640 her technique at the Jogjakarta Batik August 2016 21 ARTS Thank you to the ABC’s Felicity James for an earlier version of this story Wave Hill station lives on in song and dance KALKARINGI community will celebrate strong for the next generation. The the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill linguist and musicologist work together Walk Off with traditional songs and transcribing the music and texts so the dances performed half a century ago. kids will be able to remember it when we The performances are part of a are gone.” language project trying to keep the Mr Wave Hill remembers a song about ceremonies of one of the defining periods the loping gait of camels, taught to him of the land rights movement alive. by elders from nearby Inverway Station Elders Ronnie Wave Hill Wirrba when he was nine years old. Jangala and Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal learnt “The community has chosen to them as children on Wave Hill Station. document more of the earlier contact The two senior ceremonial bosses, both history and this is why we’re getting songs in their late 70s, are the only people left about camels, cats and windmills and this who remember some of the older songs. sort of thing,” said Felicity Meakins from “The Mungamunga [spirit women] the University of Queensland. gave my jawiji [mother’s father] the Dr Meakins is part of a language team Freedom Day Wajarra [ceremonies],” that has worked with Karungkarni Arts “Jaru, yunparnup, culture we gotta have ‘em ngantipa Kalkarindji elders singing Wajarra. Photo: Brenda Croft strong karu-wu jangkakarni-lu ngurra-ngka murlangka. Milimili-la yuwanana nguwula yunparnupkaji-lu jaruwaji-lu. Ngulu karu-ngku karrwawu.” said Samantha Smiler, the granddaughter to help the community record more of one of the ceremonies’ composers. than 80 Gurindji songs, including public “We sing them on Freedom Day for ceremonial songs and private women’s kids and adults to dance to and to show songs. kartiya [white people] our culture. It She said most songs dated back to the makes me feel proud and happy when I 1940s and 50s - including a song called watch them dancing.” “Freedom Day”. The songs tell stories about the lives Although Wave Hill Station has of Gurindji people who worked at the become known for its harsh treatment station - owned at the time by British of Aboriginal station workers, it was also Lord William Vestey - before they left a meeting place of cultures. it in protest against poor conditions in Station workers from many different Violet Wadrill paints up Nazeera Morri ready for Wajarra. Photo: Brenda Croft 1966. language groups travelled a lot between Gurindji elders feel a sense of urgency cattle stations, teaching the Gurindji the evenings made the harsh station life than word of mouth. about passing their knowledge on to songs from across a vast region. more bearable. “Many of these songs have never been children in the community. “Wave Hill station was a real hub of Musicologist Myfany Turpin, from the heard by a lot of adults in the community. “When they’re grown big, we mob multiculturalism - we’re finding songs University of Sydney, has been helping These songs probably haven’t been might have passed away, you know?” Ms in Mudburra, we’re finding songs in the community record the song notes, performed for a long time,” Dr Turpin Dodd Ngarnjal said. Nyininy, so songs coming from the rhythms and dance moves. said. “We’re just learning the young girls to west, songs coming from the east and She said the memory of the older The songs are being recorded on know culture.” songs from the north and Warlpiri songs singers was “extraordinary” and not DVDs and in a film for the community. Elder Violet Wadrill said: “We’ve got coming from the south,” Dr Meakins said. something often encountered in cultures A documentary about the project will air to keep our language, singing and culture She believes performing ceremonies in that rely more on reading and writing on NITV later this year. Oral history book brings Gurindji stories to life WHEN AUSTRALIANS hear “They told me ‘keep these Hill Walk Off was a seminal ‘Gurindji’ most think about stories here and pass them on moment in Australia’s history Vincent Lingiari leading the to anyone, whitefellas and all. Gurindji voices have been workers and their families from Tell the stories! Don’t keep notably absent. Wave Hill Station, 50 years ago them to yourself!’ So it’s true “Up to now, few Gurindji this August. what I’m telling you here, it’s voices have been heard, The 1966 Wave Hill Walk Off still true today.” especially on the period helped to bring on the equal The oral histories are preceding the walk off. The wages case in the pastoral accompanied by historical ‘new’ history contained here industry and Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory. “I yurrk this story, they bin yurrk la me, ngayiny-ju Much fewer would know about the time before the walk jawiji-lu, father-ngku, kaku-ngku-ma nyampa - you know off - the decades of massacres, anything. ‘Nyawa karrwa nyawa - you wanna look la any stolen children and other kartipa, or, anyone-ku manyja-yina, kula-n karrwa nyuntu- abuses of power by the early settlers. rni.’ Yijarni ngurna marnana nyawa, jalarni yijarni.” Yijarni: True Stories from Ronnie Wave Hill Wirrpngayarri Jangala Gurindji Country is one of the first books to bring these tales and contemporary photos, does much to fill the chasm to life in the words of Gurindji paintings, police records, in our understanding of the elders. newspapers, biographies circumstances preceding that To be launched by singer of early settlers and other fateful moment when Lingiari Dan Sultan during this year’s published oral histories of the and Gurindji stood their Freedom Day Festival, the Victoria River District. ground,” he said. Gurindji oral history book Yijarni brought together “I highly commend this also tells tales of co-operation, Gurindji knowledge holders, intimate, heart wrenching, with many funny anecdotes of artists of Karungkarni Arts, and informative account of one every day life, and fascinating the Murnkurrumurnkurru of the single most important stories of life in the bush before Central Land Council rangers, events in our recent past.” Europeans arrived. photographers and linguists. Ronnie Wave Hill said he was Midnight Oil frontman and Yijarni: True Stories telling stories handed down former federal education from Gurindji Country. to him by his father and his minister Peter Garrett said Aboriginal Studies Press grandparents. that even though the Wave http://goo.gl/XesuOq. 22 August 2016 ARTS Picking winners in the Vincent Lingiari Art Award

MEMBERS of the Central Land Council But they’ll have to be a little patient to nod to the important role town campers Still the high water mark when it will be the first to choose a winner from find out who has won the main $15,000 played in the early days of the land comes to Aboriginal rights in Australia, the art works shortlisted for the Vincent prize. rights history. the law was passed in 1976, one year Lingiari Art Award. A closely guarded secret, the winner The exhibition, which will run for after traditional owners elected Hetti’s Between them, Aboriginal artists from of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award will a month, is also an opportunity for dad, the late Charlie Perkins, as the first the CLC region and beyond submitted be chosen by art curator Hetti Perkins. Aboriginal workers from Desart member CLC chair. one work for every year of the Aboriginal centres to gain on the job experience in Financial support from the Peter Kittle Land Rights Act, which celebrates its all aspects of curatorial practice. Motor Company and Newmont Australia 40th birthday this year. Charlie Perkins’ daughter The CLC and Desart created the award made the award and the exhibition Judges Brenda Croft and Stephen Hetti will chose the winner to commemorate the Aboriginal Land possible. Gilchrist have put together a shortlist Rights Act. from collaborative works and creations of the main prize. by individual artists in a range of media. Land Rights News Central Australia Desart and the Central Land Council has published a sneak peak of a few will announce the winner at the opening entries below. of the Our Land Our Life Our Future The CLC delegates will vote for the exhibition at Tangentyere Artists Gallery $2,000 Delegates’ Choice Award when in Alice Springs on the 7th of September, they gather in Kalkaringi in August to leading into a packed weekend of Desert celebrate the anniversary with the other Mob events. Territory land councils. The choice of exhibition venue is a

Vincent Namatjira’s painting pays homage to his namesake, who “made Australia and the politicians sit up and hear the truth about this country: that this land belongs to us and it also owns us.”

Margaret Boko painted a land rights demonstration: “We all marched through town, biggest mob of Aboriginal people, while all the whitefellas locked themselves in their houses. We was angry! We was sick of all that humbug from whitefellas, just telling stories about who owns country. We always knew who owned it! We always knew where we belonged. And in the end, government said so too when they made that new piece of paper [the Aboriginal Land Rights Act].”

Dianne Ungukalpi Golding’s work Helicopter chasing camels celebrates Aboriginal rangers: “The rangers use the helicopters to muster the camels into yards. The camels are then herded onto big trucks and into town for meat.”

August 2016 23 INTERNATIONAL Canada adopts United Nations Indigenous Rights Declaration Indigenous Peoples within the laws of see the 46 articles provide guidance for Canada,” chief commissioner Marie- every aspect of our lives. Claude Landry said. “It is only when we can see these “This important moment in history articles being translated from abstract is a key step towards supporting concepts to practical improvements in and rebuilding the nation-to-nation our lives that the spirit and intent of the relationship between Canada and declaration will be realised. indigenous peoples. “The declaration is the most “Canada’s decision to acknowledge the comprehensive tool we have available unique and inherent rights of Canada’s to advance the rights of indigenous indigenous peoples sends a strong peoples,” he said. message to Canadians and the world. The declaration describes both the It will contribute to reconciliation individual and collective rights of and help to set out a path to eliminate indigenous peoples around the world. “Canada’s decision to acknowledge the unique and inherent rights of Canada’s indigenous peoples sends a strong message to the world.” Indigenous Canadians march in support of the UN Declaration. Photo: Susanne Ure individual and systemic discrimination It covers co-operative relationships CANADA has agreed to support, without Section 35 of Canada’s constitution, facing First Nations, Métis and Inuit between indigenous peoples and qualification, the United Nations which provides a full box of rights for peoples in Canada.” states, the United Nations, and other Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous indigenous peoples”. The former conservative Canadian international organisations, based on Peoples. The minister also said Canada will government, along with the former the principles of equality, partnership, Minister of Indigenous and Northern work with indigenous groups on how conservative Australian government of good faith and mutual respect. Affairs Carolyn Bennett said the to implement the principles of the John Howard were joined by the United It addresses the rights of indigenous decision means the new Canadian declaration including engagement with States and New Zealand as the only four peoples on issues such as culture, government will adopt and implement provinces and territories to advance countries to vote against the declaration identity, religion, language, health, the declaration in accordance with the the vital work of reconciliation with in 2007. education and community. Canadian constitution. indigenous peoples in the country. Australia’s Labor government reversed A United Nations declaration is not At the time of the announcement, Canada’s Human Rights Commission that decision in 2009. legally binding however, unlike a treaty Ms Bennett said the decision is “an welcomed it as an important moment in At the time, Australia’s Aboriginal or a covenant, and they are not signed important step in the vital work the nation’s history. and Torres Strait Islander social justice or ratified by states. of reconciliation. Adopting and “The commission applauds Canada commissioner, Mick Gooda, said, “The Declarations only represent political implementing the Declaration means for its decision to adopt and implement declaration is comprehensive and as commitment from the states that adopt that we will be breathing life into the UN Declaration on the Rights of you go through this document you will them. Vietnam’s ‘hill tribes’ fight for rights and against poverty OFFICIALLY at least, they don’t exist. also much poorer than other Vietnamese, The Vietnamese government prefers to according to the International Work call the inidgenous people living in the Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). country’s northern and central highland IWGIA said the average income of minority groups. ethnic minority households is only one Tourists know them as hill tribes or sixth of the average national income and montagnards [mountain people]. in some places in the northern mountains International human rights and central highlands up to 70 percent of organisations say some of the estimated the population lives in poverty. 50 minority groups that make up around 14 per cent of Vietnam’s population of 90 million face state persecution. They campaign for the groups’ “The government has outlawed the use of tribal VIETNAM languages in schools.” recognition and for their rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Both Vietnam and Australia have signed up to the UN declaration and have been subjected to international criticism for their treatment of their indigenous peoples. The UN declaration includes the right of indigenous people to be educated in their indigenous mother tongues. Indigenous children around Sapa help their families to survive by selling handicrafts to tourists. But the languages of groups such as the continued from p. 11 Red Dao, Degar and Khmer Krom are not “We can learn from projects in “We have invited the World Bank communities to solve practical problems taught in Vietnamese schools. Papua New Guinea because there are to Central Australia to look at the on the ground,” Dr Campbell said. “The government has outlawed the indigenous groups dealing with mining projects we support and to give us some It’s a win-win, according to DFAT’s use of tribal languages in schools,” on their land.” feedback,” he said. spokesperson. said Raleigh Bailey from the University “Or from Afghanistan, another desert The conference also introduced his “The CLC is now connected to of North Carolina who works with country where women are often left out team to a world of advice, including the a regional and global community montagnard refugees in the United of decision making and which made considerable resources and networks of of practice on community driven States. real progress on including women in the World Bank. development.” “Many have limited schooling and community driven development,” she “For example, we’ll be able to call on a “Its participation at the conference have lived in isolated conditions and, as said. ‘brains trust’ there that can quickly pull was highly valued and delegates from a result, do not speak Vietnamese.” Mr Ross has taken a step towards together information from everywhere other countries were eager to continue On average, indigenous Vietnamese are greater international collaboration. to help the decision makers in our to exchange lessons.” 24 August 2016 INTERNATIONAL Justice for activists incomplete without land rights: UN Ancient DNA shows settlers “WE HAVE NO OTHER SPARE OR wiped out early Americans REPLACEMENT PLANET. WE HAVE ONLY THIS ONE, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.” Berta Cáceres - 1973 - 2016

Berta Cáceres. Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize ONE INDIGENOUS person was killed almost every week last year because of their environmental activism. That’s 40 percent of the 116 people killed for such protests, according to the anti corruption organisation Global Witness. All around the world, indigenous people are murdered, raped and kidnapped when their lands fall in the path of deforestation, mining and construction. The murder of Honduran indigenous woman Berta Caceres is only too familiar to Victoria Tauli- Corpuz, the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “We shouldn’t forget that the death of Berta is because of the protest that she had against the destruction of the territory of her people,” Tauli- Corpuz told the Inter Press Service. Caceres, who was murdered at the beginning of March, had long known her life was in danger. The DNA of the Doncela [maiden] Incan mummy, found in Argentina in 1999, was used in the study. Photo: Johan Reinhard She experienced violence and intimidation as a leader of the Lenca people of Rio Blanco who RESEARCH that may change how we study the scenarios to try and explain the pattern.” protested the construction of the Agua Zarca dam impact of settlers on Aboriginal Australians has “Shortly after the initial colonisation, populations on their traditional lands. confirmed that European colonisation devastated were established that subsequently stayed Caceres’ activism received international America’s first peoples. geographically isolated from one another and a major recognition, including through the 2015 Goldman The research is the first large scale study of ancient portion of these populations later became extinct DNA from early American people and was led by the following European contact. “We shouldn’t forget that the death of Berta University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient This closely matches the historical reports of a is because of the protest that she had against DNA (ACAD). major demographic collapse immediately after the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule (building Spaniards arrived.” the destruction of the territory of her people.” block of cells) that carries most of the genetic The research team used bone and teeth samples information about the growth, development, function from 92 mainly South American pre-contact Prize, however this was not enough to protect her. and reproduction of all beings. mummies and skeletons to study their maternal She knew she was going to die, she had even Researchers reconstructed a genetic history of genetic lines. written her own obituary, said Tauli-Corpuz who indigenous American populations by looking at the The ancient people they studied came during the met with Caceres during a visit to Honduras in 2015. DNA of human remains aged between 500 and 8,600 last Ice Age from Asia over a land bridge between the Four men were arrested in relation to Caceres years – before the Spaniard Christopher Columbus Asian and American continents. death. ‘discovered’ America. “The first Americans entered around 16,000 years Tauli-Corpuz has witnessed accounts of violence The study shows that modern indigenous ago via the Pacific coast, skirting around the massive against many other indigenous activists around the Americans have none of the genetic lines found in ice sheets that blocked an inland corridor route,” says world. the ancient remains. Professor Alan Cooper, Director of ACAD. Their experiences have startling similarity. This suggests that these lines died out after the “They spread southward remarkably swiftly, Indigenous peoples are subjected to rape, murder Spanish arrived in the late 1400s. reaching southern Chile by 14,600 years ago.” and kidnap, whenever they stand in the way of access to lands or natural resources. “You cannot delink the fight of indigenous people for their lands, territories and resources from the violence that’s committed against indigenous women (and men), especially if this is a violence that is perpetrated by state authorities or by corporate security,” said Tauli-Corpuz. She also said that a look at the bigger picture reveals the increasingly international nature of the problems experienced by indigenous peoples. “A very crucial part of the problems that indigenous peoples face is that many of the things happening in their communities are happening because of the investments that are coming in from these richer countries,” she said. “You see a situation where the state is meant to be the main duty bearer for protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, but at the same time you see investors having strong rights being protected and that is really where a lot of conflicts come up,” she said. Tauli-Corpuz also noted that for Indigenous peoples, justice is incomplete if their lands are protected but they are denied access to them. “(The land) is the source of their identities, their During the ice age global sea levels dropped as much as 100-150 metres, revealing the floor of the Bering Sea and cultures and their livelihoods,” she said. If the creating a connection of land between Alaska and Siberia. Source: The New York Times forest is preserved but people are kicked off their lands, “then that’s another problem that has to be “Surprisingly, none of the genetic lineages we For around 2400 to 9000 years the small group prevented at all costs”. found in almost 100 ancient humans were present, of founding people was isolated on the land bridge. In other cases, indigenous peoples are forced off or showed evidence of descendants, in today’s This long isolation brewed the unique genetic their lands when their food sources are destroyed. indigenous populations,” says joint lead author Dr diversity observed in the early Americans, according Tauli-Corpuz said that it is important to remember Bastien Llamas, Senior Research Associate with to the researchers. that indigenous peoples are contributing to ACAD. They believe the methods used in the South environmental solutions for challenges such as “This separation appears to have been established American study could be applied to research into climate change by continuing their traditional ways as early as 9,000 years ago and was completely the first Australians and what happened to them of forest and ecosystem management. unexpected, so we examined many demographic following European settlement. August 2016 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Mighty Roosters kick goals for ‘No More’

Into the breach stepped the traditional “We want to stand behind mums, owners of the Nolan’s Bore mine, who daughters, sisters and grandmothers. chose the club as one of 12 community Good to support them for a change,” development projects to benefit from coach Scrutton said. income from the proposed rare earths He said there are early signs that the mine. players and fans have taken the No More Their Nolan’s Bore Community message to heart. Development Working Group planned a “The young fellas involved are not seen project that included not just the players’ fighting on the football field or outside.” registration fees but also helped the team The Nolan’s Bore project began when with uniforms and equipment. traditional owners decided to spend It wasn’t just their footy that resonated $360,000 of their mining exploration Any questions about with the fans, however. compensation on community projects, CLC business? Just as impressive was the team’s with support from the CLC’s community Call your regional officers: support for the No More campaign to end development unit. family and domestic violence. The working group chose the Central The Roosters were the first team in the Desert Regional Council to manage the 1. ALICE SPRINGS CAFL area to join the campaign. footy project. Nigel Lockyer, 8951 6264

2. SOUTH WEST

Ti Tree Roosters coach Wayne Scrutton is Allan Randall, proud to support ‘No More’. 8956 2119

THE TI TREE Roosters are back in the 3. NORTH WEST Central Australian Football League and Rob Roy, scoring wins on many levels. 8975 0885 “The Ti Tree Roosters Football Club is all about family and friends,” said 4. TANAMI Roosters coach Wayne Scrutton. “The goal is to try to get younger fellas Alan Dickson, to step up and become role models. We 8956 4118 want to be role models for the whole Ti Tree area.” 5. WEST Despite it being their first season back Vacant (Marty Darr), in the competition the Roosters made it 8951 6255 all the way to the CAFL grand final. It almost didn’t happen because the club didn’t have money to register the 6. TENNANT CREEK team. Ti Tree sports carnival 2016. Photo: Maria Rosa Rodner Darryl “Tiger” Fitz, 8962 2343 7. EASTERN SANDOVER Jesyjames Carr, Missing 8956 9955 8. EASTERN PLENTY Richard Dodd, Danielle 8956 9722 9. CENTRAL Let Ngurratjuta do your Lawrie Liddle, already 8952 6256 TAX RETURN in 2016 ONE LAND council’s loss is the other’s minds because she refused to play it safe, gain as the manager of the Central growing the CD team from a two person Land Council’s innovative community outfit into a busy unit of 13 that supports About us: development (CD) program moves on to one of the most successful Aboriginal • We are a leading Aboriginal Corporation set up the Northern Land Council’s new driven development programs. CD program. Thankfully members and staff won’t • We are Not-for-Profit When her colleagues farewelled Danielle have to miss her for too long. • We have a strong reputation, having been in Central Australia for Campbell after more than a decade, The CLC crew is looking forward to over 30 years they celebrated her inspirational and catching up at the joint land councils • We have qualified and professional staff courageous leadership. meeting at Kalkaringi to celebrate the land As one put it, Danielle won hearts and rights that made the CD program possible. Call us to book a face-to-face appointment with our Tax Agent; or send us an email, and we can do your return online Phone: (08) 8951 1911 Fax: (08) 8953 1633 Email: [email protected]

Address: Shop 10 Springs Plaza, Leichhardt Tce Arcade behind Best and Less), Alice Springs Web-site: www.ngurratjuta.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ngurratjutayouthcorps Out on a high: Danielle Campbell lunches with Red Dao women during a recent community development conference in Vietnam’s mountainous north (see also story p. 11.]

26 August 2016 SOCIAL

Gina and Chongy Howard from Blue Bush Station were the fabulous hosts of this year’s CLC ranger camp.

The cross border Waru Committee met at Kaltukatjara. The CLC’s fire project has supported it since 2011.

Blue Bush Station’s VET students felt right at home at the ranger camp.

Rangers Lisa Rex and Shirley Lewis camped CLC chair Francis Kelly farewells Danielle together at Blue Bush. Campbell and Amiuus Lennie.

Rangers and VET students had a ball.

Vincent Lingiari’s granddaughter Desley Rogers (left) brought her family to the CLC’s April council meeting.

Information services officer Kymberley Ellis shares out the cakes to celebrate eDIS, the CLC’s new electronic data management system.

David Ross congratulates CLC records officer Teresa McCarthy on winning the 2016 Loris Williams Memorial Scholarship which includes mentoring from a professional archivist. Juanita Rogers and baby James from Bamboo Springs. Trephina Presley and her baby Kealan.

August 2016 27 “BECAUSE KARTIYA NEVER GIVE US FAIR GO, THAT’S WHY WE BIN WALK OFF FROM WAVE HILL STATION.”

I bin working out there all my life at Wave Hill Station, Jinparrak. After our boss he got crippled ankle, he went to Darwin and he sit there for a couple of week. Then Dexter Daniels, from Roper, run into him in Darwin and Dexter Daniels bin ask question of Vincent Lingiari. ‘How Vetsey bin treating all you mob at Wave Hill Station?’ We bin work, work, work until Vincent Lingiari came back from Darwin. Old Vincent, my brother-in-law, get us and have a meeting in camp and Vincent said, ‘I got a good news. Tomorrow we going to walk up to the manager and tell that manager, “we finished from Wave Hill Station, we walk off from Wave Hill Station”. Because kartiya [whitefellas] never give us fair go, that’s why we bin walk off from Wave Hill Station. Then next morning they bin load up and get all the swag and everything and follow the fence line right up to Gordy Creek. Little bit of water was there, and then we came from there right to Victoria River Downs. And when we get on that old crossing out there, then a lot of bloke come up and ask us to go back and work on the station, but old Vincent said to them, ‘No, we had enough with all you mob now, we bin working real hard with all you mob, but never get pay. We only bin work for tea, flour and sugar, and sick of tobacco, that’s all.’

~ Jimmy Wave Hill ~ Excerpt from Every hill got a story

‘We started builing Wattie Creek’, Waatie Creek’s communal kitchen, Dexter Daniels who supported Gurindji people at Wave Hill Vincent Lingiari in front of his bough shelter, Wattie Creek, 1967. 1967, National Archives of Australia : F/1/80, 60184841. Station. NT Library, NT Government Photographer Collection. National Archives of Australia : F/1/80, 60184851.

Learn more about the book and listen to the stories online http://www.clc.org.au/every-hill-got-a-story