Communities Lock out Coronavirus
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Aboriginalboriginal Way www.nativetitlesa.org Issue 78, Autumn 2020 A publication of South Australian Native Title Services Above: Kaurna reburial of ancestors disturbed by Northern Connector project. Read full article on page 6. Communities lock out coronavirus Across South Australia, Aboriginal The closures mean that even residents of The communities’ decisions to shut strict new rules for entry into their communities have braced themselves the communities cannot re-enter if they their doors came after concern for the community on 5 March. against the deadly coronavirus are sick, have travelled overseas recently welfare of Aboriginal people, particularly The APY Art Centre Collective worked (COVID-19), which has swept the or have had contact with someone with people in remote areas grew following for some time to evacuate Elders from world, by closing their doors to the virus. Even if community members are the announcement of the pandemic by the lands, planning for older artists that outside visitors. cleared to return, they need to self-isolate the World Health Organisation. wished to do so to relocate to a boarding The Premier of South Australia announced for 14 days before going back to the According to the Federal Government, house in Adelaide. in March that movement into certain community and to their home. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander The collective, which represents artists remote areas across South Australia peoples and people living in remote Davenport Community Council explained from seven communities across the was restricted. Arrangements for the communities are at greater risk that they took the action to protect their APY Lands, had warned that it would shutdowns were supported and managed from COVID-19. community members from the coronavirus. be “impossible to slow the spread of by the Federal Government, with the This is because “there are higher the virus on the APY Lands” according decision to close doors made by the “We acknowledge this is tough for rates of other health issues in these to the ABC. communities themselves. all of us and it means huge changes communities, it can be harder to access to our lives. health care, people in the community However, the requests were denied The Aboriginal communities of Anangu are very mobile and travel often and by SA Health, with the South Australian Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, “This decision was not taken lightly by the people often rely more on outreach Government saying it believes it is Davenport, Dunjiba Gerard, Point Pearce, council however we believe we have given services in remote places”. safer for Aboriginal people to remain Yalata and Yarilena have closed their our community the best chance to protect in their communities. townships to visitors, except for approved us all and our loved ones” the Council said APY Lands’ Board acted early to close people providing essential services. in a statement on Facebook. down access to their lands, introducing Continued on page 7 Inside: Regional landscape boards invite members 3 Anniversary of the 2008 Apology 4 Portrait of Uncle Mickey 8 The Daly River comes to Adelaide 9 Kimba site for nuclear waste despite protest The Federal Government has chosen a Traditional owners who do not live in the The Full Federal Court however ruled A bill to allow for the placement of the site near Kimba in South Australia to Kimba community were not given special “It is not correct to say that BDAC’s site at Napandee was introduced to locate a national radioactive waste site. consideration despite their native title members were excluded from the ballot.” Federal Parliament shortly after the interests, representatives of Barngarla On 1 February, then Resources Minister The community ballot returned Minister’s announcement. people argued. Matt Canavan announced that he was 62 percent support for the site by those However, a cross-party parliamentary selecting Napandee near Kimba as Lawyer Daniel O’Gorman SC, representing local property owners and residents who committee has found ‘significant risk’ the preferred site and the government Barngarla, had argued that native title voted. Barngarla conducted their own intended to move ahead with legislation holders should have been allowed to ballot which returned 100% of native title that traditional owners were not consulted to enable the establishment of the site. participate regardless of whether they holders who voted opposing the facility. about the facility to a standard required “I am satisfied a facility at Napandee will lived in the Kimba area. under international law. The day after the announcement safely and securely manage radioactive “This was a ballot of the community, the by the Minister, hundreds of people A report by the Joint Committee on waste and that the local community has Kimba community. They are the native including Barngarla and Adnyamathanha Human Rights stated that given Barngarla shown broad community support for title holders of the land surrounding the traditional owners gathered in Kimba traditional owners unanimously opposed the project and economic benefits sites in question” he said. it will bring” Minister Canavan said. to rally against the facility. the proposed facility, the Federal “Therefore, we submit, they clearly had According to the Eyre Tribune, speakers Government’s decision to move ahead The announcement came following the an interest in the ballot, they clearly had at the rally included farmers and risked breaching their rights to culture dismissal of an appeal by the Barngarla an interest in the dump and whether it Determination Aboriginal Corporation politicians, with each speaker “sharing and self-determination. goes ahead or not. (BDAC) against a decision of the Federal the sentiment that allowing a single Court that ruled that native title holders “Their mere standing as native title landowner to volunteer a site before The bill remains before Federal parliament were not unfairly excluded from a holders, warranted them being included community consultation had been an and will likely be delayed due to the community ballot on the matter. as part of the community” he said. inherently divisive and painful process”. coronavirus disruptions. Kimba community members protesting against the possible construction of a radioactive waste site in their area. 2 Aboriginal Way, Autumn 2020 Regional landscape boards invite members South Australia’s new system The first elections were delayed to align of landscape management has with the next planned local government commenced and expressions of elections. Until then board members interest have been sought for people are being appointed by the Minister to become members of new boards for Environment and Water. for several regions in the state. From 2022, in regions where elections are Nominations for this first round of to be held, communities and landholders new board members have now closed, will be able to take part in an election with the Department and Minister process to elect three of the seven new considering placements. members to the regional landscape boards. The Minister will appoint four With the restructuring of the state’s of the seven new members. natural resource management system, South Australia now has a range of Some ongoing appointments have regional landscape boards. already been made, with presiding member appointments for each of the The new Landscape South Australia Act landscape boards being announced 2019 will replace the Natural Resources in February 2020. Management Act 2004 as the key framework for managing the state’s Members of existing the Alinytjara Wilurara land, water, pest plants and animals, (AW) NRM Board remain in their roles and biodiversity across the state. in the new structure, they have been Image courtesy of NACCHO. appointed as members of the new AW Eight new regional landscape boards Landscape Board. will administer the new Act. A new entity, Green Adelaide, will bring an There will be no elections in the board to integrated approach to managing manage resource management in the metro- Adelaide’s urban environment. politan area, Green Adelaide. Instead, a process has begun to appoint the remaining Presiding members have been appointed board members with all appointments to lead each of the new regional landscape expected to be finalised by April 2020. boards by the Minister for Environment Reforms within the state’s landscape and Water. They will also be responsible management system will continue for administering the NRM Act and current and any person interested in this regional services until 1 July 2020. area can stay up to date by checking From 2022, communities and landholders the Landscapes SA and Your Say will be given the power to elect some of community consultation websites. the new members to each of the regional www.landscape.sa.gov.au landscape boards. www.yoursay.sa.gov.au NAIDOC Week 2020 NAIDOC Week 2020 has been postponed with the National NAIDOC Committee saying the decision was made “in the interest of safety for our communities” amid the developing Coronavirus crisis. Stay strong, stay at home The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA) is keen to ensure people receive and understand information about how to best avoid contracting Coronavirus. The AHCSA has developed resources about the virus including a video message that outlines: What is the coronavirus How does it spread What can you do to protect yourself What are the symptoms What do I do if I think I have the virus What is social distancing How to self-isolate You can find the video and other information on coronavirus here: https://ahcsa.org.au/coronavirus-covid-19/ Aboriginal Way, Autumn 2020 3 Anniversary of the 2008 Apology remains a significant day for reflection and healing 2020 marks the 12th anniversary Reconciliation SA held their annual and understanding because that is what “For me, when I come to this event here, of the National Apology to the breakfast at the Convention Centre in reconciliation is about” said Ms Reid.