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PRESS CTRL AND SHIFT TO EDIT Northern Edition 45TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION June 2021 • www.nlc.org.au 45 YEARS OF AUSTRALIA'S OLDEST ABORIGINAL NEWSPAPER 1 NEWS OUT AND ABOUT EDITORIAL Land Rights News ‘We are really proud that Land Rights Quotes from the bush: ‘The whole of my world is Northern Edition is published by Samuel News has been telling our stories for my language’ Bush-Blanasi for the Northern Land Council. five decades’ Land Rights News A message from NLC Chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi welcomes stories and photos about Aboriginal people and organisations. Contact Bob Gosford, Leah McLennnan and Madeleine Stenmark at [email protected] NLC Councillor Jason Bill reflecting on the Land Claim NLC CONTACTS for Muckaty at Kulumindini (Elliott): Northern Land Council 45 Mitchell St “When we did the Land Claim for Muckaty Station, Darwin NT 0820 it made me feel real good. When Mum was still Elaine Sandy, co-ordinator of around and we got that land back at Muckaty. That the Kulumindini Arts Centre: (08) 8920 5100 was a big day!” www.nlc.org.au “My hope is that the young people still want to work Janey Dixon from Marlinja reflecting on her and make art here. Those Mudbarra language: youngsters are important, they are our future and with “The whole of my world is in my language. If you FOLLOW US the art centre we can bring have my Mudburra language you have the whole the community together.” Mudburra world in your head.” @northernlandcouncil @NLC_74 HELLO you mob! It gives me and in our way. This is a Please get in touch with even if we disagreed with NLC CEO Marion Scrymgour speaking about @northernlandcouncil great pleasure to welcome tradition we are determined our staff at Land Rights him, we knew he was arguing the late Deputy Chair of the NLC, John you to the very special to maintain by making Land News if you want copies for what he believed was Christophersen, to ABC TV on 21 April: Watch NLC TV on 45th anniversary edition of Rights News bigger and sent to your community right. For this we will always “I was talking to traditional owners in YouTube by searching Australia’s longest running better for the future. store, school or homeland remember him and hold him Kakadu a couple of weeks ago and they Northern Land Council Aboriginal newspaper, We have plans to publish or contact us by email close in our hearts. Land Rights News. six issues of Land Rights if you want to get an Christo represented NLC got quite emotional and they asked about Since the first edition was News a year from 2022 – up online subscription. constituencies in the West him and his health. One of the senior published by the Northern from the four issues we Finally, it was with great Arnhem region for over 35 traditional owners said to me: ‘Who’s going Land Council in July 1973, currently produce. And we sadness that I, along with years, as a local member for to fight for us now?’ Joy Cardona, Chair of the NLC Women’s Council, Land Rights News has want to make sure that Land many NLC Full Council Coburg and later for Kakadu “And you remember that, whilst they SUBSCRIPTIONS speaking about the late Deputy Chair of the NLC, John provided a strong voice in Rights News gets out to Members and staff, gathered and for many years served on might not all have always agreed with his Christophersen. Broadcast on ABC TV on 21 April: To subscribe fill support of Aboriginal land as many communities and in Darwin in early May the NLC Executive Council. view, they knew that he fought for them. out the online form rights and other issues that homelands as possible. For to farewell our stalwart I know I can speak for “He represented every single one “Oh yeah, he had fire in the belly. You couldn’t beat at www.nlc.org.au matter to our mob. many of our mob Land Rights friend and colleague John all NLC Executive Members of them and that, I think, is what we’re him, you couldn’t beat him. No way in the world. He’d be This issue’s front cover News is the only newspaper Christophersen, best known who really enjoyed working going to miss.” right the whole time. Even if he was wrong! (laughs).” shows a selection of Land available to them. to us all as Christo. alongside Christo for many Rights News covers through On page 28 you can read years. I particularly enjoyed the years – from wonderful some wonderful words working alongside him as my ADVERTISING photos of the Daly River penned by Christo’s good Deputy Chairman. mob walking shoulder-deep friend Chips Mackinolty, who Christo was at all times Next publication across a flooded river to give pays a fitting tribute to the an NLC Member from the NLC’s General Manager Executive Services Trish Rigby speaking on behalf of John date is August 2021 evidence at their land claim man who, as Full Council people and for the people. He Christophersen’s children at his Memorial Service, Darwin Botanic Gardens, 7 May 2021: Rates are at www.nlc.org. to the iconic image that member Joy Cardona said on will be sadly missed by all of au/media-publications or graced the cover under the ABC News, was the real “fire my fellow Full Council and "We are thankful to all those who are doing their bit to lay you to rest. I know how email [email protected] words “We have survived!” in the belly” of the NLC. Executive Council members much it meant for you to be buried up the coast where you spent the last 40 odd years on and off, may your soul soar over Murran and Ulbu Bunidj lands and waters, and that Circulation: And more. Much more. Many of us will recall and by NLC staff. you rest in peace. Boh Boh Trish." 5,000 print and 700 We are really proud that long, vigorous discussions Bob-bo friend. digital subscribers Land Rights News has been with Christo about matters telling our stories for five of great importance over the decades, for our people years. But we all know that 2 Land Rights News • Northern Edition June 2021 • www.nlc.org.au April 2021 • www.nlc.org.au Land Rights News • Northern Edition 3 OUT AND ABOUT NEWS ‘The NLC is like an Aboriginal family’s toolkit’: New houses for Gapuwiyak residents RESIDENTS of the East Arnhem community of Gapuwiyak have recently Djawa Yunupingu’s vision moved into homes they helped to plan and build. The keys to ten new homes were handed over by Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps Chansey EARLIER this year Land Rights News sat down with NLC Executive Councillor Djawa Paech and Member for Arnhem Selena Uibo. Six three-bedroom homes, a Yunupingu and asked about his vision for how the Northern Land Council works and how it three-bedroom duplex and a two-bedroom duplex were constructed in a new relates to tools that Aboriginal people use in their daily lives. 26-lot subdivision. Djawa told us that: “The NLC is like an Aboriginal family’s toolkit – a spear, a woomera, Minister Paech said Territory company WTD Constructions Pty Ltd was a digging stick and dilly bag for daily life. For the law - a Yidaki (didgeridoo) and awarded the $4.7 million contract to build the homes at Gapuwiyak in Bilma (clapsticks). September last year. These things are the essentials – like we say at the Land Council, 'Our Land, Our Sea, Our “Locals were involved in the housing project right from the planning stage Life' – all of these things work together to make us whole. through to involvement in construction,” he said. “A further 16 houses will be constructed in the new subdivision following SPEAR further Local Decision Making and consultation with the community. Our The spear represents the whole of the NLC, including the Full Council, the Chief Executive Government is proud of our remote housing program. We have built and officer and all of the staff – it is like a spear, long and straight and true. improved more than 2200 homes so far, more than any other Territory Government has ever done. We know it is making a huge difference to people WOOMERA in communities right across the Territory but meeting the people who are The Executive Council of the NLC is like a woomera that is handed with authority from our moving into new homes, hearing their stories reassures us that we’re on elders to give power to the spear and remind us what our obligations are. the right track.” Friends since childhood, Teresa Ngurruwuthun and Amanda Dhagapan DIGGING STICKS are amongst the new tenants. They went to boarding school together, have These are used to gather food - like information - from the ground. worked alongside each other at the Gapuwiyak Health Clinic for many years, and now they’re neighbours in one of the new duplexes. Teresa Ngurruwuthun and Amanda Dhagapan with the keys to their new duplexes. DILLY BAGS These are used by women to hold the food – the information - gathered with the digging sticks. Help tell your community's story - join the team! BILMA (CLAPSTICKS) AND YIDAKI (DIDGERIDOO) NLC Executive Councillor Djawa Yunupingu These are the instruments used to hold the law together through song and dance. ALMOST 100 Remote in your community your community. Area team jobs are for the future.