ISSN 1839-5279 April 2017 UTOPIA PUTS LABOR’S UTOPIA PUTS LABOR’S PROMISE TO THE TEST

volume 7. 7. number 1. .2 P. PG. # TOWNSHIP LEASING OUR WAY MU T ITJULU SIGNS UP: TRAVELS TO TRAVELS TO MS TURNER MS TURNER .6 P. THAILAND PG. # SHARING CHOIR HISTORY SHARING CHOIR HISTORY WITH THE WORLD PG. ## FREE P. 10 P. 25 NEWS

EDITORIAL Land Rights News Central Utopia first test of Gunner’s promise Australia is published by the Central Land Council three times a year. The Central Land Council 27 Stuart Hwy Alice Springs NT 0870 tel: 89516211 www.clc.org.au email [email protected] Contributions are welcome

SUBSCRIPTIONS Land Rights News Central Australia subscriptions are $22 per year. It is distributed free of charge to Aboriginal organisations and communities in Central Australia. To subscribe email [email protected] or call 08 8951 6215

ADVERTISING Lena Pwerl is looking forward to moving into one of Arlparra’s three new emergency shelters (insert and in the background). Advertise in the only newspaper to reliably UTOPIA’S residents have widely dispersed residents. members of her family. “I want to stay in Soapy reach Aboriginal people heard the Northern Territory “Not everyone wants to go to “I want to live at Rocket Bore. This is my children’s in remote Central Government’s election Arlparra to live,” says Michael Range, on my father’s country. homeland and I want to be Australia. promise to hand back control Liddle, a member of the Labor My brother is there, I want to with my children. over housing loud and clear. Party and the Central Land look after the land,” she says. “I have been working for Next publication date: Arlparra community Council executive. “People do have families years and don’t have a house August 2017 has received three small Mr Liddle is also a director and their kids have to move of my own. “Some people are ‘emergency shelters’ but the of Urapuntja, a local out, there is nowhere for them not working and they live Rates are available online corporation that hopes to take to go.” better than me. It’s not fair,” at www.clc.org.au/land- over repair and maintenance Even though she shares Ms Chalmers says. rights-news OR email: of the region’s houses in the a broken down house at Susan Chalmers teaches [email protected] OR future. Soapy Bore outstation senior students at the school call 8951 6211 “Three or four people with her daughter, her in Arlparra to read and write are happy to get houses at daughter’s partner and three in Alyawarr. Continued p.14 Arlparra,” he says. grandchildren she does not COVER One of them is elder Lena want to move to Arlparra. Pwerl who shares a humpy with her daughter Nora, her granddaughter and her two great grandchildren. Help for Yapa students Ms Pwerl looks forward to moving into one of the emergency houses and plans to “keep the humpies for the puppy dogs”. “I’ve lived here for a long time. I never had a house,” she says. But Mr Liddle says the CLC delegate Michael Liddle. government should focus on “Nearly 20 kids live in our house Shirley Turner from and about 15 adults. Some sleep Nyirrpi on a WETT- funded school excursion outside, some in the living room.” to Thailand. See story p.10. government is yet to start on building and fixing up houses the 12 new houses promised in Utopia’s outstations where CLC MEETINGS by the previous Country most of its growing population Did you know? Yapa from Liberal government. sleeps rough. remote communities in 9-11 May Like its predecessor, the “They haven’t had repairs the CLC region who go to Tennant Creek Gunner government appears and maintenance for 15 secondary school outside to want to build all of the new years, so the houses are quite their community can get 29-31 August houses at Arlparra, where destroyed.” funding support from the most of the Utopia region’s “I’d like a new house because Warlpiri Education and Location TBA services are concentrated, we are too many people”, says Training Trust (WETT). rather than in the overcrowded Lucky Morton from Rocket 7-9 November outstations. Range outstation. To apply please contact Louise Stanley Location TBA This puts it at odds with Ms Morton shares the shed at the Central Land Council on 8951 6366. many of the neglected region’s she calls home with seven

2 April 2017 NEWS CDP Penalty Record What do you want to Aboriginal coalition wins campaign for Senate inquiry do when you grow up ? THE AUSTRALIAN Senate is investigating the disastrous outcomes of the Australian Government’s Community Development Program (CDP) follwing a successful campaign by the Peak Aboriginal Organisations of the Northern Territory (APONT) and others. APONT members, including the land councils, welcomed the support of Labor and the Greens for the inquiry. APONT was among more than 30 organisations to express strong concerns about the work-for-the-dole program last December. “We wrote to Senator Scullion asking him to acknowledge the problems and work with us to review and improve the program, but he hasn’t responded and now we are seeking a Senate inquiry as a last resort,” said CLC director, David Ross. The call comes as more remote community residents than ever before are being penalised and follows a review of the controversial work-for-the-dole scheme by the Australian National Audit Office. Critics of the scheme said the latest data, for the September quarter, prove that the scheme is doing more harm than good to an estimated 34,000 CDP participants in poor communities where jobs are few. “Many indigenous CDP job seekers are clearly Sherla Rubuntja Aisha Casie unwilling to work in ‘bullshit jobs’ 25 hours (a week) just for the dole,” Deakin University professor Jon Altman, Ntaria Yuendumu who has studied remote indigenous jobs programs for I want to be a scientist because I like to I would like to be a Centrelink worker decades, told The Australian newspaper. Prof. Altmann said that any gains under CDP were do cool experiments like mixing chemicals like mum. She does everybody’s “more than offset by the massive rejection of CDP and watching them blow up! payment every day on the computer. evidenced in growing rates of no-show no-pay penalties”. “Many indigenous CDP job Marley Kantawara seekers are clearly unwilling to Ntaria work in ‘bullshit jobs’ 25 hours I would like to be a basketball player for the Sydney Kings. (a week) just for the dole.” I am playing here and in Researchers at the Australian National University town. studied government data and found that almost 55,000 penalties were imposed on CDP participants between July and September last year - about 5000 more than in the April – June quarter of 2016. Compare this with about 48,000 people penalised Menam Malbunka during the same period under the Jobactive scheme, Ntaria which applies in the rest of Australia and is more than 20 times larger. Talisha Williams I would like to be a health The vast majority of CDP penalties - 45,000 out of worker here at the local 55,000 - were for failing to turn up. Yuendumu By comparison, there were only about 30,000 non- clinic to help people and to attendance penalties imposed on the 760,000 Jobactive I want to be a school share stories. participants in the September quarter. assistant to help the kids Each “no-show” penalty means 10 percent less from the bullying. fortnightly Centrelink pay. This adds to the hardship of which many CLC constituents who work for the dole complain. Renay Loy Despite the growing number of calls for immediate action the Federal Government insisted the CDP was Arlparra getting jobseekers off the dole and into work. A spokesman for Senator Scullion told the newspaper I want to work in sports and the program had placed about 12,400 people in some rec to be with children. I play form of job and about 4200 of them were still employed basketball at Arlparra. six months later. He said between July and September last year, almost all serious CDP “failures” were either fully or partly waived. CDP participants must do 25 hours of “work-like activity” a week for dole payments. Work rules under Job active are not as tough. Shedrick Nelson The CLC hopes a Senate inquiry will put pressure on the Turnbull government to do things with, rather than Arlparra to, Aboriginal people to create more real jobs. I would like to work in a “The number of positions in our ranger program has garage, to be a mechanic stagnated for many years despite the great and growing demand for these jobs,” CLC director David Ross said. to fix the cars of Arlparra. “When the government ignores opportunities to create real jobs that are meaningful to people it’s no wonder those people are resisting make-believe work.”

April 2017 3 NEWS Asbestos fears in Yuendumu and Tennant Creek town camps Why is asbestos so dangerous? Asbestos is a name for natural minerals that can be spun and woven like wool into useful fibres and fabrics. Asbestos was mined and turned into different materials until the late 1980s. It is very common in Australia and was used in many buildings in remote communities. Asbestos fibres are 50 to 200 times thinner than a human hair. When disturbed they can float invisibly in the air for a long time.

Warlpiri Ranger Preston Kelly puts up warning signs near the Yuendumu air strip. Blue asbestos is the most TWO Central Australian communities “The fibre cement sheet fragments area near the airstrip and the CLC’s dangerous of the three types of have been rocked by asbestos fears. and piping that contain asbestos Warlpiri rangers put up warning signs, asbestos because its fibres are the An Aboriginal corporation from appear to have been dumped on the advising of the asbestos risk. longest and thinnest. Yuendumu has asked the federal Yuendumu Aboriginal Land Trust As long as the material remains When people breathe in the government to fund the removal of many years ago, possibly several exposed to the elements the fibres dust of these tiny fibres it can asbestos from the community while decades, and their origin has yet to present a danger because they can travel deep into their bodies Tennant Creek town camps residents be determined,” CLC director David become airborne and people are in where the fibres pierce the lining want children exposed to the deadly Ross said. danger of inhaling them. of the lungs. fibres to be tested for signs of any “We don’t know who dumped the Mr Ross said even though legacy Because our bodies cannot get asbestos-related diseases. waste and are not interested in finger asbestos is a major problem in remote rid of materials from this deep The Central Land Council has pointing,” he said. communities a lack of funds for its within our lungs they stay there supported the Yapa-Kurlangu “What matters is to remove it safely removal is putting residents at risk. for life and can cause deadly Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation and quickly and make sure nobody is “The scope of the Northern Territory asbestos-related diseases such to apply to the Aboriginals Benefit harmed until this happens.” Government’s previous asbestos as asbestosis, lung cancer and Account for clean-up funds of more The meeting was attended by removal program appears to be limited mesothelioma, often many years than $300,000. residents and staff of the CLC, the to some public buildings in remote down the track. The application follows a community Central Desert Regional Council, the communities, while a clean-up like Although experts have known meeting at the CLC’s Yuendumu office school and mediation centre. that needed near the Yuendumu air since the early part of last in February that discussed asbestos- Invited representatives of the strip will be very costly.” century that exposure to asbestos containing material near a path at Territory and Commonwealth The CLC plans to hold further has caused deaths of asbestos the airstrip of the community, 300 governments did not attend. community meetings in Yuendumu. workers through respiratory kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. “Recent ABA funding rounds have It is working with community diseases the importation, The CLC had called the meeting to been plagued by lengthy delays and organisations to explain the risk to production and use of asbestos alert residents about previously buried I am very concerned that this not residents and to ensure everyone was only banned in Australia in legacy asbestos that became exposed happen in this case because peoples’ understands to stay well away from 2003. following heavy rains in December and health is at risk,” Mr Ross said. the contaminated area. Over 2,500 people are January. The CDRC had earlier fenced off an diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in Australia each year Tennant Creek kids exposed to asbestos? and the number is rising. MEANWHILE, Tennant Creek and talk to us, and what all the dangers Julalikari, which has been under residents have called for health checks are for us and especially for those kids investigation by the Commonwealth for Aboriginal children who played in that were playing in those buildings,” about the dongas and other issues for vandalised demountable buildings Christine Morton said. three years, said it did not know about that also contain asbestos. Christine Grant wants her children the asbestos. For years children such as Shari-Lee to be tested, “to give them a check-up, It said it hired an asbestos removal Foster played in wrecked dongas that to see how they feel, whether they’re company, was working with NT had been bought by Julalikari Council alright or not”. Worksafe to fence off all the buildings Aboriginal Corporation. Lab tests of some of the dongas and put in place other measures to Julalikari bought 11 dongas eight years ago with a Commonwealth grant for use as community centres and "We'd like government to come and talk to us, what all accommodation in town camps. the dangers are for us and especially for those kids that When it failed to put them to use some of the buildings were vandalised. were playing in those buildings." “The structure was all smashed up into tiny bits, as you can see those bits commissioned by residents revealed protect the public. on the ground, kids were playing in the presence of asbestos in November, The dongas were imported from here for months and months using but the NT Government’s Worksafe China despite Australia’s total asbestos it as a cubby house,” resident Linda authority only confirmed this in ban in 2003. Turner told the ABC. February. Ms Morton told the ABC that Families living near one of the “The whole lot of them should have residents now have a horrible wait to dongas told the broadcaster they got off their backsides and done see whether they will suffer asbestos Shari-Lee Foster was one of the children who are worried that their children could something a hell of a lot earlier than effects. develop asbestos-related diseases. this,” said Andrew Ramsay from the “I can’t stop thinking about it. All the played in the wrecked building. Photo ABC. “We’d like for government to come Asbestos Disease Support Society. time, especially for the kids,” she said. 4 April 2017 Darwin NEWS Pipeline benefits package trumps fracking worries What is the Northern Gas Pipeline and what does it have to do with fracking? Tennant Creek Mt. Isa Warumungu Wakaya Aboriginal Aboriginal Land Trust Land Trust

Wakaya Aboriginal Land Trust member Tony Willy shakes on the agreement with Jemena’s IT WOULD link Tennant Creek and Gas company Origin Energy earlier Russell Brookes. Photo: Jemena. Mount Isa through a 620 kilometre this year claimed that the Beetaloo TRADITIONAL owner groups along In mid-February, a group including pipeline to carry gas from the Basin, 500km south east of Darwin, the route of the Northern Gas pipeline Mr Willy lodged an emergency Northern Territory to the gas market may hold five times as much gas as to connect Mount Isa and exporters objection to land clearing with the and export terminals on the east the Inpex gas field in the Browse on the east coast to the Northern Northern Territory Government, saying coast. Basin. Territory’s gas supply have agreed on it had not been consulted properly. Jemena is the foreign company that Unlike the conventional gas that land access terms. The group’s objection came even won the tender to build it. would be transported by the pipeline Jemena, the company building the though it had earlier agreed to a The Territory Government in the beginning, the Betaloo Basin pipeline, announced in late March negotiated benefits package which the promotes the gas pipeline as a major gas would be extracted through that the agreement included members Commonwealth had approved. economic project. fracking. of the Wakaya Aboriginal Land Trust The group’s lawyers informed the Critics say the pipeline would open The Territory Government has put whose earlier refusal to sign documents Central Land Council last October, up vast areas of the Territory to a temporary stop, also known as a forced the company to delay the start after the CLC held more than 20 commercial fracking, a technique that moratorium, on fracking until a panel of construction from April to June. meetings with traditional owners and releases gases (fugitive emissions) of independent experts reports about Part of the agreement is a jobs and native title holders, that it agreed to the contributing to dangerous global the risks later this year. training package worth $6 million. package. warming. The moratorium only stops There are also concerns that fracking, not the building of the “If and when a moratorium [on fracking] is fracking could pollute groundwater pipeline. and endanger threatened species such lifted the Jemena pipeline will be happy to move as the Bilby and the Gouldian Finch. fracked gas as long as it’s subject to regulation.” Proponents say the pipeline will help develop the Territory through Jemena said the pipeline will deliver “We’ve had the consultations and increased gas exploration and approximately 600 jobs in the Tennant agreement from all the people involved production. Creek and Mount Isa regions. and their lawyers on their behalf and At a mining conference in Darwin However, the company said it that went off to the Commonwealth to last September senior Jemena could not guarantee that it would not be signed off,” CLC director David Ross manager Antoon Boey called the carry gas won through fracking, a said. pipeline “the first step of a much controversial technique to extract gas However, the group told the media in larger picture” and called for “more trapped in deep rocks. February that it objected to the pipeline incentives for upstream developers to “If and when a moratorium [on because it would encourage fracking. develop gas, which would enable us to Jemena delivered pipes earlier this It asked for guarantees that the make an expansion of the pipeline.” year. Photo: Jemena. pipeline will never transport fracked gas and accused Jemena of misleading traditional owners by downplaying plans to do just that. CLC delegate Dianne Stokes is a Fracking inquiry to consult member of the group. Ms Stokes said the company had only two remote communities denied that the pipeline is linked to fracking. THE CENTRAL Land out that the inquiry is inquiry. “We feel Jemena is speaking with a Council has invited the planning to visit only Their participation “is forked tongue,” she said. independent inquiry Ntaria and Yuendumu. crucial as the remote “Jemena are keeping landowners into fracking to its May However, the communities are likely in the dark to silence concerns about Council meeting so controversial technique to be most affected by fracking.” that more community potentially affects many the shale gas industry Max Priest, another member of the representatives can more communities in its and the use of hydraulic group, explained why he is opposed to have a say. region whose residents fracturing techniques,” fracking. The CLC extended the will find it very difficult the CLC’s submission “The impact it has on the invitation when it found to take part in the to the inquiry reads. CLC delegate Dianne Stokes: “We feel environment would be devastating Jemena is speaking with a forked tongue.” both for our water, community, animals and landscape.” The Commonwealth has given the fracking] is lifted the Jemena pipeline pipeline the required environmental will be happy to move fracked gas approvals. as long as it’s subject to regulation,” It is now up to the NT Government, Mr Spink told the ABC after land which has put a temporary stop to trust member Tony Willy signed the fracking, to decide whether Jemena will agreement. get the green light to start construction. “It wasn’t really a big part of the Mr Spink said the pipeline is on track discussions we’ve had with the Wakaya for the first gas to flow east by the end people.” of next year. Some locals worry that Jemena’s pipeline will encourage more fracking. Photo: ALEC.

April 2017 5 NEWS Mutitjulu celebrates innovative town lease MUTITJULU has signed off resoundingly rejected it. on an innovative township “We persevered because lease that will put traditional traditional owners owners and residents firmly in consistently opposed the control of their future. Commonwealth’s township “This is a profoundly leasing model and we are very important settlement between pleased Indigenous Affairs residents and traditional Minister Nigel Scullion has owners, a negotiation accepted our model at long about future roles and last,” Mr Ross said. responsibilities for land use “We also welcome the in a community that we hope additional benefits the will be widely copied,” Central Commonwealth has agreed to Land Council director David make available upon signing Ross said at the signing of the sublease, such as the ceremony in March. $10 million investment in Traditional owner Judy community housing, modest Trigger said the sublease was accommodation for visiting a good idea that has been a traditional owners, and $2 long time coming. million for a community “We were sitting down long business centre.” time, asking government Over the next two years, the mob for help, we’ve been to EDTL and the community Bruce Breaden, Sammy Wilson and Nigel Scullion watch Reggie Uluru sign the Mutitjulu sublease. Canberra. consultative committee must “Today we were really happy constituents,” he said. a yet-to-be-established fund community-driven agree on a development because all government mob “Our model keeps decision community corporation projects similar to the master plan for Mutitjulu and were helping us, and land making in local Aboriginal when the CLC is satisfied that Mutitjulu pool and the many the CLC will remain closely council and all the members.” hands, but also acknowledges the new corporation has the other successful projects involved. Ms Trigger hopes the new the need to build community capacity to manage it. pioneered by our community The Mutitjulu Community deal will help Mutitjulu capacity and strong If the corporation runs into development program,” he Aboriginal Corporation achieve its goal of “keeping governance. trouble, the sublease can be said. (MCAC) asked for a sublease kids strong and looking after The signing ceremony near transferred back to the EDTL. There will be no rent six years ago but the community”. Mutitjulu’s ‘handback hill’ “From today, the EDTL payments to individuals and community’s location inside Meanwhile former CLC follows the ratification of the must consult with a committee Parks Australia will not charge a national park leased to the chair Bruce Breaden called sublease by the board of the of residents and traditional rent for the sublease. Commonwealth made the for the promised new houses jointly-managed Uluru Kata owners before making When the CLC first proposed negotiations difficult and and its community leasing model time consuming. “This is a profoundly important settlement between residents and in 2010 the Commonwealth traditional owners, a negotiation about future roles and responsibilities for land use in a community that we hope will be widely copied.” to be built at last: “We’ve been Tjuta National Park. any land use decisions in talking about that for many Last December, traditional Mutitjulu,” Mr Ross said. years,” he said. owners and the CLC agreed For the first time, Mr Ross said the CLC has to grant a sublease until 2084, organisations such as the worked with Mutitjulu since when the head lease for the clinic, the school, the store, 2010 to devise a community- park expires. or a community housing driven leasing model. Initially held by the provider will be given “Handing control over Commonwealth’s Executive legal permission to occupy the community to a Director Community premises in Mutitjulu and Commonwealth officer was Leasing (EDTL), the start to pay rent. never going to fly with our sublease must transfer to “These rent payments will Bessie Liddle and Judy Trigger at the signing ceremony. Radical approach needed to fix “broken” youth justice system

MOST people agree that the Northern were never implemented,” says Professor Harry Territory’s juvenile justice system is failing, Blagg of the University of Western Australia. but the consensus stops there. Professor Blagg has been researching Many victims of juvenile break-ins, thefts and Aboriginal justice issues since 1991, the year attacks think the system is too soft on children the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths who commit crimes. in Custody reported. Then there are the families of perpetrators He’s given evidence to the ongoing Royal who feel their cries for help to deal with their Commission into the Protection and Detention children, who get into trouble with the law, go of Children in the Northern Territory. unheard. “Locking young people up doesn’t do Meanwhile, Aboriginal communities and anything but criminalise them and makes them organisations, along with many experts, think less able to fit in with society when they get the regime lets everyone down, the youngsters out,” he says. With Aboriginal youth disproportionately “Locking young people up doesn’t represented in the justice system, a broken system can wreak havoc on communities. do anything but criminalise them “We need a complete paradigm shift [change and makes them less able to fit in in thinking],” Professor Blagg says. “There’s a need to break out of this law and order model with society when they get out.” and to invest in the Aboriginal community. There’s a need for more on-country initiatives who find their way into the justice system and run and managed by Aboriginal communities. the community as a whole. “Bush Mob and that wonderful Mount Theo. “Broken’s the only word you can use really, These people know what they’re doing. We broken is a good term and I think that’s because need to get the mainstream organisations out those [Royal] Commission recommendations of it and use the Aboriginal organisations, Sylvarni and Dixon are part of the BushMob rehabilitation program. that demanded a sanction of prosecution as a using on-country, using outstations.” Photo: BushMob. last resort, particularly for Aboriginal youth, Continued on p.15 6 April 2017 NEWS Central Australians elect champions of substantive constitutional change A MEETING of around 100 Central Australian Aboriginal delegates at Ross River elected 10 representatives to argue for substantive constitutional change on a national stage. The three-day meeting chose Richard James, Barbara Shaw, Geoffrey Shannon, Owen Torres, Valda Shannon, Pat Brahim, Jody Kopp, Rachel Perkins, Natasha Abbott and Damien Williams to represent the region’s priorities for meaningful constitutional reform at the Delegates from across Central Australia met at Ross River to discuss constitutional reform. national convention at Uluru on 24-26 May. translating complex legal young people who had the The Referendum Council The joint meeting of The meeting supported a ideas.” confidence to stand up and last year asked the CLC the Central and Northern statement of acknowledgement Mr Ross said the meeting make comment. They want to to help organise both the land councils at Kalkaringi in the constitution, dealing was respectful with everyone learn more. Ross River and the Uluru last August reaffirmed the with the race power in a way having an opportunity to “They were really engaged gatherings, following the delegates’ commitment to the that prevents discriminatory voice his or her opinions. and really excited to be part of CLC’s request in 2015 to principles set out in the 1988 law making, a representative “Having male and female this journey,” Ms Shaw said. former Prime Minister Tony Barunga and 1998 Kalkaringi voice to parliament, co-chairs and local facilitators “One of the things that was Abbott for an Aboriginal-only Statements. prohibition of racial helped make everyone feel quite moving was that we meeting in its region. “Constitutional reform discrimination and treaty. comfortable,” he said. had a lot of people who were One of 12 so-called First must deliver meaningful and “I was so pleased to Barbara Shaw, the general starting to get the fire back in Nations Regional Dialogues enduring benefits for our see everyone grab this manager of Anyinginyi Health the belly,” she said. across the country, the Ross peoples. We are prepared opportunity with both hands in Tennant Creek, chaired the “They were saying ‘this is River meeting was a chance to examine models for and get involved,” said meeting with Mr Ross. the first time we were able to for Central Australians to constitutional reform that Central Land Council director She said the meeting get together from all around debate their preferences for deliver such benefits,” read David Ross. elected mostly young and the country to talk about an constitutional reform. the resolution they passed. “It was one of those great middle aged people to seek issue that is important to all The CLC’s Dr Josie Douglas “Any progress towards moments where everything consensus at Uluru on a of us’.” and Francine McCarthy constitutional reform must fell into place and everyone, referendum question to put The 10 delegates plan to facilitated workshops along not endanger our rights to young and old, participated. to all Australian voters. meet in the coming weeks in with Peter Renehan, Misha negotiate treaties to finally The interpreters at the “I was quite overjoyed order to prepare for the Uluru Cartwright and Graham achieve self-determination.” meeting did a great job of that we had a number of convention. Dowling.

Australia is the only Commonwealth country, current or former, that does not have a treaty with its indigenous peoples. THE TREATY RACE IS ON ! It is not the Australian Government, but the Labor states who are leading the charge, and South Australia is way out front.

SA VIC NT QLD

The first state government to The state government is The government’s Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait commit to open-ended treaty discussing treaties with Aboriginal Affairs Subcommittee has been Islander Partnerships Minister negotiations with different leaders, though not negotiating tasked with “progressing public Curtis Pitt has described a treaty Aboriginal groups. An independent with specific groups. Expected to discussion about a treaty with as the “logical next step” after commissioner is to negotiate work towards treaty legislation if indigenous Territorians”. constitutional recognition. treaties with several dozen groups. directed to do so by the leaders. Real reform or nothing: meetings want treaties and elected body TREATIES and an elected leaders will campaign against involved with the historic national convention at Uluru of, programs and services body with veto powers have the referendum if all that is on 1988 Barunga statement that in May when the 16-member designed to drive Aboriginal become make-or-break offer is a model that avoids a prompted then Prime Minister Referendum Council, development. demands as a nationwide treaty and a new, elected voice Bob Hawke’s broken treaty appointed by Malcolm The meeting called for round of indigenous in parliament, similar to Maori promise. Turnbull and Bill Shorten Aboriginal people to lead the discussions on constitutional seats in the New Zealand The Darwin meeting in 2015, reports back to the process, including a decision reform rejects the minimalist Parliament. also talked about the ‘race parliament in July. on whether a referendum ‘politician’s’ recognition Referendum Council co- power’ in the constitution, They agreed with the earlier should be held at all. model. chair Pat Anderson told The which allowed the Howard regional dialogue in Dubbo, Ms Anderson said A round of 12 meetings Australian: “People are being Government to suspend the where a similar number of participants wanted “to ensure called First Nations Regional clear-eyed here, we don’t want Racial Discrimination Act Koori delegates said Aboriginal the outcome … is not a rubber Dialogues in Melbourne, to forgo history by just taking during the 2007 Intervention. input should not end with the stamping of a decision that Perth, Darwin, Dubbo, Broome whatever is on offer.” Participants said that Uluru convention and rejected has already been agreed to by and Hobart declared treaties The mood was similar at without a guarantee against constitutional recognition in politicians”. with the Commonwealth meetings in Perth and in racial discrimination in the favour of treaties and a directly “People don’t want endless the starting point for Darwin, when around 100 constitution politicians could elected “First Nations voice to consultations, they want constitutional recognition of Top End Aboriginal people continue to make racist laws. parliament” with veto powers. change,” she said. Aboriginal peoples. discussed changes to the They wanted to ensure they The Dubbo meeting The Referendum Council’s A meeting in Melbourne in constitution in February. are included in negotiations demanded greater partici- discussion paper is at www. March warned that Aboriginal Some of them had been with politicians after the pation in, and leadership referendumcouncil.org.au. April 2017 7 NEWS High flying student takes off Research to help reform royalties distributions MOST of the Central Land Council’s David Ross said. royalty distribution meetings and Under the Land Rights Act, the CLC payments do not seem to affect school distributes income traditional owners attendance, however, some of the earn from their land through mining larger meetings and payments in the and exploration agreements, tourism Tanami region are disruptive and some operations, grazing licences, and rent kids miss school as a result. from leases over communities and These are some of the early findings national parks. of research into the impact of royalty “We encourage traditional owners distributions, which the CLC has to make wise decisions about these shared with the Department of Prime funds, either through our community Minister and Cabinet. development program, or by helping The CLC’s analysis of the Northern Aboriginal corporations to manage Territory Government’s school the distribution of this income to attendance statistics shows that individuals,” Mr Ross said. different meetings and payments The CLC embarked on its own have varying impacts on schools and research and requested school communities. attendance data from the NT The research also suggests that sports Department of Education for carnivals, funerals, show weekends and Lajamanu, Nyirrpi, Willowra, footy grand finals also impact school Yuendumu, Papunya, Alekarenge, Qantas trainee Quaneisha Williams from Ti Tree boards in Sydney. attendance. Epenarra, Tennant Creek Primary and TI TREE’s Quaneisha Williams is off follow my dreams.” to a flying start as a Qantas trainee. As a little girl, she hardly missed The determined Year 11 student a day at the community’s primary known as Quinny to her friends, won school. a place in the airline’s traineeship Aged 12, she won a scholarship program and will soon pack her bags with the Ngurra Jirrama Foundation, for Europe. which partners with Ti Tree and Quaneisha is not only juggling whose motto is nweren atherr- the demands of the traineeship angkwerr kalty-irrem (we are learning with her schoolwork at Meriden, two ways). an Anglican boarding school in The Centrecorp Foundation also Sydney’s Strathfield, but as one of contributed to Ms Williams’ education five Aboriginal students she is also a costs, including by paying for flights. “I was going to quit but my dad persuaded me to stay. He didn’t get a chance to follow his dreams of being a geologist, so I wanted to be able to follow my dreams.” Ampie Paddy at the launch of the Katiti Petermann Indigenous Protected Area in 2015. cultural ambassador of sorts. “It is hard to be away from my “I have to educate my friends and family for a long time during term,” A final report, to be released in May, Tennant Creek High schools. teachers about the culture I grew up Quaneisha said. “My parents had will help with the development of As well as looking at the attendance in,” she said. faith that I could do it and I wanted strategies to tackle problem areas and numbers, CLC staff interviewed “The girls here don’t seem to know to make my whole family proud. test whether they are working. school and Remote School Attendance about what my life was like before I “I also want to be a good role model The report will also recommend Strategy staff and held focus group came to Meriden. They think it was for my younger siblings so they can improvements to the royalty discussions with Yapa. just like theirs.” succeed on their own path.” distribution process. “We know that improving education The accomplished dancer and Her parents Deborah and Nash, and The CLC launched the research in is one of the most important things softball team captain wants to be the her siblings Eric, Alex and Lilly-Anne response to concerns that distribution we can do to overcome the extreme first in her family to finish year 12. have backed her all the way, and their meetings and processes can disrupt problems facing our communities,” Mr As a Qantas trainee she will be able visits to the school have made a big community life and sometimes cause Ross said. “Through our community to leave school with a Certificate II difference. harm, such as reducing student development program we have in Business Services that could open Families run language, culture and attendance during the school term. supported a great many educational the door for further education or a job art workshops during those visits with Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel and school attendance initiatives. with the airline. the support of Ngurra Jirrama. The Scullion has been writing to the CLC “Aboriginal people are investing Her next flight will take her to workshops play an important part in about these concerns since 2014 and significant amounts of their own France and Italy for a history tour. educating boarding schools about life suggested solutions. income in educational projects, which As a lover of art and architecture in the bush in an attempt to smooth “We will need the support of the goes to show how much they value she plans to visit the Louvre, a famous the path for the next students from members of Aboriginal corporations education and how determined they art museum in Paris, and the ruins remote communities. that receive royalty and other payments are to secure a better future,” he said. of Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy’s in order to solve this,” CLC director south that was buried in ash after the volcano Vesuvius erupted 1,938 years ago. "Young people need to learn what the land is called in Arrernte, Ms Williams credits Meriden with opening her eyes to “stuff that kids in how they are related to the land, what they are to the land, and Ti Tree don’t know anything about”. what the land is to them, the dreaming for that place, which skin She has become more confident group they are, who is the owner of the land and the keeper of and independent, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing. the land. You’ve got to tell the right story. It is important to get “It was very hard coming to Sydney this right. It has to start with the elders. If we don’t do it now, it at first in year six and to be away from will all be lost.” my family and community,” she said. “I was going to quit but my dad persuaded me to stay. He didn’t get MK Turner a chance to follow his dreams of being a geologist, so I wanted to be able to 8 April 2017 NEWS Families central to boarding school success IF YOU live in a remote living in the city who look after community and want to make extended family members, a success of boarding school allowing them to live with you need a family that has them so they can attend your back. school or sports programs in A family friend, or ‘broker’, the city. can make a positive difference There is no way to count too. how many families have This is one of the main made these arrangements, findings of the first study to but we know that these map boarding opportunities families continue to champion for Aboriginal high school education for young people in students in the Central Land their extended family - and Council region. that makes a huge difference,” The researchers found that said Dr Osborne, who should the most important asset know. a student can have is their Through a family family and that students who arrangement he has a nephew board interstate need someone staying with him to attend who can liaise between their school while another son is at family, their community and The Osborne – Ken family celebrating the year 7 graduation of son Jakob (with tie). Sam Osborne is first from boarding school. their boarding school. the left, back row. He said although boarding “When we interviewed schools have been an school-aged young people uses investment profits to who opens the door to families of boarders we important part of many in the CLC region) are in provide flexible and accessible boarding opportunities inside heard again and again Central Australian young boarding schools and most financial support to Aboriginal and outside the Territory. that committed parents, people’s education for of them board within the students on request from “They act as the ‘family family friends or teacher decades, the 2014 Wilson Northern Territory. families. friend’ with strong advocates opened the doors review into Aboriginal Dr Osborne says three out of The students often have connections to boarding for students who got into a education in the Territory four of the interstate boarders a parent who went to an schools and work between boarding school,” said Sam raised fresh questions are supported by the Smith interstate boarding school, the schools and families to Osborne, a former remote about how these schools Family and the Alice Springs- or a family friend with help students get a place and school principal who is now might improve educational based Centrecorp Foundation. professional links to such a support them during their part of a research team from opportunities for students “Between them their school. stay.” UniSA, Central Queensland from remote and very remote participation rates from The Smith Family supports The study also found another University, Batchelor communities. remote and very remote nearly half of all interstate group they called ‘hidden’ Institute and Charles Darwin “There is limited evidence communities from the CLC boarders from the CLC region boarders, “students who University. about the outcomes of region dwarf those of the through the Commonwealth’s access away-from-community The team found that up boarding school programs more visible and better funded Indigenous Youth Leadership schooling and sporting to 250 young people (about for remote students, which is scholarship programs,” he Program. opportunities through family seven percent of around why studies like this one are said. Dr Osborne said the Smith arrangements.” 3,000 Aboriginal high so important.” The Centrecorp Foundation Family acts as a go-between “Often they have relations do you need support for: youth education

health issues

school excursions youth leadership & role modelling sporting events cultural matters

may be able to help.

contact us for an application form on 8952 5827 or go to our website for information & application form www.centrecorpfoundation.com.au

April 2017 9 NEWS Shirley’s “most amazing When going to town is a major excursion WHEN you live hundreds of life-changing experience” kilometres from the nearest town, it can be difficult to give your children a wide range of experiences to prepare them for adulthood. Fortunately for the primary students from Walungurru School at Kintore, near the West Australian border, the traditional owners have their back. As a reward for good attendance and effort at school, Walungurru year six students were able to cap off a successful 2016 with a three- day excursion to Alice Springs, more than 500 kilometres east of their community. They visited the aquatic centre, the airport, the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill. Shirley Turner and a class mate dress up in hill tribe clothes. Other rare treats included a movie at the cinema, a camel EVERYONE is talking about While the trip may sound ride, restaurant dinners, Walungurru students enjoy their reward for good school attendance getting Aboriginal kids to like a dream holiday, Ricardo Christmas shopping and a and effort: a trip to the Big Smoke. school but Yapa are walking said it was also a learning tour of the town’s Christmas the talk. experience and meeting the lights. working group and the Central “It’s great that lease money Each year remote locals was not as hard as he The $7,500 project marks Land Council for supporting is giving children a chance to communities in the Tanami had imagined. the fourth time Kintore has the excursion. do different things,” she said. region north-west of Alice “Meeting people in Chiang allocated its community lease “The kids enjoyed the trip “Hopefully other teachers will Springs are spending Mai was very easy,” he said. money to school excursions. and were really happy,” have a chance to do more trips Local teachers Monica Ms Robinson said. “We all with the children this year. “The most fun I had in Thailand was riding Robinson and Lorna Jackson enjoyed the trip.” “Thanks to everyone for the elephants, white water rafting and thanked Kintore’s traditional It’s a sentiment supported making this happen,” she said. playing with the kids in the orphanage.” owners, the community’s by Ms Jackson.

hundreds of thousands of “Everyone has a smile on dollars of their own money their face even though they Students share songs and snow on their kids’ education. are working really hard and “THE KIDS sang some songs For more than a decade get only a small amount of to us in their language and it they have invested much money.” was very emotional for the of their mining royalties in While Ricardo was in Border Aboriginal people.” the Warlpiri Education and Thailand, Shimayla Turner When 15 Yuendumu Training Trust (WETT), a (14) was discovering a work students visited Albury in community driven program by his grandmother during New South Wales the idea was that supports lifelong an art excursion to Ballarat that they would become more learning. in Victoria. rounded individuals through WETT is opening the eyes “I saw Ricardo’s grandma’s what they learnt on the trip. of Yapa boarding school Aboriginal painting,” However, as the above quote students to the big wide Shimayla said. “I kept from local teacher Michelle world around them. looking around the room Milthorpe suggests, they Just ask Shirley Turner, and I spotted more paintings didn’t just learn, but also Ricardo Gallagher and that were done by Aboriginal taught. Shimayla Turner from people, it was really nice The students’ visit to Xavier Nyirrpi community seeing it. High School in the city on the Kamen Cook on Mount Buffalo. who study at Kardinia “It was a great excursion International College in and I really enjoyed it, Geelong. because I like art and seeing “For the kids here, to be able to see how Last year 15-year-olds famous artists’ incredible vibrant and alive Aboriginal culture is in this Shirley and Ricardo visited paintings.” Chiang Mai, the biggest city Each year the WETT country, that’s a really important opportunity.” of Thailand’s mountainous Secondary School Support border between Victoria and had also brought great north. Program allocates $200,000 NSW refreshed a relationship benefits for his students. “The Chiang Mai journey to help Yapa boarding school between the two schools going “Forming a bond with has been the most amazing students. back to 2010, when students Wiradjuri people was a life-changing experience I’ve Each boarder is eligible Penny Rice’s first taste of snow. from Xavier started making culturally empowering ever had,” Shirley said. for up to $2,500 per year annual visits to the Central experience for all of the kids school attendance and During the eight week for uniforms, laptops, sports Australian community. and adults,” Mr Kitchener behaviour,” she said. journey her class made gear, school excursions, As Xavier’s social justice said. “We want more and more friends with children who sports and music lessons as and mission co-ordinator, “The cultural similarities students to come to school had lost their parents and well as family visits that help Ms Milthorpe knows the high helped our kids to connect every day and take part in all visited “many wonderful to keep homesickness at bay. level of respect in which the with what was largely a very the exciting things happening markets, schools and the hill WETT also funds early New South Welshmen held foreign place for them and in school. For many students tribes” (indigenous peoples). childhood, school language their hosts in Yuendumu. these relationships brought the school is a safe place. “The most fun I had in and culture and youth “For the kids here, to be comfort and a sense of family.” “With opportunities like Thailand was riding the development programs, as able to see how vibrant and Yuendumu students also this students are motivated to elephants, white water well as community learning alive Aboriginal culture is in visited Melbourne and the come to school and they get an rafting and playing with the centres in Nyirrpi, Willowra, this country, that’s a really snowfields on Mount Buffalo. education,” Ms Sundarjit said. children in the orphanage,” Yuendumu and Lajamanu. important opportunity.” Teacher Dowreen Sundarjit Funding for the excursions she added. Contact the Secondary A teacher at the Yuendumu said the excursions help to was provided by the Warlpiri “I am really appreciative to Student Support Program on School, John Kitchener, said keep them focused. Education and Training Trust, all the people that supported 8951 6366. the cross-cultural experience “The students were selected which itself is funded by Yapa me to go to Thailand.” and reinforcing of friendships on the trip based on their gold mining royalties. 10 April 2017 NEWS Lajamanu kids are hungry for knowledge SCHOOL lunches, trips to of the WETT Trustee, the country with the elders and a Kurra Aboriginal Corporation. bus service for the little kids “This is self-determination - Lajamanu community is at work,” CLC director David giving its children a great start Ross told ABC TV. to their education. “The program is managed The community has invested by the people themselves, the heavily in programs that put CLC staff are basically the Yapa children on a path of conduit.” life-long, two-way learning. Policy experts agree Take Lajamanu's school that community-driven nutrition program as an development is the way to go. example. "This is modelling how Local students enjoy really successful work with healthy meals twice a day Aboriginal people can be courtesy of the community's undertaken," Dr Janet Hunt, compensation income from from the Centre of Aboriginal The Granites goldmine. Economic Policy Research Lajamanu's Granites Mine at the Australian National Affected Areas Aboriginal A great start to life-long learning: GMAAAC funds 150 healthy school meals a day in Lajamanu. University said. Corporation (GMAAAC) Dr Hunt told the ABC a Committee decided to fund Recent trips have seen the Project partner Life Without Azaria Ross said. mounting body of evidence around 150 school meals a day pre-schoolers travel out bush Barriers also uses the bus No wonder crèche shows that traditional owners for three years. with the elders, learning about to pick the community’s attendance in Lajamanu is up. working with the CLC are “We really want to see the tracking and bush tucker as youngest learners up in the The Central Land Council changing their lives for the kids go to school,” GMAAAC well as songs and stories for mornings, which is great when also helps Yapa to run a better. committee member Tracey their country. it’s very hot or wet, but it also youth development program "It's an excellent example of Patrick said. The new 12-seater bus keeps everyone safe. in four communities through what we could achieve more The Northern Territory the community has bought “There’s a risk of children the Warlpiri Education and broadly if people were able to Government contributes by with lease money helps the being attacked by cheeky dogs, Training Trust (WETT). have much greater say about paying for the cooks and the crèche to offer exciting and especially in the morning “We decided to vote and the programs, priorities and kitchen, helping to make Yapa stimulating excursions for the when the dogs are more discuss what’s best for us,” activities that are going to money go further. little children and their carers. aggressive,” crèche worker said Roger Jurrah, a director improve their lives," she said. Julalikari attacks special administration order THE BARKLY’s largest hit back at a finding that to perform effectively”. community and social services It also has investments in Aboriginal corporation has most of its directors were also “The special administrators for communities in the Barkly a number Tennant Creek called an order placing it employees. will provide an opportunity region. businesses. under special administration The corporation said it had for all parties to restart “baseless”. resolved complaints about a conversations in good faith, The Registrar of Indigenous failure to properly monitor restructure the corporation’s Corporations placed Julalikari and manage the work-for-the governance, and refocus its Council, the region’s biggest dole program (CDP). energy on delivering high employer of Aboriginal The Department of Prime quality services,” Mr Beven people, under administration Minister and Cabinet said. in February, after an "did raise concerns to the He said a Cairns-based independent investigation corporation with respect accounting firm “will focus revealed “a significant break- to the delivery of the CDP on restoring confidence in down in its relationships with program in 2015 and early the corporation’s governance members, key stakeholders 2016 … all concerns were processes, improving and commercial partners”. met and finalised and the communication with key The Registrar said this loss corporation's performance stakeholders, and ensuring of support had made it hard is now consistently sound," services to the community are to fix serious governance and Julalikari told the ABC. not compromised”. operational problems. But registrar Anthony Beven The corporation has been Julalikari rejected findings said the corporation was funded by governments “A significant breakdown in its relationships“: Tennant Creek residents at a of impropriety and lack of “facing significant pressures for close to 30 years and protest against Julalikari last year. Photo: Jordan Gillard, Papulu Apparr-Kari. due care and diligence and and criticism about its ability delivers a range of housing, Government probe into Zodiac contract THE NORTHERN Territory services in Alice Springs and remote in early 2016. only supported and win contracts, but Government has launched an communities. The Central Land Council was have the flexibility and independence independent investigation into While the NT has no law against among the critics. to run a quality service,” Mr Ross said the awarding of a controversial former ministers taking jobs related “We called on the CLP government at the time. $1.87 million town camp tenancy to their portfolio, the NT Cabinet to reveal its reasons for favouring a management contract and vowed not Handbook advises against it. non-Aboriginal business with a poor to renew it when it runs out in May. The housing department said in track record out bush, but it failed to An independent probity auditor February the audit would “take some do so,” CLC director David Ross said. is looking into the reasons why the time” and the decision not to renew “That’s why we’re pleased that the NT Department of Housing, under Zodiac’s contract was “the fairest Labor government is trying to provide former housing minister Bess Price, manner of allowing all potential some transparency at last.” chose Zodiac Business Services, the suppliers to compete in an open The CLC is a member of the company that now employs her, to competitive tender process”. CAAHC and supports the creation provide tenancy management services Its decision under former Minister of community-controlled housing for 17 Alice Springs town camps. Price to strip the Central Aboriginal organisations adhering to national When Ms Price was the NT Housing Affordable Housing Company standards. Minister, her department awarded (CAAHC) of the tenancy services “The whole failed NT housing Zodiac an estimated $6 million contract for town camps and to give system needs to be overhauled so worth of contracts to provide housing it to Zodiac triggered street protests community housing providers are not Former NT Housing Minister Bess Price. April 2017 11 NEWS Teenagers lead fight against family violence COUSINS Connie and Kitana who she is talking to and then Shaw, from Mt Nancy town you get the explosion which camp, are standing up for just blows up out of nowhere, young people. start hitting her, calling her Two years ago, the teenagers this and that and then you’ve learned how to spot signs of got the remorse, feeling sorry unhealthy relationships and for himself and saying sorry to protect themselves against her,” she explains. violence at Tangentyere’s The cousins recently Family and Domestic Violence brought staff at Yirara College Prevention Program. up to speed about the effects “All the men should sit down with the youngfellas and tell the youngfellas straight.”

Now they are sharing of family violence on the their knowledge with their students. communities through forums They would like male and and workshops and held a female elders to teach respect presentation during a day of for women. training for teachers and staff “All the men should sit down at Yirara College. with all the young fellas and “I wanted to be involved,” tell the youngfellas straight. Connie and Kitana Shaw: “A lot of kids are traumatised by family violence.” says 18-year-old Connie. ‘What you’re doing is not “A lot of young people are good, you shouldn’t be hitting, The cousins have watched teaching their children such can help the children out, fix getting into a relationship and you shouldn’t lay a hand on a many kids become tense, behaviour is normal and them,” she says. most of them would listen to girl’,” says Connie. fearful and worse. when the children follow that She says instead of waiting elders, but they need someone “Talk about violence and “A lot of kids are traumatised example another generation for the adults to change, young to have their back as marriage before they get older by family violence,” Kitana suffers. young men and women well.” and learn themselves,” Kitana says. “Some would act up at Kitana wants to stop this should “stand up” and join She helps young women adds. school, most of them walk cycle and asks parents who her workshops. to recognise the ‘cycle of By the time young people around in the streets to get are worried that they may be “Come and enjoy the violence’. form relationships it is often away from it.” repeating their own family program, don’t be shame, “You’ve got first the too late as bad behaviours “It scars them for life,” trauma to “sit down and talk be game,” she says. honeymoon stage, all happy become more difficult to Connie adds. to someone, like counselling”. and then the build-up with control and the damage is Parents who drink, threaten, Connie agrees parents need For more information him checking the phone to see done. demean or abuse each other support. call 8952 1430. physically or sexually are “Help the parents out, they School kids study camel damage at Ilpili children how to measure and “It’s good for their minds record water quality. to know how to write their The students gathered small language and write about their water animals which are a culture.” sign of good water quality and The visit to Ilpili was part of practised how to set traps for a two-way learning program small mammals. called Science Pathways On The students also learned Country which is delivered that there are an estimated by Australia’s main science up to 400,000 feral camels organisation, the CSIRO, and in Australia, most of them in Tangentyere Council. remote WA and the NT. The program builds on the After the trip, the knowledge and strengths Watiyawanu students wrote a of bush communities that bilingual booklet in Pintupi/ combines Aboriginal ecological Luritja and English about what knowledge with Western they found out. science. “It is really good to take This year, Science Pathways school kids on bush trips, plans to expand its program showing them the country, and from three to six communities make books about these trips. in Western Australia and So the kids can know the rock the Northern Territory. holes and other places when they grow up,” said Rita Turner, This is an edited version Students collect small water animals used to monitor water quality at Ilpili. Photo: Tangentyere/CSIRO. a senior assistant teacher at the of a story first published by Watiyawanu School. NITV. PRIMARY school kids from nomadic ancestors alive. dam that is filled from a bore, Western Desert communities CLC rangers and traditional so the camels can drink there have visited Ilpili Springs to owners guided the visit by 35 instead.” learn first-hand about the students from Kiwirrkurra, Mr Abbott lived at Ilpili for a damage feral camels wreak on Kintore and Watiyawanu (Mt time when he was a boy. the desert. Liebig) and scientists. “The three day trip to Ilpili Camels have badly damaged “The springs dried up last Springs provided wide- the once pristine spring pools year, because they were ranging lessons about country surrounded by paperbark blocked by all the dung,” said for students in their first forest, 400 kilometres west of senior Luritja Ranger Terrence language,” said head teacher Alice Springs, and their dung Abbott. from the Watiyawanu School, pollutes the water that kept “We have started to dig them Larry Kenny. generations of the students’ out again. And we have dug a The rangers taught the 12 April 2017 NEWS Painting a scene without bullies WILLOWRA’S new recreation The young women then hall won’t be built until later made the stencils for the this year, but it already has a Warlpiri words while the mural with a strong message younger kids joined in the against bullying and violence. painting. Almost 60 young people The Warlpiri Youth between the ages of 10 and 24 Development Aboriginal have created the large artwork Corporation (WYDAC) on a timber backing, ready for delivered the anti-bullying display in the hall. workshop with funding from The project grew out of the Warlpiri Education and a “Stand Together, Respect Training Trust (WETT). Each Other, Don’t be a Bully” Last year WETT invested workshop where they learned more than $650,000 of how taking a respectful stand mining royalties in youth for each other can make the development activities in ‘bully poison’ go away. Willowra, Yuendumu, Nyirrpi As the young men made and Lajamanu. letter stencils to print a WYDAC plans to roll out the message onto the timber program in the other three backing in English and Warlpiri communities later discussed what words to use this year. they had good conversations It hopes the workshops will about bullying. allow even more young people On planks of wood they also to express their artistic skills painted images of themselves and their ideas about how to or someone they admired. stop bullying. These messages by young people are waiting for the new Willowra rec hall to be built. Barkly blokes build better campground THREE men from the Barkly traditional owners hired have used their building skills the Centre for Appropriate to improve a traditional owner Technology (CAT) to build a campground at Karlu Karlu meeting shelter and toilets at (Devils Marbles). the campground. Andrew Seccin, Ethan Jones The Central Land Council’s and Rex Morrison worked with Community Development Tangentyere Constructions to Unit planned the latest build separate shelters and works with traditional showers for men and women. owners, spending more than The project has allowed $280,000 of their Northern families living around Territory Parks rent money. Tennant Creek to spend more They used some of the time on their country. money to also fund solar Karlu Karlu traditional street lights and bore pumps owner Michael Jones said at Wakurlpu, Kalinjarri and local elders came up with the Greenwood outstations. idea. Traditional owner Sandra “We were sitting under the Morrison said benefits range tree and had an idea to build from improved safety at night a shelter and toilets,” he and a more reliable water explained. supply to employment for “Then we had another locals. idea to make it better with “We wanted the young men’s and ladies’ shelters people to participate in the and showers. We decided to project and get some work,” use our own money for our she said. “Now they know how country and community.” to do building work”. Rex Morrison and Ethan Jones worked with Tangentyere Constructions to build the shelters. Five years ago, the Mt Liebig sanctuary gets some love THE CHURCH in Mt Liebig, “reflects the heavens above”, said 330km west of Alice Springs, will Pastor Roderick Kantamarra. continue to be a lively sanctuary A local working group drew up for locals to worship and hold a brief for the renovation with the community meetings, concerts help of the Central Land Council and singalongs after recent community development team renovations. after Mt Liebig traditional Local laborers Cedric Dixon owners committed more than and Yuella Miller helped to repair $50,000 of their community rent six large sliding doors to make money to the project. the church weatherproof and to The Centre for Appropriate protect the sound equipment and Technology (CAT) developed furniture. design options and costings They also assembled 12 new before managing the project. pews fabricated in the CAT After the first service Enterprise workshop in Alice in the upgraded church, Springs. Pastor Kantawarra said the The church got a new blue improvement “makes people feel Cedric Dixon and Yuella Miller. floor, a colour selected because it happy, everyone is happy”. Local workers assembled 12 new pews. April 2017 13 NEWS

outstations. The clinic car struggles to get to an outstation where 15 kids live.” How well the government listens to the bush about housing will be the first test of its promise to devolve control. Remote community residents everywhere are letting Mr Gunner know that they want to work with the housing contractors. Mr Sheals says having control of their communities means locals learning how to fix the houses themselves - with a little help from the government. “I have the skills to fix some things but I don’t have the materials and the money,” he says. “Black and white together do the business and do the work,” Harold Nelson adds. Mr Gunner agrees. “We do need to generate economic activity in remote communities, just as we do in Darwin and Alice,” he said. He better get a move on, according to Michael Liddle, who has warned his comrades that the election honeymoon Sisters Audrey, Ruby and Lucky Morton from Rocket Range want houses to be built at outstations, not in Arlparra. is over. “I’m quite frank with them: ‘You’re Continued from p.2 government to improve housing repair outstations can’t get to school because not delivering what you promised’. Residents say three of the outstation’s and maintenance, municipal services of the roads. If they want to be a one-term dwellings don’t have any facilities, so and roads. “The bus won’t go out there because government they should keep doing many residents and visitors are forced “None of this has happened. There the road is stuffed. They’re not getting what they’re doing.” to share one rusty, mouldy shower and hasn’t even been a consultation process an education. That happened at three toilet. and people are getting quite frustrated. “Nearly 20 kids live in our house and They elected them to government and about 15 adults. Some sleep outside, they are doing nothing,” Mr Liddle some in the living room,” says Nicole says. Jones. “This is a very authentic area; Mark Sheals reckons they might as nowhere in Australia is like this. well sleep outside. Let’s look after it and let’s promote “It’s pretty much raining in my healthy outstation living on people’s house.” homelands. Following recent rains most of the Instead of all these people living at outstation residents sheltered in Arlparra let’s fix up the roads so they Arlparra’s undercover basketball court can access the clinic and services and for weeks says Michael Liddle. shops.” He says Utopia residents want the He says some kids in Utopia Many dwellings at Soapy Bore don’t have a shower, toilet or kitchen. The Territory’s housing heartbreak worsens ABORIGINAL communities in the Aboriginal people, but the heart of the the living spaces we’ve got and relieve and remediate the housing." Territory are at breaking point, with problem is the home,” Mr Ross said in pressure in the community.” Eleven years ago, the United housing shortages at critical levels and an opinion column co-written with the Communities have made it clear they Nations labelled the housing crisis homelessness at 15 times the national Human Rights Law Centre. want to be involved at every level. in Australia’s remote Aboriginal average. While he welcomed the $1.1 billion Aboriginal Housing NT is a new body communities a "humanitarian “This means children living in the Territory government committed that supports them by advocating for tragedy". houses with 20 other people, the to address the housing shortfall better housing, more local control and One year later, the Little Children elderly sleeping on kitchen floors, over the next decade, he pointedly employment of local people in repairs are Sacred report, which led to the tents pitched on verandas, and women reminded Chief Minister Michael and maintenance. Intervention, described it as "nothing suffering violence with nowhere safe short of disastrous and desperate". to go,” CLC director David Ross said. “Children living in houses with 20 other people, It estimated that some 4000 All eyes are now on the federal additional houses were needed budget in May, because the Australian the elderly sleeping on kitchen floors, tents immediately, and another 400 each Government has made no commitment year until 2027. to remote housing beyond June next pitched on verandas, and women suffering Fast-forwarding to 2017, that means year. violence with nowhere safe to go.” 8000 more houses. Instead, it announced an Mr Ross called government independent review of the national Gunner to keep his election promise Meanwhile, a federal housing review, investment in Aboriginal housing agreement and program that has to hand back control over housing to chaired by Aboriginal co-chairs Rachel under the National Partnership funded Aboriginal housing, following communities. Towart and Robert Griew, also looks Agreement on Remote Indigenous a damning report in November that “The chronic crisis of overcrowding at creating jobs for locals rather than Housing “a drop in the ocean confirmed that half of Aboriginal can only be addressed through a contractors, according to Indigenous compared to the need”. community residents across the collaborative approach, with a view Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion. As worrying as the uncertainty about country live in overcrowded and poor to ultimately giving control back to The review is consulting with Commonwealth investment beyond houses. Aboriginal communities,” Mr Ross communities, land councils and peak 2018 is that decision makers still don’t The Productivity Commission's said. bodies such as the Aboriginal Peak know which housing programs make report Overcoming Indigenous The Northern Territory government Organisations of the NT (APONT). a lasting difference and why. Disadvantage (OID) also showed no has promised to spend $10 million on Senator Patrick Dodson agreed the Perhaps the most shocking finding significant improvement in water, renovations for remote houses before review must involve affected residents of the OID report was that only 34 of sewerage and electricity services in the end of June. if it is to make a difference. 1000 government-funded Aboriginal communities. “We’re doing very practical things He singled out asbestos removal, programs had been properly evaluated. If any more proof were needed that to houses,” Chief Minister Michael a big problem not only in Territory “The lack of evaluation is a direct this sorry state blocks progress in Gunner said when he announced the communities (see also stories page 4). result of the Turnbull government’s health and education, child safety and Room to Breathe program in March, “In Western Australia there are funding cuts to this portfolio,” Senator family violence, look no further than before any contracts had been signed. communities where asbestos is Dodson said. the dismal Closing the Gap report in “Verandas, outdoor kitchens, granny prolific and there appears to be no Nothing positive can come if we February. flats. plan for either the State or the Federal don’t thoroughly examine what works “Health is a major hurdle for Simple things that can transform Government to remove the asbestos and what doesn’t.”

14 April 2017 NEWS Amoonguna Inspirational stories of community-based solutions “LOVED hearing the success stories community. and the challenges they overcame to A presentation about the board of parties go get where they are.” the Central Australian Aboriginal “Inspirational stories about how Congress sparked discussion about some corporations have set up their how community representatives can back to court structures and governance systems.” benefit from the specialised skills of Many conference organisers would independent directors. kill for praise such as these comments Rounding off the forum, the Central from participants at the Innovating to Land Council’s Georgie Stewart Succeed Forum for leaders of Northern explained how communities are Territory Aboriginal organisations. making good decisions about using Judging by the feedback forms their rent and royalty income for large left behind by more than 80 senior community development programs. managers and board members after The history of one of these programs, the event in Alice Springs in March, the Warlpiri Education and Training its mix of positive case studies and Trust, came alive when four members presentations hit the spot. of the WETT advisory committee The winner of the National presented their painting about the Indigenous Governance Award, the program’s 10-year journey. Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Chief Minister Michael Gunner at the forum. As one of the feedback comments Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal read, “a great way to showcase self- Corporation, kicked off a full day. “One of its strengths is the wide range determination and community-based CEO Sarah Brown took everyone of participating organisations,” Mr solutions”. Amoonguna. on a journey of the ever-expanding Miller said. For more information go to THE LONG running dispute network of dialysis rooms in remote “This year they came from sectors as aboriginalgovernance.org.au or over the control of Amoonguna communities. diverse as arts, health, women’s centres, contact [email protected]. community is headed back to the Southern Tanami Kurdiji Indigenous justice and mediation, community Federal Court. Corporation, now well on its way to development and outstation resource In February, at the request of independence from the Central Desert centres. the Central Land Council, Justice Regional Council, was represented by “They shared stories about what is Mortimer ordered the Federal Enid Gallagher, one of its directors. working, not just with each other, but Court to investigate whether the Ms Gallagher explained how Kurdiji also with government representatives dispute over the grant of leases for (Warlpiri for shield) uses mediation to - the NT Chief Minister and two of his service delivery in the community by the Amoonguna Aboriginal “One of its strengths is the wide range Land Trust can be settled through mediation. Justice Mortimer ruled that of participating organisations.” any mediation of the legal action against the leases brought by keep the peace in Yuendumu. MPs as well as public servants from Marie Ellis and Imwernkwernhe The Warlpiri Youth Development Canberra,” he said. Community Limited (ICL) had to Aboriginal Corporation, having Corporations from the desert Any questions about take place by 24 March. recently changed CEOs after a decade, swapped notes with Top End outfits CLC director David Ross had tips for finding one who fits in with such as Wadeye’s Palngun Wurnangat CLC business? welcomed Justice Mortimer’s the local community and culture. Aboriginal Corporation, whose name Call your regional officers: decision. The forum is an annual highlight for means ‘women together’. organiser Wes Miller, himself new to “The ongoing uncertainly It’s been successfully selling local 1. ALICE SPRINGS over Amoonguna’s future is managing the Aboriginal Governance art, textiles and coffees and renting Nigel Lockyer, hurting residents and holding up and Management Program, which out meeting spaces while also running 8951 6264 community-driven development,” provides customised support for the a bush plum harvesting business that Mr Ross said. leaders of NT Aboriginal organisations. brings employment and money to the “That’s why we sought 2. SOUTH WEST mediation and we’re pleased the Allan Randall, judge listened to common sense. New approach to broken youth justice system 8956 2119 We hope the other parties will enter into discussions so that Continued from p.6 departure from the current system. 3. NORTH WEST General manager of Northern Territory “We’ve bolted an adult correctional the Amoonguna community can Vacant (Marty Darr), finally move on.” Jesuit Social Services Jared Sharp has system onto youth justice,” Professor also made submissions to the NT Royal Blagg says. “It’s all about order and 8951 6255 “The ongoing Commission. brutality and this is exactly the wrong He agrees that the current juvenile environment. It’s a good way to make 4. TANAMI uncertainly over justice system fails to consider an kids with these problems worse. Alan Dickson, Aboriginal approach to dealing with “We’re saying putting kids out on 8956 4118 Amoonguna’s future offenders. country and investing in childcare, is hurting residents “The NT doesn’t have any Aboriginal support for vulnerable families, these 5. WEST justice programs at all for both adults are the changes that will make a and holding up and for kids and I think that has to difference. Vacant (Marty Darr), fundamentally change,” Mr Sharp says. “We can’t ignore the evidence. You’re 8951 6255 community-driven “In my opinion, you need to reverse more likely to commit crime if you’ve development.” the current way of operating in been in prison.” 6. TENNANT CREEK the Northern Territory where the Jared Sharp says the right political Darryl “Tiger” Fitz, However, no progress was mainstream model is really the non- leadership can show the public the 8962 2343 achieved by the deadline and the Aboriginal model. benefits of an alternative approach. 7. EASTERN matter will now go to a hearing in “I think that needs to be turned on its “We want to encourage people to SANDOVER the Federal Court in June. head so the mainstream model becomes take responsibility for their actions, ICL had requested an effective a culturally strengthening model which we want to punish people, but in Jesyjames Carr, lease for 297 years (3 x 99 years) is trauma informed and harnesses the most circumstances we’d be better 8956 9955 over the entire land trust. power of elders and senior people in a served by helping people back onto a The traditional owners last person’s home community to help them rehabilitative path so they can become 8. EASTERN PLENTY September instructed the CLC get back onto the right path. law-abiding citizens and make a positive Richard Dodd, to grant leases over small lots “Using connections to culture to contribution in their community,” he 8956 9722 in the community to the Central build people’s identity, self-esteem and says. Australian Aboriginal Congress, encourage them to get back onto a law The Royal Commission into the 9. CENTRAL abiding path.” Protection and Detention of Children in the MacDonnell Regional Council Vacant (Marty Darr), and the NT Government. Both agree that political leadership the Northern Territory is due to report is desperately needed to drive a radical in August. 8951 6255

April 2017 15 NEWS Great year for Uluru family tour

Sammy Wilson shows tourists a thorny devil near Patji outstation. Photo: SEIT.

TRADITIONAL owners of “It makes the country happy they see wildflowers and smell the Petermann Aboriginal to have people there and you and taste kalinpa-kalinpa, the Land Trust have given the come back happy,” he said. honey grevilleas. Uluru family the go-ahead to The tour also won the At Patji Mr Wilson treats run their tourism business at Centrecorp Indigenous his guests to a personal Patji outstation for another Tourism Award at the 2016 perspective on Anangu culture three years. Tourism Central Australia over afternoon tea while The licence agreement Awards. watching the sun set from a caps off a successful year for Mr Wilson is chair of the red sand dune. Sammy Wilson and his family, Uluru Kata Tjuta Board of Guests learn about his who have been showing Joint Management and an grandfather Paddy Uluru, his visitors another side of the executive member of the life near the rock and his fight rock since the 1980s. Central Land Council. He and for Aboriginal land rights in “Its good to be able to go tour company SEIT Outback the 1970s. back to our homeland and Australia launched the tour Last year the tours ran on take visitors too,” Mr Wilson last year. three afternoons a week, said of the new tour that During the cooler months with a friendly message that Otto Sims at the Melbourne Cup with a model wearing a dress by offers a unique opportunity to they take tourists on the old never changes: Pukulpa Amanda McMillan and Brigida Stewart, based on his fabric design. experience Patji, a waterhole road where the original gates ngalya yanama, nganampa south of Uluru, with a of the Uluru National Park ngurakutu... Welcome to our traditional owner. once stood. Along the way country. From Yuendumu to a frock shop near you YUENDUMU artist Otto Sims and the size. I never sewed has his sights set on a global before in my life. fashion career. “We entered and I came 14th Since Mr Sims entered out of 80th.” a dress he designed in the Trips to Asian countries Melbourne Cup’s Fashions have set Mr Sims’ imagination on the Field award the racing and opened his eyes to former Central Land Council the endless possibilities of employee has been dreaming fusing fashion and culture. of international fashion fame. “I see different people with “My dreams are to be different clothes that stand national or international,” he out,” he said. said. An artists exchange program He would like to be his own to China in 2013 and an art boss and start a business that exhibition in India in 2009 brings his designs to life on led him to search the internet fabric. for inspiration. Sammy Wilson and Kathy Tozer (centre) with SEIT representatives at the Tourism Central Australia Awards. Photo: TCA. “It is about ownership, “I look at the websites of creating jobs and employing first nations overseas and they young people,” he said. do their textile. Maybe selling It all started when the to Myer or David Jones, this is Central land CounCil online Batchelor Institute for my prospect,” he said. Indigenous Tertiary Education, “Hopefully we put Alice ClC digital photo archive: http://clc.keepingculture.com where Mr Sims is studying Springs on the map with visual arts, taught him to sew Aboriginal design, fabric and ClC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CentrallC and encouraged him to enter textiles. So we can compete a dress made from a fabric he in the near future with other designed. designers.” land Rights news Central Australia “The design is part of my Mr Sims hopes that the next http://www.clc.org.au/land-rights-news/ totem. It is an important totem. generation of artists will also ClC website: www.clc.org.au We call it ‘witi’. It belongs to follow their dreams. the skin group of the Japaljarri “I say to young artists good ClC FReeCAll 1800 003 640 and Jungarrayi,” he said. "I did art can take them to places the design myself, the cutting where they want to go.” 16 April 2017 NEWS From too homesick to learn to uni success

Cherisse Buzzacott is the only Aboriginal midwife at the Alice Springs Hospital. Photo: ABC. Traditional owners from Imanpa and Mutitjulu had a look around Santos’ oil and gas exploration camp between Erldunda and Angas Downs before checking out the ALICE SPRINGS midwife experiences back here,” Ms seismic trucks in action. Sandra Armstrong and David Wongaway, from Imanpa, Cherisse Buzzacott is Buzzacott told the ABC’s One the Australian Catholic Plus One program. and others wanted to know how Santos protect their sites. In February, the CLC University’s Alumni of the She said the women she also took traditional owners from Titjikala to visit seismic tests at Maryvale and Year. supports often forget to Horseshoe Bend. Not bad for a young woman look after themselves during who was once labelled a pregnancy. ‘uni dropout’ after quitting “When they become her studies because she felt pregnant, often they’re too homesick. busy looking after other One of the first graduates family members to really Size of the Alyarpere task of the university’s Away think about [themselves]. From Base Midwifery “They don’t see the baby program, Ms Buzzacott is as an actual person until won’t throw these Ryders the only Aboriginal midwife the baby’s actually born, "I have really strong role models, my grandmothers, my mum, they all really pushed me to go really far in school and just to keep at it all the time."

at the Alice Springs Hospital, so they continue with their and one of fewer than 100 lifestyle, they’re not eating Australia-wide. the right foods, or maybe She also looks after new they’re not taking pregnancy mums and their babies in vitamins, which is what we Yuendumu. recommend them to take.” When she graduated from Ms Buzzacott dreams of Centralian College, Ms having her own practice, Buzzacott scored the highest supporting Aboriginal tertiary entrance rank out of midwives and staff. all the Aboriginal high school She knows Aboriginal students in the Territory. women trust an Aboriginal After her first unsuccessful midwife because they know attempt at university study they can talk openly about in Adelaide she went to their problems without being Melbourne to finish what stereotyped. “The good thing about the Ryder family is that they’re planning first.” she started, completing “I’ve got heaps of family UNAFRAID of hard work, the Ryder family has with family members helping to build a house a Bachelor of Midwifery that have had problems taken on a big task in developing its Alyarpere and a fence to keep the neighbour’s cattle out. course in 2014. with domestic violence and outstation, but they have many reasons for But they’ve also called on experts when One year later, she won the suicide, alcohol problems, seeing it through. they’ve needed to. Northern Territory Young lots of family with drug “Alyarpere is part of our grandfather’s and One of them was soil erosion consultant Achiever’s Award for Health problems,” she told the ABC. Dad’s area,” traditional owner Chris Ryder Col Stanton, who the Central Land Council’s and Wellbeing. “I don’t discriminate says. “It’s where the good drinking water is.” community development team recommended Her journey included against anyone who has any His brother Damien adds: “I try to get more to help the family work out where to locate a stint as a management sort of social problems. of my family to move back to country. Happy future infrastructure and how to maintain the trainee at McDonalds and “Just because I’m to support them and get more houses put up.” natural flow of water. as a graduate student at educated, just because my The Ryder family is using its rent money “The good thing about the Ryder family is the Melbourne’s Royal skin’s a bit lighter, doesn’t from the East MacDonnell Ranges National that they’re planning first,” Mr Stanton said. Women’s Hospital, but she mean I don’t have those Park to develop Alyarpere. “They are taking the initiative to call in always wanted to work in same problems.” Apart from revitalising their connection people [for work] they haven’t got experience her home town to help turn She said one of the keys to to country through their presence at the with … and they get to learn when they walk around the dismal trends her success has been having outstation, they’re also hoping to grow alongside. It’s top stuff.” around life expectancy and good role models. employment opportunities in the spectacular They’re taking a slow and steady approach to infant mortality in remote “I have really strong role region. the development of Alyarpere, more focussed communities. models, my grandmothers, Using their own money and time they’ve on getting it right than the pace it’s done, as “I wanted to go away and my mum, they all really built a stockyard for their horses, which is part Chris Ryder explains. experience some high risk pushed me to go really far of their plan to create jobs on country. “It is better to start small and grow to get in a large hospital and then in school and just to keep at They’re doing much of the work themselves bigger,” he says. come back and bring my it all the time.” April 2017 17 NEWS Rising ranger fears for future funding AN AWARD-WINNING ranger has be lost or damaged and our plants and warned that Central Australia’s animals will disappear altogether. Indigenous Protected Areas face “No matter where we live, there are horror fire seasons without secure threats to our country from weeds and funding. feral animals or wild fires.” Josephine Grant fears that some of Ms Grant joined the Muru-warinyi the IPAs that make up 40 percent of Ankkul Rangers in Tennant Creek Australia’s national reserve system in February 2012. Her job has taken could literally go up in smoke when her to ranger groups across the CLC the money for the IPA program runs region. out next year. “I like helping other rangers to get The ranger program support officer better at their jobs,” she said. “As I from Tennant Creek supports some of learn the co-ordinator role, this variety the 2600 Indigenous rangers working helps me to stay motivated and to across the country under contracts learn from different team members. with the Commonwealth to protect “I know a lot about bush medicine IPAs and other Aboriginal land from and I really enjoy sharing that fires, feral animals and weeds. knowledge, but most of all I like After winning the Northern Territory the way that working on country Ranger Award for Leadership in strengthens the rangers’ cultural Protected Areas Management Ms connections.” Grant is preparing to become the first Ms Grant celebrated a stellar year Aboriginal woman to co-ordinate a in 2016 with additional awards for Central Land Council ranger group. excellence in indigenous natural In the CLC region rangers look after resource management. four IPAs - almost 200,000 square She wants to inspire female rangers kilometres of very remote country that who now make up a third of the CLC’s now resembles a powder keg. Josephine Grant supports CLC rangers who look after four Indigenous Protected Areas. ranger teams. “We’ve had record rains during “I have been able to help groups the holidays and our country is now threatened plants and animals. The CLC wants Josh Frydenberg, where the women rangers needed bursting with dangerous loads of dry “We can’t do this work without our the current minister responsible for encouragement and support to better grass and scrub,” Ms Grant said. elders who guide us through IPA the program, to respond to urgent understand the work expectations and The four IPAs include Australia’s management plans.” requests to continue and expand IPA I really enjoyed that,” she said. largest terrestrial IPA in the Tanami Traditional owners of the Northern contracts in the forthcoming federal Ms Grant credits her family for and its newest - the Katiti Petermann Tanami IPA have invested a quarter budget. instilling in her a lifelong love of IPA that surrounds and dwarfs the of a million dollars from their mining Ms Grant says secure IPA funding learning. Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. compensation income to translate is critical to the future of Indigenous “Growing up in the bush north of The traditional owners of the latter Tennant Creek I walked about 10 are already concerned that visitors “Because there’s so few of us we really have kilometres to school at Banka Banka could start out-of-control wildfires Station with my 12 siblings. My father that could threaten native animals our work cut out trying to prevent large dry walked with us and then we walked all and plants. the way home in the afternoon,” she Six Kaltukatjara rangers look after season wildfires later this year and beyond.” said. the enormous western half of the IPA, She says the value her family placed waiting to be joined by a new ranger their IPA management plan into a rangers and their communities. on a good education has set her up for group in Mutitjulu. digital storybook format that literally “If we don’t manage our country success at high school and beyond. “Our 11 ranger teams are very small speaks their Warlpiri language. now, then our kids and grandkids The support she received at the and run on the smell of an oily rag,” Late last year elders and rangers won’t be able to enjoy it in the future,” CLC has helped to turn her into one she said. from the 100,000 square kilometre she said. of the rising stars among hundreds “Because there’s so few of us we Southern Tanami IPA led the way with “We do really important work for of indigenous rangers around the really have our work cut out trying to the first digital storybook management maintaining cultural knowledge and country. prevent large dry season wildfires later plan, which was co-funded by gold strength, but without secure funding Their families will be anxious to this year and beyond. miner Newmont. how can we plan ahead? find out before budget night what the “Traditional patch burning during Since the Howard Government era “Unless there is long-term future holds for their country. the cooler times is important because the Commonwealth has funded the commitment to our work we will lose wildfires trigger waves of extinction of governance and planning on IPAs. biodiversity, many cultural sites will

Kaltukatjara rangers and traditional owners plan a burning trip at Tjunti (Lasseter’s Cave). Robin Granites works on the Southern Tanami IPA’s digital storybook management plan.

18 April 2017 NEWS Burning business to bank first carbon credits THE FIRST income earned from carbon credits by a Central Australian Aboriginal business will be realised later this year and the custodians of the Karlantijpa North Aboriginal Land Trust are looking forward to the rewards for their fire management. Fresh from securing a contract for carbon credits in exchange for strategic savannah burning, the Karlantijpa North Kurrawarra Nyura Mala Aboriginal Corporation is planning to use the money to grow its new carbon enterprise. Secure in the knowledge that the business is off to a flying start, traditional owners and rangers from Daguragu and Tennant Creek are getting ready for the burning season. “Everyone is a winner here,” Central Land Council director David Ross said. “Their new enterprise will create seasonal jobs and help to mitigate dangerous climate change. “It allows the custodians to burn Helma Bernard earns carbon credits through ground burning near Daguragu. their country in a controlled manner in the early dry season in order to the traditional owners. set up the business when a new Mr Ross said the benefits don’t stop reduce the greenhouse gasses that “They’ve put in the hard yards over methodology for savannah burning there. large wildfires in the late dry season the last three years, doing ground and made the northern most area of “A dozen Aboriginal people will would otherwise cause.” aerial burning, monitoring weeds and their land trust eligible to bid at the be hired to work alongside our Mr Ross said before the CLC started identifying significant sites, so we’re Emissions Reduction Fund auction. rangers, but we also expect wider to work with the traditional owners only too pleased to help them to Late last year, the corporation social and environmental outcomes, the rarely visited ultra-remote 3000 such as improved biodiversity and square kilometre area near Elliott had reinvigorated cultural traditions,” Mr suffered out of control fires that had “Their new enterprise will create seasonal jobs Ross said. depleted endangered animals and “We could achieve even better plants and threatened neighbouring and help to mitigate dangerous climate change.” employment outcomes if the Turnbull pastoral properties. government invested in what everyone He said years of careful preparation develop a carbon business,” Mr Ross secured a deal at the Commonwealth knows to be working well and funded and planning with the CLC’s fire said. clean energy regulator’s auction a ranger group in the region.” management and ranger teams have “We hope it can become a model allowing it to turn its fire management The CLC rangers will help the paid off for for other groups who want to carry work into dollars. corporation to carry out burning on out financially sustainable fire Under the deal, the Commonwealth a cost recovery basis for the next five management that meets safety, pays for the carbon abatement years while other CLC staff will co- cultural and environmental needs.” and uses the credits to meet its ordinate the project on behalf of the The traditional owners international emissions reduction corporation and build its governance jumped at the chance to commitments. capacity.

What strengths do you bring to your How would you explain ranger work ranger group? I bring my computer to other people? It is the best job in the and communications skills. world.

What projects have your ranger group What is the best thing about being been working on? We are fencing off a ranger? Being a ranger, you get to two big springs and providing outside see other country and take care of your water for animals to drink. area. It keeps you fit and gives you a lot of fresh air. What language(s) do you speak? I speak Arrernte and English. What would you say to the Prime Minister about rangers? If we run What made you want to be a ranger? out of funding it’s going to be hard for I love working outside with others. people to take care and protect the important sites. Why is it important to work on your country? If country is not taken care of Anything else you want people to it goes downhill. know about you? Geelong cats are the best team in the world. What is the type of work you do as a ranger? Protection of sacred sites and maintaining country.

Cleveland What are some of the hard things? Trying to control feral animals and Kantawara weeds.

April 2017 19 NEWS Pokies backdown a big win for traditional owners

Anslem Impu Jr. says gambling at Kings Canyon Resort would have meant kids in local communities missing out on food and clothing. Photo: Amos Aikman/Newspix. THE KINGS Canyon Resort national park. money on that and wouldn’t legal advice and then went the resort’s change of heart. has listened to Watarrka “I was quite happy actually have enough money for food from there.” “It certainly helped the communities and dropped its for children and schools and clothing for children,” he CLC director David Ross resort to realise there’s a lot plan to install poker machines around here. Also for the said. backed Watarrka communities of opposition to this. If you in the national park – for now. tourists. They come here Mr Impu Jr, who travels strongly, even comparing are going to run a resort in The resort delivered an for other reasons, not for between Watarrka and the gambling with drug addiction. this part of the world these early Christmas present gambling,” Anslem Impu Jr. Mereenie oil and gas field “The only difference is that are your neighbours and we to traditional owners and told the ABC when he found for work, was one of the poker machines are legal,” Mr all need to get along, so let’s Ross said. “The downside of have a relationship that we these things is the same for can all live with rather than “I was quite happy for children and schools families and individuals. one where we’re knocking “People have their houses heads,” he said. around here. Also for the tourists. They come broken into and all sorts of Like Mr Impu Jr he believes other issues stem from these tourists come to look at here for other reasons, not for gambling.” bad behaviours. Tobacco is the spectacular cultural legal as well but look at what landscape, not to gamble. residents in and around out the gambling plan had traditional owners who Tobacco does to people. It’s “If you want to gamble Watarrka late last year when been shelved. instructed the Central Land bad enough people having come to Alice Springs,” Mr it withdrew an application to “It wasn’t a good idea. It Council to oppose the resort’s to put up with alcohol at the Ross said. “You don’t need to Licensing NT that would have would have a huge impact on application. resort.” be tinkling machines in the paved the way for machine the local communities around “I spoke with the CLC and Mr Ross credited lobbying middle of the desert.” gambling in the remote here. They would spend their they helped me out. I got some from traditional owners for Joint management of NT parks under review A DECADE of joint management 3. Opportunities for the younger of the national parks in the generation to learn from older southern half of the Northern family members on country. Territory seems like a good time In 2003, the government to check whether it’s working for of then Chief Minister Clare the parks’ owners. Martin agreed to manage parks The Central Land Council and reserves jointly with their is gathering the views and traditional owners, in a spirit of opinions of custodians, partners partnership. and other stakeholders ahead It promised to recognise, of a report to be released in value and incorporate their September. culture, knowledge and decision The research will ask making processes and to deliver whether the three big hopes benefits to them, such as rental traditional owners had for payments and employment. joint management have been Two years later, it passed the realised. Parks and Reserves (Framework They were: for the Future) Act and included 1. Recognition of traditional the principles and objectives owners and inclusion in of joint management in the power sharing and decision Territory Parks and Wildlife making; Conservation Act. The CLC consulted with 2. Employment, training and traditional owners and economic development completed joint management outcomes; and plans for half of the 20 parks and reserves in its region. The West Macdonnell Ranges (Tjoritja) National Park has a joint management plan. 20 April 2017 OBITUARIES If we don’t work, we won’t learn JANET Inyika was born in the Musgrave Ranges of South Australia. Her parents Tinimai and Jacob Puntaru were shepherds for Ernabella Mission. One of Janet’s earliest memories was from late 1953. Snuggled between her parents, they made an epic journey by moonlight, on the back of a donkey, escaping the fallout from the Totem 1 nuclear bomb at Emu Field, Maralinga. She attended Ernabella School, and was one of the first Anangu children learning how to read and write in Pitjantjatjara and English and to draw on paper. Later, Janet studied painting and batik in Ernabella. One of her batiks is on show at the National Gallery of Australia. She was also a consummate wood carver. She grew up, married and had her children in Amata. Despite being a busy young mother, she trained as a health worker at the Amata clinic which cared for the Mrs Never Give Up: Janet Inyika - 1952 - 2016. health of 300 Anangu. Assisting the National was seeing people die around Her work ethic and tenacity performed in Germany with participating in patch burning Trachoma and Eye Health her, become brain injured, earned her the nickname, the the Central Australian and cleaning rockholes. Army field hospital in 1976, disabled for life, and she put ‘Mrs Never Give Up’ and, as a Aboriginal Women’s Choir. Janet never lost her passion Janet said: “If we don’t work, herself right in the middle of member of the Opal Alliance, She kept their spirits up with and as a deeply respected we won’t learn”. the fire,” NPYWC’s Andrea the Prime Minister’s Award her cheerful temperament. senior law woman with a vast The formation of the Mason said. for Excellence at the 2007 She produced baskets for store of knowledge about the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara cultural and natural world she Yankunytjatjara Women’s “She was seeing people die around her, become brain also advised the Ara Irititja Council (NPYWC) in 1980 was digital archive project. a defining and empowering injured, disabled for life, and she put herself Although terminally ill in moment for Janet. 2016, she still braved the hot For the next 36 years, right in the middle of the fire.” dust storms to attend what she almost never missed a would be her last NPYWC meeting. She became a staff Janet was influential in the National Drug and Alcohol NPYWC’s Tjanpi Desert meeting. member in the emotional and development and rollout of Awards. Weavers social enterprise In her last weeks, she was social wellbeing team, and non-sniffable, low-octane As she continued her artistic and joined the boards of the guest of honor at the later a director of the NPYWC. fuel. In 2005 she launched pursuits over the years, Maruku Arts and Desart. Her 10-year anniversary of the She campaigned over decades Opal fuel at the BP terminal Janet’s abundant black hair last paintings were a series of rollout of Opal fuel, her most for renal dialysis services and in Adelaide - and in Amata. turned white. She toured autobiographical works about cherished achievement. Janet against alcohol abuse and Petrol sniffing disappeared Australia for two years with surviving Maralinga. passed away peacefully on the petrol sniffing, the scourge of virtually overnight, sniffers the Ngapartji Ngapartji She was a valued member of 30th of December in Amata, the NPY lands. gradually regained their stage production at sold out the management committee surrounded by close family. “Her family was being health and estranged families shows. She sang soprano for the Katiti Petermann impacted by sniffing. She reunited and reconciled. in a number of choirs and Indigenous Protected Area, Linda Rive Old Jay Creek Remembering Day TRADITIONAL owners graves were named. and past residents of Old Former residents and Jay Creek will gather at the custodians have been working community’s cemetery in May with the CLC, the Lutheran to remember those buried Church, Friends of Strehlow there and restore some dignity and Ingerreke to identify to many previously unmarked the unmarked graves at the graves. cemetery 50 kilometres west A large sign listing the of Alice Springs. deceased as well as some of They are inviting the public the stories and voices of Old to join them for the service. Jay Creek will be unveiled For about 60 years, until during the service on 7 May. the 1980s, Old Jay Creek was Before the Northern the home for many Central Territory Government funded Australians from different the Central Land Council to language groups. make the sign, restore the The service will be held on cemetery and erect crosses on 7th May from 10.30am and the graves only seven of the 64 will be followed by lunch. People outside Jay Creek church. Photo: Strehlow Research Centre: Samuel Gross Collection.

April 2017 21 EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES Will NPY communities take the power? ANANGU have a chance to take back communities across the NPY region power to run their own communities, since last June that they “understand thanks to a plan that has received we are stronger when we work the green light from the Federal together”, according to the secretariat. Government. The aim of the consultations is to Known as Empowered Communities produce a community-driven five-year or just EC, it has been called a development agenda for the region “new way of doing business with this year that governments agree to governments and service providers” support. that puts Aboriginal people in control Each community will decide if EC is of decisions that affect them. right for it and determine how to be “Although some An angu involved. organisations in our region already work together, Empowered Communities is about something “We are stronger when more – it is about forging a common pathway,” Ngaanyatjarra Council chair we work together.” Bruce Smith said back in in 2014. Pastor Roy Yalkatji, Sidney James & Frankie Kunia were some of about 60 Kaltukatjara “This is our new framework for residents who recently discussed Empowered Communities. Local authorities in Imanpa, Community governance varies survival and now is the time to create Aputula and Mutitjulu residents are next. across the region and, for now at it.” least, decisions will be made through After two years of design work the arrangements that are already in and lobbying by Aboriginal leaders Empowered Communities is about place. from eight EC regions, the Federal The EC secretariat hopes to hold Government last June released the • Aboriginal responsibility consultations in all 24 communities funds for consultations and planning • Changing the power balance between governments and by July. with the communities of the tri- NPYWC chair Yanyi Bandicha state Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara communities believes a new way of working with Yangkunytjatjara (NPY) region. • Empowering local leaders governments can become a reality. One of those leaders is NPY Women’s • Local services, policies and programmes “Empowered Communities is an Council CEO Andrea Mason. • Simpler funding important part of creating a better Ms Mason first introduced the idea future for all Anangu and especially to Central Land Council members at • More accountable governments and communities for our children,” she said. their 2015 council meeting at Yulara Pulka. To these goals, add proper housing She told them the program wants and good care for the old, the young long-term reform of indigenous affairs and the disabled. in the NPY region. The NPYWC co-chairs a regional “Empowered Communities seeks EC steering committee that to create a genuine and balanced includes Regional Anangu Services, partnership between indigenous Ngaanyatjarra Council, Western A community-driven plan for the NPY region that governments agree to support organisations, government and Desert Dialysis and the Central Land corporate Australia, where everybody Council. is working together on a level playing Supported by a small secretariat field and towards a shared strategy,” of four staff working out of the Ms Mason said. NPYWC’s Alice Springs headquarters, In many ways, the priority the committee is the program’s areas of EC are the same as the ‘backbone’, guiding the EC and letting Commonwealth’s: a good education, governments know how they can help. work or “meaningful engagement” and Anangu have shown during 22 NPYWC’s Peter Riley and Andrea Mason discussed the project with CLC delegates at the safe communities. consultation meetings with 13 April 2015 council meeting. “Go Sis!” Aboriginal leaders congratulate June Oscar THE APPOINTMENT of June Oscar Torres Strait Islander women, who AO as Australia’s new Social Justice are disproportionately affected [by Commissioner, the first woman to family violence and child removal],” hold the position permanently, has the forum’s convenor, Antoinette been warmly welcomed by Aboriginal Braybrook, said. organisations around the nation. A highly respected Bunuba leader, “Ms Oscar has an outstanding record Ms Oscar made her mark as the CEO of working for our peoples and her of Marninwarntikura, an Aboriginal community of Fitzroy Crossing has women’s organisation in Fitzroy made real advances in recent years. Crossing, where she spearheaded the The National Congress of Australia’s fight by local women against domestic First Peoples looks forward to working violence. with Ms Oscar in her new capacity,” She also led a successful community Dr Jackie Huggins, the Congress’ co- campaign to ban the sale of full- chair said. strength alcohol in the Fitzroy Valley Her co-chair Rod Little called the and initiated Australia’s first study February announcement “a long time into Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder coming”. (FASD), which affects the unborn The appointment has been hailed as babies of pregnant drinkers. a “landmark moment for Indigenous Ms Oscar takes over the Social women” by the National Family Justice Commissioner’s position from Violence Prevention Legal Service Mick Gooda, who last year quit to head Former Governor General Quentin Bryce awarded June Oscar the Order of Australia Forum. up the Royal Commission into Youth medal in 2013. Photo: Governor-General’s office. “It is very often Aboriginal and Detention in the Northern Territory. 22 April 2017 EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES Building a platform for positive change WHEN Andrea Mason told Central Land Council members about Empowered Communities two years ago she hoped the green light from the Australian Government for the ambitious plan was just around the corner. Then everything went very quiet while the Liberals replaced then Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Turnbull finally approved the plan in the middle of last year, sparking a flurry of consultation meetings in Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council (NPYWC) communities and the recruitment of a secretariat of four staff. Ms Mason, the CEO of the NPYWC, will be watching the critical consultation phase of the Empowered Communities program from Sydney. While she undertakes a ‘corporate placement’ with Westpac and provides advice as a new member of Mr Turnbull’s handpicked Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), her team back in Central Australia will be “going out to meet with Anangu from across the NPY region to hear from them about Andrea Mason, chief executive of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, is one of the Aboriginal leaders who what’s important”. developed the idea of Empowered Communities. Photo: NPYWC. “We will be sharing data and information to help people understand well as greater collaboration with and establish a process that has the right Springs Centralian Citizen of the what’s happening in communities and accountability to the communities”. balance of governance and control Year – came the appointment to the in the region right now and working To many Anangu on the ground the with flexibility and openness to make ‘refreshed’ IAC, along with education with Anangu to make a plan for a new organisations, national structures and sure that Anangu voices are heard and champion Chris Sarra. future based on Anangu being in the frameworks that make up EC must feel listened to.” “I have taken the Prime Minister at driver’s seat and steering the region like a heavy burden. It all boils down to trying “new and his word, that he wants to build his in the direction that works for Anangu How will they be able to genuinely different ways of working” that are understanding of indigenous cultures tjuta,” Ms Mason says. as well as work with and not for With so many false ‘new dawns’ in Aboriginal people,” Ms Mason says. indigenous affairs, how will EC’s “new “When in doubt, I should reach She plans to use the IAC to support way of working” be different? “evidence-based solutions” and to “It’s true people have heard about out to Aboriginal leaders who have progress the NPYWC reform agenda of new ways of working before and then providing “community safety, creating over time nothing has really changed,” local employment opportunities, she agrees, before adding that EC was the knowledge and understanding preparing young people for leadership developed by Aboriginal people rather and strengthening local and regional than government. to provide me with clear and governance”. Ms Mason also believes there “It gives me the opportunity to ask are early “great signs” of a “more practical questions that may hold collaborative approach from the Prime substantive advice.” the government to account to ensure Minister and Cabinet teams in our drive such a difficult process that based on “real Anangu control”. Aboriginal people living in the desert region”. comes with so many expectations? “If things work properly we’ll do communities of Central Australia She lists fortnightly information Ms Mason admits her team is still more of them and if they don’t we’ll are included in national policy sharing meetings and an EC and “grappling with the options and stop doing them and try something considerations.” government working group “to look opportunities to do this in a workable else,” she says. She says she will draw on strong at financial security for Aboriginal way”. Ms Mason’s platform for guidance. people” in the NPY region. Apart from prioritising community advocating positive change has grown “When in doubt, I should reach These closer working relationships engagement she wants to look at “how considerably. out to Aboriginal leaders who have indicate “a more consistent we work with and strengthen the After a slew of awards - 2016 Telstra the knowledge and understanding to understanding and approach” that existing structures and governance in Business Woman of the Year, 2017 provide me with clear and substantive involves sharing regional data that community, such as the [MacDonell NT Australian of the Year and Alice advice.” has not “been available in one place Regional Council’s] local authorities”. before [and] that we want to share “We are also looking at ways to with communities”. engage and empower Anangu at a This information will enable her family and individual level, through “I have taken the Prime Minister at his word, that he wants to build his understanding of indigenous cultures as well as work with and not for Aboriginal people.” team to “work with communities to things like local EC champions, a focus help them better understand who is on young and emerging leaders in the visiting and why, have greater control region, and social media and online and influence over who is working with ways of communication,” she says. them and how, and also provide advice “At a national level we are working and direction on how they’d like more with other EC regions, our central EC collaboration between providers as team and with government, to try and Selina Kulitja speaks up at the Kaltukatjara Empowered Communities meeting.

April 2017 23 INTERNATIONAL Appeal to stop pipeline operation fails NATIVE American tribes opposed to the construction of a pipeline near their sacred lands have lost an appeal that would have prevented oil flowing through it. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit knocked back the appeal brought by the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, leaving the way open for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline to begin operation. An earlier appeal by the tribes against a decision to allow the pipeline to go ahead is yet to be resolved and they had hoped this appeal would prevent oil flowing until the earlier case had been decided. Any hopes they now have to stop the pipeline seem to rest on that earlier appeal. The tribes oppose the pipeline, which would move North Dakota oil to Illinois. They say its route was illegally changed to run close to sacred burial sites and will endanger their water. Former President Barrack Obama had encouraged the builders of the pipeline to find an alternative route, but President Donald Trump has signed orders supporting it under the present plan. Protesters burned their camp at Standing Rock as they left. Photo: Josue Rivas / Honor the Earth. Schools around the world Citizen River: New Zealand grants packing a big lunch waterway legal personhood A NEW ZEALAND river that is sacred to Maori people has become the first waterway in the world to be recognised and protected as a living being, after a 170-year campaign. The interests of the 145-kilometre Whanganui River on the country’s North Island, which was given the same rights as a citizen by The Whanganui River is “its own person”. Photo: Flickr/ @ks_marks. New Zealand’s parliament in March, will be represented by river. now as having their own a Maori group. “We have always believed presence, their own needs and School meals - not just in Lajamanu (see p.11). Photo: Flickr/Julien Harneis. The group, Whanganui Iwi, that the Whanganui River is their own wellbeing.” has fought for recognition an indivisible and living whole Granting a river legal IT’S a staggering figure, but Madagascar, spicy lentils of its relationship with the — Te Awa Tupua — which personhood is revolutionary some 370 million children in the Philippines and Whanganui River since the includes all its physical and because it turns Western around the world are fed vegetable pastries and fruit 1870s. spiritual elements from the ideas of human mastery over at school every day while in Jordan, while in some A member appointed by the mountains of the central North the environment on their learning about healthy food countries it may be a healthy Island to the sea,” he said. head and instead embraces and nutrition. snack or it could include “Our landscape is The passing of the the Maori relationship with March 9 was International take-home food such as revolutionary Te Awa Tupua the land. School Meals day and the vitamin A-enriched oil for personified, we see Bill ended the country’s “From the Maori perspective United Nations’ Food and the whole family. the earth, our lands longest-running legal battle our landscape is personified, Agriculture Organisation The UN agency says when as our earth mother after hard negotiations we see the earth, our marked the day by pushing combined with diversified between New Zealand’s lands as our earth mother for consistent global school meals and nutrition Papatuanuku.” government and Whanganui Papatuanuku,’ Professor Ruru investments in school meals. education, growing and Iwi that formally started in said. It said that would lead preparing garden food at group and one appointed by 2009. “We see ourselves very to a generation of children school increases children’s the government will jointly Professor Jacinta Ruru Told much as being part of the developing healthy eating preferences for fruits and speak up for the country’s the ABC the bill means that environment and our health habits and benefiting from vegetables. third-largest river. the river and a former national and wellbeing as a people a diverse diet, according to It says food and nutrition One of the group’s park on the North Island, Te being reflected back into the the Inter Press Service news education is an essential spokespeople, Gerrard Urewera, which also became a health and wellbeing of the agency. element in the prevention Albert, told The Telegraph legal person in 2014 now have environment or vice versa. A quick look around and control of diet-related the community had long a voice in court. “Maori don’t own, the New the world shows a varied health problems while also been concerned about the “It means that these lands Zealand government doesn’t menu for school meals, boosting school attendance. government’s impact on the or the river have their own own this land. It is its own including beans and rice in “health and wellbeing” of the authority, recognised in law person, it cannot be owned.” 24 April 2017 ARTS Sacred Song to share choir history with the world A DOCUMENTARY following In May 2015 they got ready to bring the Central Australian Aboriginal the hymns their families learned from Women’s Choir on its historic 2015 German missionaries 140 years ago tour of Germany will feature in this and sang in Pitjantjatjara and Western year’s Melbourne International Film Arrernte to German audiences. Festival. “We took what the missionaries taught Choir members gathered at the us back to Germany, so it was like a Lutheran church in Alice Springs on a boomerang message going back to hot night in March to watch the rough them,” Ms Brumby said. cut of the film with film-maker Naina “These songs were given to our great- Sen. grandparents, but they are now our “It’s fabulous what Naina has done songs, part of our story and identity,” for us, lovely. Our family can see what said Utju’s Daphne Puntjina. we did in Germany. We had fun. It’s The documentary crew followed the amazing,” said Maryanne Swift from choir for almost three years, to Ntaria, Ntaria, who joined the tour with her Kaltukatjara, Utju, Alice Springs, children Nicolas and Genise. Darwin, Melbourne, Tasmania and “Naina did a wonderful job, it made Germany with filming only finishing me very happy and proud,” added last October. choir member Judy Brumby from Utju One reason the women wanted to who also worked on the documentary perform for German audiences was to as an interpreter. show that the hymns their ancestors “I was really nervous because at the shared played a role in keeping end of the day my accountability and Aboriginal languages alive. responsibility is to them,” Naina Sen “So they know we’re keeping our said after the screening. culture and language strong,” choir “So if they wouldn’t have loved it, member Judy Brumby said. it would not have meant anything, Sacred Song will screen at the really.” Melbourne International Film Festival The women invited Naina and her in July. team to film them in their communities Look out for a review in the next Land in 2014 as they rehearsed a new show Rights News. The Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir took their “boomerang message” to Germany. for a tour of Germany. Bush TV hits town Alice Springs’ search for a VISITORS to Alice Springs from bush For many of the younger family National Indigenous Art Gallery communities won’t have to miss out members it was the first time they had on their favourite TV station any more. visited important cultural sites. The new channel 41 allows townsfolk Dragon Dreaming follows Kushia and Cultural Centre location to keep up with family out bush Young, a profoundly deaf young THE DAYS of crowds bursting out provide better facilities for artists to who have been enjoying Indigenous woman from the APY lands, as she of confined Alice Springs art spaces showcase their work to national and Community TV (ICTV) since 2012. uses her art to overcome enormous during big Aboriginal art events may international audiences. After many years of lobbying, ICTV disadvantage. be numbered. “At the launch of the Vincent Lingiari secured a digital TV license last year. The video by Ninti Media took out Two prominent Central Australians, Art Award last September visitors Funding from the Aboriginals the ICTV Our Way Video Award at last Philip Watkins and Hetti Perkins, are were spilling out of the entrance of the Benefit Account and Centrecorp has year’s National Remote Indigenous driving the development of a National Tangentyere Artists Gallery into the made it all possible. Media Festival in Yirrkala. Indigenous Art Gallery in Alice Springs. driveway,” he said. Viewers will be in for a treat On the Town Camp Cookbook Series The gallery is not only expected “The size of the crowd at this event during NAIDOC Week when ICTV Jasmine and Millie, from Hidden to provide a major new showcase showed that our region is more than will celebrate the week’s theme, Our Valley town camp in Alice Springs, for Indigenous Australian art, but a ready for a dedicated space for big Languages Matter, by broadcasting feed big mobs with a delicious, but spacious one too. Aboriginal art events.” only in Aboriginal languages from cheap, kangaroo stir fry. It is a $50 million election promise “This is a great opportunity to July 2 to 9. The cooking series is made by town of the Territory’s Labor Government celebrate the rich cultural heritage Other highlights from the region are campers for town campers and shows and has been billed as a major tourism and contemporary artistic expressions online, on ICTV Play. how to make healthy, fun and easy drawcard. of indigenous artists and people from A Place Called Walapunpa, by meals for the family. across Australia,” Ms Perkins added. Barkly Regional Arts, is a documentary To find out what is playing “This is a great opportunity Assistant Minister for the National about the Rankine family returning to on ICTV use the electronic Indigenous Art Gallery, Chansey Paech, their homeland of Walapunpa south programming guide on your to celebrate the rich cultural said through a spokesperson the gallery of Tennant Creek after an absence of television, call 8952 3118 or visit heritage and contemporary and centre “are distinct facilities but more than 30 years. ICTV Play at ictv.com.au. will link in closely with each other”. artistic expressions of “It’s very important that our mob indigenous artists.” are recognised for the significant contributions our people have made Ms Perkins is a curator, writer and we need to make sure we tell this and consultant as well as the eldest very important story nationally.” daughter of first Central Land Council Nganampa Anwernekenhe, a chair Charlie Perkins, while Mr Watkins corporation associated with Harold heads Desart, the peak industry body Furber, has begun preliminary for Central Australian Aboriginal art consultations for the cultural centre. centres. CLC members strongly endorsed the The pair, who teamed up to launch idea three years ago, when Mr Furber the inaugural Vincent Lingiari Art presented it to council. Award, are co-chairing a project Mr Paech said the government is steering committee for the initial open to co-locating the cultural centre consultation work. and the art gallery and hopes to have One of the committee’s first jobs a shortlist of sites by the middle of the will be to find out where to build the year. gallery and how it may be linked with “No decision has been made as to another $20 million election promise: the location of either facility but we are a National Aboriginal Culture Centre. open to all options,” his spokesperson A Place Called Walapunpa is a highlight on ICTV play. Mr Watkins said the gallery will said.

April 2017 25 HEALTH A dog’s life isn’t so bad in Yuendumu Sugary foods still killing the bush THE LATEST census figures for making Australians fatter. have shown that Aboriginal More than a quarter of people living in remote Australian children are now Australian communities are overweight or obese, as are still consuming too much soft two out of three adults. drink, grog, cakes and sweets. “People don’t choose The figures from 2013 show this,” associate professor that people living in those of indigenous health at the areas are getting 41 percent of Royal Melbourne Institute of their daily energy from sugary Technology, Kerrie Doyle, told food. The Guardian. Eating or drinking too much “They don’t wake up and of such foods leads to chronic say, ‘I’ll be unhealthy and fat diseases and early deaths. today,” Professor Doyle said. On a positive note, the “We haven’t made any great results also revealed that leaps forward in the high price Aboriginal residents of remote of fruit and vegetables in communities eat half a serve remote and rural areas. When more grain foods and lean you live in poverty, you buy Yuendumu has invested in their dog lady Gloria Morales’ dog health program. Photo: David Darcy. meats than those of towns the cheapest foods.” and cities. It is also well known that LORETTA Lechleitner’s dog The number of dogs in Ms Morales says Blackie was On average, Aboriginal sugary foods, sometimes Stumpy may have lost an eye Yuendumu has more than in a bad way. adults around Australia ate called ‘discretionary foods’, in a car accident, but she says halved from around 700 “We had to put Blackie’s eye almost a third fewer vegetables rot teeth and cause dental he hasn’t lost his sense of fun. dogs when she moved to the back in straight away,” she than non-indigenous people - diseases. “He’s back with his friends community 15 years ago to an explains. “If we left it out then now and he is happy,” she estimated 300 today. it would get infected. says. Many more dogs now live “His jaw was also broken “People don’t choose this. They Stumpy is one lucky camp to a ripe old age – dogs like down his chin. So to help, dog who owes his life to Nancie Oldfield’s Blackie, who we tried to tie his bottom jaw don’t wake up and say ‘I’ll be Yuendumu’s dog health kept his injured eye thanks to together.” program. Ms Morales’ quick action. She immediately arranged The community’s decision to “My grandson saw Blackie an emergency vet visit. unhealthy and fat today’.” use its mining compensation hiding under the bed and A couple of months later money to improve dog health he wouldn’t come out,” Ms Blackie was back to his tail just over two serves - and just Professor Doyle said the is helping humans along the Oldfield says. “We could see wagging, happy self. one serve of fruit a day. lack of dental services in way. he was hurt. We called Gloria “Without the dog program Aboriginal adults out bush remote areas and the high Yuendumu leaders know that straight away. His eye had – what would we do?” Ms eat even less fruit. cost of treatments had made healthy dogs mean healthier popped out and he looked Oldfield asked. A healthy diet is five or six the already high rate of dental people, so they invested more bad.” serves of vegetables and two disease among Aboriginal than $57,000 from their serves of fruit a day, and no people worse. mining compensation income more than six tablespoons “I have come across many in a project to treat and de-sex of sugar, but Australia’s who can’t eat an apple because local dogs, including a puppy consumption of sugar is much of their dental issues,” adoption service. higher than that. she said. The community’s Granites A Sydney University study “A lot of the discretionary Mine Affected Area Aboriginal from 2011-12 showed that foods, they’re soft and easier Corporation, or GMAAAC, Australians had up to 21 to eat.” committee told the Central teaspoons per day. She said housing, social Land Council’s community Amata community in South inclusion and food security development team that it Australia is a case in point. all needed to improve if we wants the project to keep The remote community are to achieve better overall dogs healthy, educate Yapa on recently featured in the health for Aboriginal people. how to look after them and to documentary That Sugar Film “Just educating people and improve Yapa health. which looked at the role sugar telling them to eat foods that Dog lover and assistant plays in the skyrocketing rates may not even be available to art centre manager Gloria of kidney disease. them isn’t going to work.” Morales runs it in her spare Health experts blame sugar time under an agreement with the CLC. Yuendumu’s ‘dog lady’ has watched Yapa become much more knowledgeable about Loretta Lechleitner and Stumpy. dog management. Is a sugar tax the answer? MANY health organisations The Greens are the lone cents on every 100 grams believe a sugar tax should be Australian political party to of sugar was introduced in part of the solution. support such a tax. Australia it would generate It would make sweet foods That may change next year $500 million per year, cut more expensive but could however, when the United soft drink consumption by also be used to make healthy Kingdom introduces a tax 15 percent and lead to a two foods cheaper. on sugary drinks that is percent reduction in obesity. Supporters of a sugar tax expected to raise 520 million Even a small amount of are up against powerful pounds. that revenue could help forces in business and The Grattan Institute make the healthy foods in politics. predicts that if a tax of 40 bush stores more affordable. Tahlia and Carl Junior Pareroultja sugar up in Ntaria.

26 April 2017 SOCIAL

Jody Lynch, Cherisse Buzzacott and Josie Douglas during the Oxfam Straight Talk leadership summit in Canberra. Photo: Koori Mail. Shenaia Watson Nagala,from Yuendumu, and her Australia Day honour. Photo: WYDAC.

Becky Mack (centre) left the CLC for Congress after 15 years - “almost half my life”. Arlparra resident Sam Dixon and his new puppy.

Alice Springs girl gang celebrating International Women’s Day at Kungkas Can Cook. CLC policy officer Peta Breaden with grandmother Bessie Liddle at the Mutitjulu signing ceremony.

Reggie Uluru cuts the cake with CLC Director David Ross, Chair Francis Kelly and executive member Sammy Wilson at the Mutitjulu town lease signing ceremony. Gina Howard and her two daughters Leonie and Aleen.

April 2017 27 JUST IMAGINE, MAYBE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DOCTOR OF LINGUISTICS. My brother Alex had a brilliant mind, he was quite influential. The teacher at Oodnadatta, where Alex got most of his primary education, was my husband’s uncle [Bert Haines]. He would have said to Dad, ‘Get Alex away from here to finish high school.’ Alex became the dux of the school. He topped all the classes from primary right through to high school. Yet that man was born out in the sticks at Horseshoe Bend, a bush kid. Alex said to Dad, ‘Can’t have these kids sitting in the bush under a tree all their lives.’ And Dad tried very hard, placing me at Hartley Street School [in Alice Springs]. I kept running off! They’d be on the train about to leave, and there I would be, climbing back on the train! I wouldn’t be left behind. I ran away like that twice. Then Alex said to Dad, ‘I’m going back to Adelaide and I’m going to organise a place for my sisters and brothers to come down for school.’ Dad agreed, so he got us all organised and we went on the Ghan down to Adelaide, to Colebrook Home. It was run by the United Aborigines Mission. After living out in the open all my life, having to go to school at a place like Colebrook Home, to be inside four walls, it was like, ‘Let me out of here!’ It felt as though our souls were just closed in. I never lived in a house until I was going on thirteen years old. I couldn’t see the stars. I had a big period of adjustment. We hardly knew how to speak English apart from yes and no and thank you. Dad had eight children. The last lot, we were the youngest of the eight, us four, he didn’t have any regrets sending us down south for school. He wanted to see his kids educated. I just haven’t had enough education for what I wanted to do. That is my only regret. I often think about it. Just imagine, maybe I might have been a doctor of linguistics. ~ Myra Ah Chee ~ Excerpt from Every hill got a story

For more information go to clc.org.au/every-hill-got-a-story

Woodwork class at Hermannsburg school, 1966. Photo: Australian Playing with clay at the Warrabri Preschool, 1969. ‘We used to make something, animal or native figure.’ News and Information Bureau, photographer J Mitchell. Photo: Northern Territory Library, Tschirner Collection. Photo: courtesy of Strehlow Research Centre, SRC Jaeschke 0196 B59.