ISSN 1839-5279 October 2018 CONISTON MASSACRE 1928-2018 BILBY BLITZ RESULTS REVEALED LEST WEFORGET volume 8. 8. number 3. PG. # WHO WILL CANBERRA? YOU SEND TO SEND TO PG. # TJANPI DOG STARS IN FILM FREE NEWS

EDITORIAL Land Rights News Central Scullion’s CDP tweaks are no vote winner Australia is published by the Central Land Council three WITH an election in the wind enterprise development in times a year. all eyes are on the Northern communities.” The Central Land Council Territory seat of Lingiari, Mr Snowdon said Labor 27 Stuart Hwy where sitting Labor member agrees that a new program Warren Snowdon is being “similar to the old and loved Alice Springs challenged by the Country CDEP” is needed. NT 0870 Liberals’ Jacinta Price. The APONT’s alternative tel: 89516211 Both major parties are model ticks that box and www.clc.org.au already campaigning in the has also been costed by the vast electorate and are on the National Centre for Social and email [email protected] lookout for election winning Economic Modelling. Contributions are welcome policies (see p.4). NATSEM found that If the mood among CLC the proposed job creation delegates is anything to go by, initiatives would bring the federal government’s work down poverty and boost SUBSCRIPTIONS for the dole scheme doesn’t employment. Land Rights News Central seem to be one of them. “It would reduce the The punitive and discrimi- population-wide poverty Australia subscriptions are natory scheme, also known rate in affected regions from $22 per year. as CDP, isn’t promising 22.7% to 20.1% and lift the It is distributed free of to be a vote winner in the employment rate from 48.2% charge to Aboriginal bush, despite some tweaks to 57.8%,” she said. organisations and the Minister Nigel Scullion Nigel Scullion defended his work for the dole scheme at Barunga. “Implementing our model communities in Central has made in the wake of would cut the gap between Australia. sustained criticism from The Aboriginal peak attractive to employers,” Ms non-Aboriginal and remote organisations of the Territory, Douglas said. To subscribe email across Australia. Aboriginal employment rates “The 6,000 new subsidised APO NT, have built a strong “Participants would work 20 by a third.” [email protected] and growing national alliance hours for the minimum wage or call 08 8951 6215 jobs the government The CLC has been announced will not allow around an alternative to the plus on costs and could earn at the forefront of the people to escape the inflexible, CDP. top-up, so it’s much closer development of the proposal top-down scheme even if The alliance had the model to the old CDEP but with and is disappointed that ADVERTISING employers take up all these costed and contnues to lobby improvments,” she said. the government is not Advertise in the only subsidies,” the CLC’s policy the Labor party to sign up to “In addition, our alternative supporting it as a chance to newspaper to reliably manager Josie Douglas said. it. program would help 1,500 fight increasing poverty and reach Aboriginal people “Many employers in remote “Our Aboriginal-controlled young people through six unemployment. communities are unlikely model would deliver 10,500 month work experience in remote Central new subsidised jobs that placements and redirect the Australia. to do so because the wage Continued p.5 subsidy earns them too little would keep people employed $25 million entrepreneurship Next publication date: money and is too short term.” for longer and is more fund to support social April 2019 Rates are at www.clc.org. au/land-rights-news OR Descendants of the Coniston survivors and email: [email protected] OR call 8951 6211 perpetrators call for national commemoration FOR a young Liza Dale-Hallett year 12. That was the first in August, Northern Territory Photo: Dwayne Ross it was a shock to find out one bombshell. police commissioner Reece spoke at Yurrrkuru. COVER evening that her grand uncle “Whereas my twin brother, Kershaw apologised on behalf led one of Australia’s worst he tells me that our father of the force. mass murders. shared it with him when he “There was no excuse or The official record of the was still in primary school. justification for what occurred 1928 Coniston Massacre, a No-one talked about it.” here 90 years ago,” he told series of killings north-west of The official inquiry into the the gathered crowd. Alice Springs, puts the death Coniston Massacre found that “I’m sorry for what toll at 31, but descendants of has occurred.” those killed say the figure is “There was Chair of the more likely around 100. Central Land Council The massacres followed no excuse or Francis Kelly wants the murder of dingo trapper massacres like Fred Brookes at Yurrkuru, justification for Coniston around Willowra women or Brooks Soak, by local what occurred here the nation to be and girls at the Aboriginal man Kamalyarrpa remembered during 90th anniversary Japanangka or Bullfrog. 90 years ago.” a public holiday. commemoration of the Mounted police constable “It’s like Anzac Coniston Massacre at George Murray then gathered the killings were committed Day, like memories of Yurrkurru (Brooks Soak). a group of men who over a in self-defence or during the people who’ve been in periods of months shot many acceptable course of police war,” Mr Kelly said. local Aboriginal people. duty. Constable Murray admitted But CLC executive member Continued to killing 17 himself – in Teddy Long, a traditional p.15. CLC MEETINGS self-defence. owner of Yurrkuru, said 24-25 October “I didn’t know anything the massacres helped the Executive personally,” his great niece settlers tighten their grip on Alice Springs Ms Dale-Hallett said. Aboriginal land. “It didn’t enter my “People got shot at all the 13-15 November awareness until, I think as a water holes – they got shot Council meeting family, we were watching a and those springs were Place to be confirmed television documentary on taken over for cattle and Coniston and they mentioned Yapa were pushed off 12 December George Murray and all the their country.” Executive ducks lined up and I said, ‘Is During the comme- Alice Springs that our uncle?’ moration of the “And yes it was and I was 90th anniversary probably doing year 11 or of the massacre

2 October 2018 NEWS Why is it important to tell the truth about the past?

Michael Liddle Alice Springs

“We get to know how and why we got in this situation by recognising what happened back in the past. It is important to know where we come from, how it happened. Knowing the truth could have changed the way people treat each other and could have helped with all the ugliness that history has created. With the story being told we will understand why we are in this predicament right now.”

Shirley Dempsey Urlampe

“I don’t think people are aware of Sydney Campbell how many have been massacred. In Iwupataka the 70s, they (family) were mustering cattle and they rode up on a line of “It has been passed down from old people that have gone skeletons of Aboriginal people chained now, but that story remains with us and we are going to carry around the neck and legs and they all it on. It makes it easier for everyone to understand. There are had bullets in their skull. That was lots of people out there who don’t know about the massacres. really sad. We never heard anything They think everything is normal, but it is not, because we about it until they were discovered.” still have it in our hearts and that’s gonna be explained to the young people so we keep that strong.”

Caroline Dickinson Alekarenge

“We need to know what happened because if we just walk around and do nothing, we won’t be able to know what happend to those old people who were living on this land. Not just here but everywhere.”

Jacinda Hayes Ti Tree

“Because this is the story about our land and our people. We want our children and other people to know the truth. Indigenous and non-indigenous people. Leslie Marshall Our land would not be taken away Yuendumu from us if we knew the truth.”

“We need to speak the truth and what’s in the heart. What happened in the past is the past, we remember and repect it and it affects the future. Celebrating is great because it brings communties together. Everyone. It is not about black CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL ONLINE and white, we come all together, we get to know each others’ Website Digital archive Facebook differences, each other’s strenghts and weaknesses, we get www.clc.org.au http://clc.ara-irititja.com @CentralLandCouncil along and we can fix the problem together.” You can also contact us : FREECALL 1800 003 640 | [email protected]

October 2018 3 NEWS Who will get your vote at the next election? The Coalition government’s leadership circus in Canberra means the election could be just around the corner. We asked the two major parties’ candidates* where they stand on issues that matter to you.

Jacinta Price Warren Snowdon

Country Liberal Party (CLP) Australian Labor Party (ALP)

Do you support changing “I support any moves that ensure the Land Rights Act “Labor will only support changes to the Land Rights Act the Aboriginal Land Rights continues to act in the best interests of traditional that are agreed to by the traditional owners through their Act and, if so, why and owners. Both I and many of the communities I land councils. We will not support changes that do not how? engage with are not at all confident that the CLC is have this agreement and support.” operating transparently and in the best interests of the traditional owners.”

How will you support “The distribution of royalties is a matter for “The decision by Aboriginal people to invest their royalties Aboriginal people who traditional owners and we will empower all in this way is one for them to make and has my absolute chose to invest their traditional owner groups to make decisions in their support. Aboriginal people have seen the positive impact royalties in community best interests. The Commonwealth is working with of their decisions supporting community development driven projects rather land councils to ensure royalty distributions don’t initiatives. The Warlpiri Education and Training Trust than opt for individual have negative impacts on communities, including (WETT) is a very good example of this approach.” distributions? ensuring payments are made during school holidays.”

How will you contribute “The Commonwealth has already accepted and “The NT government has a $229 million package of works (including financially) to agreed to fund all of the recommendations for to prevent children and families from entering the child the full implementation of which it is responsible. As a proud Warlpiri woman protection and youth justice systems. Labor believes all recommendations of in a federal Coalition government I‘d work hard to that the Commonwealth should make a contribution to the royal commission into ensure the Gunner government and Territory Labor meeting the costs of implementing the recommendations. youth detention and child deliver for Territorians and deliver their end of the We are working with the NT government on this and will protection? bargain too.” be making announcements before the next election.” How will you reform “I’ll support any solution that ensures less sit-down “Labor is working with Aboriginal people and organisations the punitive and money and moves people into jobs. The Coalition to design a new scheme to replace the current CDP discriminatory work-for- government has returned many of the positive scheme which unfairly punishes Aboriginal people. Labor elements of CDEP and is now creating 6,000 accepts the need for a new program that is similar to the the dole scheme, aka the subsidised jobs as part of the CDP reforms.” old and loved CDEP and will announce what we believe a CDP? new program should be before the next election.” What will you do to “The federal Coalition has already doubled the “A Labor government will provide over $230 million over increase the number of number of rangers since it came to government in five years to double the number of Indigenous rangers Aboriginal rangers and 2013. It was in fact the Coalition government that under the Working for Country program to over 1600 full- created ranger groups and we are investing a record time equivalent rangers. We have made this commitment ranger groups? amount in rangers groups. I am very confident that a number of times and it will be met if we are fortunate this support will continue far into the future.” to become the government after the next election.”

What will you do to “The federal government has recently agreed to “Labor accepts the need for the long term provision of ensure the federal a five year $550 million housing deal with the NT housing and other infrastructure for Aboriginal people government continues to government. This is record funding for the Territory in the NT beyond the next five years. We are talking and will see $1.1 billion invested to significantly with the NT government and Aboriginal organisations invest in new community reduce overcrowding in communities. The focus of about this long term need and will be making further houses and housing this investment will be local jobs, local contracts and announcements before the next election.” infrastructure beyond the local decisions.” next five years?

* The Australian Greens are yet to select a candidate for the seat of Lingiari for the federal election.

4 October 2018 NEWS Community development champions go head to head for governance award

TWO Aboriginal groups as sports facility upgrades, since that invest their royalty and 2012. lease income in community The WETT has supported development projects are lifelong learning projects for finalists in Reconciliation Yapa for more than a decade. Australia’s Indigenous In 2017-18 alone, it invested Governance Awards. almost $6.7 million in 14 new Alekarenge’s community lease community-driven education money working group and the and training projects in Warlpiri Education and Training Yuendumu, Lajamanu, Willowra Trust have been recognised and Nyirrpi. for the great work they’re That’s on top of 21 ongoing doing in their communities as projects ranging from Three judges, including Professor Mick Dodson, will visit Alekarenge and Yuendumu next month to find out more. finalists in the category for non- community learning centres incorporated governance groups. and early childhood activities to Both groups work with youth diversion and leadership the Central Land Council’s training. community development team Three judges, including on projects that help young Professor Mick Dodson, will visit people. Alekarenge and Yuendumu next Alekarenge has invested its month to find out more. community lease income in The winner will be announced youth media, driver training and at an awards ceremony later this school holiday initiatives, as well year. Graham Beasley is very proud of Alekarenge’s youth projects.

Human wrecking ball swinging by a community near you! “THE First Nations asked the kids fail to go to school. government for a voice and So what are the chances we get Tony Abbott”. that boosting school In the chorus of Aboriginal attendance will become the voices condemning the one positive achievement of appointment of Tony the former self-appointed Abbott as ‘special envoy’ ‘Prime Minister for for Aboriginal affairs this Aboriginal Affairs’? assessment by Senator Look no further than his Patrick Dodson nailed it. track record: The appointment by • Cut $500 million from new Prime Minister Scott Aboriginal programs (2014) Morrison is an attempt to • Claimed people living in prevent the man known remote communities are “Our Aboriginal-controlled model would deliver 10,500 new subsidised jobs,“ said CLC policy manager Josie Douglas. as the human wrecking making a ‘lifestyle choice’ ball from undermining his (2015) From p.2 “However, the government of sustainable new jobs and government. • Backed the rejection of “According to the 2016 said it will now apply the upskilling locals to move into Mr Abbott said he will the Uluru Statement that census, the employment penalties to the bush from jobs currently done by non- focus on school attendance called for an Aboriginal rate in our communities February. This will further Aboriginal people.” in remote communities. voice to parliament (2017) has declined, while poverty entrench poverty.” “Importantly, people with He already made it known has increased,” CLC policy By contrast, the APO NT’s serious long-term health that he will be looking into Cartoon by David Rowe manager Josie Douglas said. alternative model would problems or disabilities penalties for parents whose She said families out bush give communities a real say would be supported to parti- are most worried about the new penalty regime that will come in next year. “The government will apply the penalties Penalties slapped on people to the bush from February. out bush have escalated sixfold and one in five people This will further entrench poverty.” under 35 (20 per cent) have dropped out of the system. about local targets, levels of cipate voluntarily rather than They haven’t moved into obligations and penalties. to be forced.” work, but are being supported “It would remove financial “These initiatives would by their already struggling incentives for providers to help to close the gap in families. penalise participants,” Ms life expectancy, health, “At first, remote CDP Douglas said. employment and education participants were promised “It would also shift the outcomes between that they would be exempt focus from short term our peoples and other from the tough new penalty results to long term positive Australians.” regime,” Ms Douglas said. impacts, such as the creation (see also p.7). October 2018 5 NEWS

Next council meeting to ABA Outstation decide on outstations Project CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL who know their place well,” priority outstations chosen by Canberra Government eligibility rules members are preparing to consultant project manager the delegates in November to make some big decisions about David Jagger said. talk with more residents about (outstations that are allowed to get project funding) their outstations at the year’s “Still, this is a big job, with so each outstation’s major needs. • Outstations that are there now – last council meeting at Bonya many outstations spread over This is to help them prepare NO new outstations near the Queensland border. some very remote country.” applications for some of the Delegates will decide at At the August council ABA funding and send them • Where people live or visit often the meeting, to be held from meeting near Yuendumu, to Canberra. Where people are ready to work with CDP November 13-15, which of the delegates had lots of questions “Most of the applications will • region’s 300 outstations get a about the project, such as who be for up to $150,000,” Mr • Where any funding can be spent within 12 months chance to benefit from a one- would decide how much money Jagger said. off $15.75 million grant from would go to each region. “The government will then the Aboriginals Benefit Fund. Mr Jagger prepared options check if the applications meet Canberra Government funding criteria The grant is too small to for the CLC’s October executive its eligibility and funding (will be checked before funding is approved) meeting to assist in deciding the criteria before contracting “This is a big job, number of priority outstations organisations to do the work. • Benefit: can this outstation help with jobs, that will get a chance to share “By then, it’s a government local businesses, education, health and safety? with so many the project funding in each project entirely, no longer a outstations spread region. CLC project, with the actual • Need: can it show it needs the things it wants? over some very That might mean an equal works expected to start within • Capacity: can it help support the things it wants share for each region or 12 months of government and look after them? remote country.” a proportional share, or a contracting.” combination of both options. help all outstations, because if In November 2017, council it had to be shared among all, resolved that the process for each outstation would only get choosing the outstations must an amount that would be too be open and fair, stretch the small to do anything decent funding across the whole with. CLC region and make the That’s why, at the next employment of locals on meeting, delegates will repair and upgrade works a consider information collected top priority. by the ABA outstation project The project must also follow and then choose around 100 the Canberra government’s priority outstations to get a rules. share of the grant. “We’ve been trying to talk By mid September, the small with outstation resource project team had consulted centres, CDP providers and people from more than 200 other organisations to see outstations during information who is ready to do the work sessions held across the CLC’s that priority outstations might nine sub-regions. want done with this funding,” These sessions have been Mr Jagger said. explaining the project to people “It will be up to the federal and gathering information government to sign up the from them about their organisation to lead the work. outstations. It has indicated local Aboriginal “Of course we can’t and employment is a government don’t need, at this stage, to priority too.” speak to every person for each Early next year, outstation outstation; just one or two project staff will return to the CLC delegates decided on the process for the outstation project in 2017. VOTE 2019 Who do you want to represent your region?

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JOSIE DOUGLAS ON 08 8951 6212

6 October 2018 NEWS Lack of royal commission progress hurts FALLOUT from the Royal Commission and lawyers who work for Aboriginal into the Protection and Detention of people in the front line within the court Children in the Northern Territory system,” Mr Lawrence wrote. continues with one of the agencies “These criticisms apply only to the responsible for representing children people in senior management and in the justice system accused of falling above who are making and pursuing into line with the government at the this policy for these organisations.” cost of improved outcomes. The focus of the Aboriginal Peak Writing in the Northern Land Organisations NT (APONT) is to Council’s edition of Land Rights ensure the Royal Commission’s News, high profile Darwin barrister recommendations and achievements John Lawrence said that in the past 10 are not lost with inaction. years the North Australian Aboriginal NAAJA has left the alliance over a Justice Agency, or NAAJA, and other difference of opinion about the best non-government organisations have way to achieve this but has said it will become too cosy with the government. continue to work with the APO NT. “Over the past decade, such bodies One issue close to the alliance’s have chosen to become embedded heart is raising the age of criminal within the establishment which responsibility to 14 years, in line with continues to jail Aboriginal people international standards. at ever increasing numbers,” Mr The NT government has only agreed Lawrence, who once worked with to raise it to 12 years, and then only by NAAJA, wrote. 2021. “Whether they’re motivated by self- Outside the notorious Don Dale (L-R) Matthew Littlejohn, Olga Haven and Rodney Dillon protested outside Don Dale. Photo: interest or genuinely held beliefs really detention center in August, Olga Amnesty International doesn’t matter. Havnen, from the Danila Dilba Health “The point is that in 2018, not only Service, protested with human rights, the royal commission. will it not achieve justice for Aboriginal legal and health advocates for change. “It would seem from what we’ve people, it actually perpetuates the She said jailing 11-13 year old children seen to date, and particularly with growing injustice towards them.” flies in the face of the latest science the increasing number of incidents in NAAJA, which has absorbed the about when the brain matures. Don Dale, that perhaps things aren’t Central Australian Aboriginal Legal “A high proportion of children who working as well as they should be,” she said. “Locking up young kids does enomous damage to Some Central Land Council delegates are beyond impatient with the NT the children, their families and their communities. government’s lack of progress halfway through its term. Just because they have broken the law does not At the council’s August meeting mean they deserve to be broken by the system.” delegates put NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ken Vowles on the spot. Service, has defended itself against Mr come into contact with the justice “We are not happy with how Mr For ceremony Lawrence’s claims of it falling silent on system have experienced trauma, Gunner is treating our children,” support please call Aboriginal justice issues. which is often the cause of offending Sabella Turner said. “Issues are being presented, and behaviour,” she said. “They are being traumatised. They 89516257 we’re working with the department to “They require support, education and need to be on country where they can be taught discipline. We need to protect address those issues and hold them diversion, not incarceration,” Barrister 1. ALICE SPRINGS to account,” Chief Executive Priscilla Matthew Littlejohn added. them.” Atkins told the ABC. “Locking up young kids does Mr Vowles promised to pass on the Aaron Kopp, “We only go public if it needs to go enormous damage to the children, their council’s displeasure to the boss and 89 51 6264 public. families and their communities.” agreed it’s “not good enough” that every “If the outcome we’re trying to “Just because they have broken the single child in detention in the NT is 2. SOUTH WEST achieve we can achieve by working law does not mean they deserve to be Aboriginal. Vacant (Jesyjames), directly with the government agencies broken by the system,” he said. In September, the government 89 51 2255 and with ministers, that’s the pathway Amnesty International’s Rod Dillon announced it will invest $455,000 to upgrade the Mt Theo Outstation, we’re there for.” said: “If a 12-year-old child isn’t old 3. NORTH WEST Mr Lawrence, however, wrote that the enough to have a Facebook account, allowing the Warlpiri Youth collaborative approach is not working. they are not old enough to be shackled Development Aboriginal Corporation to Vacant (Jesyjames), “I can’t stress enough that the writer’s with a criminal record.” continue their youth diversion program 89 51 2255 criticisms here do not apply to the Ms Havnen told the ABC that for at-risk young Warlpiri people, on daily heroics performed by the grossly Aboriginal people are becoming country. 4. TANAMI underresourced administrative staff impatient with the lack of change since Tyrell LeRossignol 89 51 6314

5. WEST Vacant (Jesyjames), 89 51 2255

6. TENNANT CREEK Darryl “Tiger” Fitz, 89 62 2343 7. EASTERN SANDOVER Jesyjames Carr, 89 56 6255 8. EASTERN PLENTY Richard Dodd, 89 56 9722

9. CENTRAL CLC policy manager Josie Douglas and AMSANT CEO John Patterson fought the discriminatory and punitive work for the dole scheme in Canberra. Michael Turner, Dr Douglas gave evidence before a Senate committee in September that, if the Coalition government’s CDP bill passes, people in the bush will be hit with tough new penalties from February. She said the penalty regime would create even greater financial hardship. 89 56 8658

October 2018 7 NEWS Knowledge swap sows seeds of ranger exchange RANGERS from Ltyentye The Martu women knew Apurte (Santa Teresa) and Utnerrenge (Emu Bush), but local elders have teamed up use it differently. The vistors with rangers from Western make tea out of it, not a rub, Australia to share bush like their Arrernte hosts. medicine knowledge and Medicines that were new to gifts. the Martu included Arrethe In early September, (Rock Fuchsia) and Untyeye female Martu Rangers from (Corkwood). Punmu community in the The women prepared Pilbara region of Western some Arrethe, Untyeye and Utnerrenge for the guests to take home. “The Martu The Martu came with gifts of wamarla (bush tomatoes) women coming and bush medicine books and resources they had produced. to visit us was “The Martu women coming to visit us was mwerre,” said mwerre.” ranger Petria Cavanagh. “It was good for them to Australia, spent the day out at come and visit us in Ltyentye Mparnwenge (Hayes Springs) Apurte and see what we do.” with their Central Australian The rangers also told the Veronica Dobson (back left) and Natasha Hayes (right) with Martu women and CLC rangers at Hayes Springs. Ranger Petria Cavanagh (front left) grinds bush medicine. Photo: Fiona Walsh. colleagues. guests about their fencing Under the guidance of and weed eradication work to work with ranger teams Land Council and presented across the border. elders Veronica Dobson, protect the spring from feral in nearby Purnngurr and at the Desert Mob Symposium “In the future, it would be Natasha Hayes, Cecily horses and camels. Jigalong communities. at Araluen. good for us to go over to their Palmer and Marie Ryder The Martu rangers took a Before they returned to WA Ms Cavanagh said the country and see what they they collected many bush few ideas home to the Great they visited the Akeyulerre Ltyentye Apurte Rangers do and share knowledge that medicines along the way. Sandy Desert, where they Healing Centre, the Central hope to pay a return visit way,” she said. Community stays strong for its children NTARIA residents are The designs are printed on were missing and tried to fill “We also encourage organ- “We are parents of all the making their community fit t-shirts, bags and cards and the gaps,” Ms Williams said. isations to come together, kids,” he said. for kids and strengthening sold through the art centre. Another example is making sure everyone is talk- “I became a member local organisations and The students develop digital Tjuwanpa’s Kids Club, an out ing the same story for kids.” because you need men and employment along the way. skills and learn about costs, of school play initiative where The group began in April women instead of all women. A group of 12 committed pricing and how to use the six locals, who were trained 2014, when families began We are the fathers and they locals, the Ntaria Leaders internet to sell their work. by the Australian Childhood talking about giving children are the mothers and we need Group, have funded 21 They pocket some of the Foundation, run play activities and young people the best both on the group because all community driven projects profits while the rest funds for 8–12 year olds. start in life. men and women should be over the past five years that all future joint projects of the Through games and sports Its founding members, equal to speak for their kids.” aim to make the community a school and the potters. such as Central Land Council better place to raise kids. Leaders group member delegate Patrick Oliver, Photo: Bowen Abbott and Take Old Way New Way, a Taren Williams believes their “We are the wanted to see kids safe, going Gideon Malbunka model project that allows the famous approach works because it is to school, having fun and able their own design. Hermannsburg Potters to help community driven. fathers and they to walk in two worlds. senior local students translate “Just by talking with each are the mothers Mr Oliver proudly their stories into art using other and talking story with spoke about the iPads. community, we saw things we and we need both group’s achieve- ments at a CLC on the group.” meeting earlier this year. students learn listening and teamwork skills, how to express their feelings and manage frustrations. The projects are managed by the Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre and funded by the federal government’s Stronger Communities for Children program. The projects fund10 positions for locals and work on issues that the community sees as important. They use re- sources the com- munity already has, working through the school, the pot- ters, Tjuwanpa and MacYouth. “We can see where organisations might be struggling and offer help,” Ms Kashani Sweet and Larissa Pepperill use tablets to design T-shirts. Williams said.

8 October 2018 NEWS Campground to the stars gets a face lift

LTYENTYE APURTE (Santa Teresa) residents are very invested in a camp ground near their community that is attracting sports stars and other high profile visitors. They have spent more than $151,000 of their community lease income to improve the facilities at the popular campground at Phillipson’s Bore to keep them coming. “The Melbourne Demons came out here and camped after they played in Alice,” Malcolm Hayes said. “Robert de Castella camped out there with a group of marathon runners before they went to New York,” Nora Hayes added. “The staff at the school go out there too sometimes. It’s Nora Hayes tries out the rangers’new benches at the Phillipson’s Bore campground. far enough out, but not too far and it’s getting popular!”. allocated $120,000 to build The camp ground upgrade new toilets and a bush kitchen was the first project prioritised and to connect the water by the community’s lease supply. money working group. It chose Tangentyere Phillipson’s Bore is just a few Constructions as its project kilometres north of Ltyentye partner and the business ““They were really blown away by the country.” employed local men David Apurte and has long been Marshall, Dean Oliver, Danny a residence for traditional Ware and Michael Armstrong owners. to work on the upgrade. The outstation also has The Ltyentye Apurte cattle and horse yards that are Rangers helped to build seats regularly used by groups such and tables for an extra $3,000. as Bush Mob. The group set $28,500 “We started that little camp aside for future repairs and The Melbourne Demons stayed at the campground after they played in Alice. [at Phillipson’s Bore] before it maintenance. got fixed up,” Mr Hayes said. The improvements have there,” working group member there were eight skaters, two instructor said the skaters After some careful been popular among locals, Raymond Palmer said. international.” really enjoyed the experience. planning with the Central who are eager to camp at “We used the campground Nick Hayes, working “They were really blown Land Council’s community Phillipson’s Bore. last night. We had some group member, MacYouth away by the country,” he said. development team, the group “It’s nice and peaceful out skateboarders come out, development officer and skate Beaches reward Ntaria’s best and brightest STUDENTS from Ntaria beach,” year 10 student Carol (Hermannsburg) will get said. “I learned about rocket the chance to trade red dust science, dance and story.” and dry river beds for white Another year 10 student, sandy beaches, surf and Larissa, said she appreciated cultural experiences, thanks the musical side of the festival. to generous grants from the Latrelle, also in year 10, community’s lease money said, “Garma is good because working group. you get to learn from other Every year between cultures.” now and 2020, the Year 12 student Saleen working group is said she learnt a lot from her rewarding year seven excursion. students, who have “I liked launching the water shown good school rockets and learning to make attendance, with music with the ipads,” she excursions to said. Sydney. The first Sydney excursion The $100,000 is planned for the last term of contribution included this year. an excursion to the The Ntaria school and Garma Festival for 15 the National Aboriginal Ntaria students visited the beach near Gama in the Top End. older students, who missed Sporting Chance Academy are out on an excursion in supporting the project with an to students who demonstrate It’s the second time the In 2014, the group funded 2017. additional $70,000 over three leadership skills and have working group has funded a two school excursions to “I liked meeting new years. a school attendance record school excursion project using Sydney. friends and going to the The excursions are offered above 85 per cent. community lease funds. October 2018 9 NEWS Language and culture room promoting lifelong learning PAW MEDIA’S refurbished the refurbishments were language and culture room is completed. teaching Yuendumu residents Visitors are improving their of all ages about their history. digital literacy by using the PAW’s archivist Simon computers and are getting Fisher launched the room, informal training in those which makes the Warlpiri areas, but the PAW workers media archives available to who support them are also the whole community. learning new skills. The space hosts the media Eight of the workers organisation’s digital literacy have had training in video translations and subtitling, “It shows what helping them to increase their hours of paid employment. you can achieve The archive houses more than a thousand hours of when everybody PAW’s sound, photo and video works together.” recordings and documents from 1984 onwards. education activities, the The recordings are recording of oral histories and recognised for their national songs for the archives and the significance. translation work for videos. The room’s opening is “This is an important day the culmination of many for us,” Mr Fisher said. years’ work to improve “Now we can celebrate community access to the having a place to show our archive and was the final children their heritage.” Mentors Karim Timms and Jacob Presley, from PAW Media, produce local history resources in Yuendumu. event of the Year of Life Long The community invested Learning celebrations by the May 2018, five of them as “It shows what you can more than $93,000 for its Indigenous Advancement Warlpiri Youth Development cultural advisors. achieve when everybody operational and wage costs in Strategy and Charles Darwin Aboriginal Corporation. “A lot of organisations works together. GMAAAC’s the room through the Granites University also chipped in. It’s the second time helped make this room a good been a big part of that since Mine Affected Area Aboriginal GMAAAC funded the GMAAAC has contributed place for Yapa to come to,” the start.” Corporation (GMAAAC). employment of 13 locals, who to the project, with the CLC chair and PAW director More than 150 Yapa have The federal government put 648 hours into the project computers and desks it bought Francis Kelly said. visited the room since contributed funding through between September 2017 and in 2011 still in use today. Arlparra church means jobs Tackling overcrowding

LOCAL workers who built a with new Kwale house community-funded church in Arlparra, north-east of Alice Springs, have since found work in the construction industry. Nine local men built Arlparra’s new Baptist Church while also participating in training. The community spent $11,000 of their community lease money to buy materials for the build. With partner Arid Edge Environmental Services managing the construction, the team replaced the old church, a rickety bough shelter made of salvaged materials, with a new steel shelter with a big cross. The project included a chainmesh boundary fence, Workers Isaac Malbunka and Kevin David are busy on the build. hardwood benches and some Jaimsie Rambler, Johnno Turner, Eddie Payne, Steven Ross, Gordon fruit and shade trees with a Purvis, Jonathon Club, Travis Loy, Ellary Morton and Desmond Morgan TWO local labourers are June 2019, the house will watering system. in front of the new church shelter. working on a new house at have an insulated roof, new The workers used leftover the Kwale outstation, near septic tank, split system air materials to weld steel Ntaria, that will alleviate conditioners and fans. entrance gates and tables overcrowding. Tjuwanpa is adding with bench seats. Almost $159,000 nearly $75,000 worth Manager of Arid Edge towards the cost of the of in-kind support, Alex McClean said the best three bedroom house including power and water thing about the project was comes from the traditional connections, a satellite dish the fresh opportunities for owners of the Tjoritja/ and television, whitegoods, employment it opened up. West MacDonnell Ranges garden shed and fence. “A lot of the local workers on National Park, who are The resource centre is also the church project were also investing some of their rent contributing construction doing construction training income from the park. materials and labour. at the same time as working The Central Land Council “It’s a good job and fun on this project and afterwards contracted the Tjuwanpa to work on,” said Isaac got work in the construction Outstation Resource Centre Malbunka, one of the locals industry building new houses for the build, which started who have been employed to in Arlparra,” Mr McLean said. in July. work on the project for 28 The Arlparra church shelter before the renovation. Due for completion in hours a week. 10 October 2018 NEWS Young members rejuvenate WETT committee

TANAMI communities have from Lajamanu. Last financial year alone, almost $6.7 million dollars. It’s a big job that relies elected new young members Loretta Johnson has worked the trust approved 14 The CLC’s community on the guidance and local to advise the traditional at the school for the past new education, training, development team manages knowledge from WETT owners on how to invest their seven years and is studying early childhood and youth those projects as well as a advisory committee members gold mining royalties through education support, which is leadership projects worth further 21 started earlier. of all ages. the Warlpiri Education and becoming a family affair. Training Trust. “My mother worked at the After more than a decade school and I helped out when of recommending and I finished college. I want to monitoring community driven be involved in how WETT projects, the WETT advisory supports the Lajamanu committee was due for a school,” she said. makeover. Margaret Johnson, who works at the community’s “I want to join learning centre and is pursuing business studies, WETT to support nominated for the committee to “help our people and build our young people a strong future for the young to get more ones”. Kyra-lee Rose was employed education.” at the Lajamanu school and wants to join the crèche so Extra positions created she can work with younger for young people from children. Yuendumu, Lajamanu, Kirsten Egan, a new proxy Nyirrpi and Willowra are member from Yuendumu, is already injecting fresh energy certain that “education is the into the group of veteran Yapa key”. educators. “I want to join WETT to Among the newcomers are support our young people to Loretta and Margaret Johnson get more education,” she said. Kyra-lee Rose (left) and Margaret Johnson from Lajamanu joined the WETT advisory committee. New program to tackle ear infection crisis ABORIGINAL children have A partnership between among the world’s highest the NT and Australian rates of middle ear infections governments and the that cause hearing loss, but Balnaves Foundation aims a $7.9 million community- to tackle ear diseases among based program aims to turn children in remote Territory this around. communities. Many children, who seem The five-year Hearing for to be ‘not listening’ or to have Learning program is based trouble learning, are really on research by scientists at suffering from hearing loss. the Menzies School of Health “The ear check program is expected to hire and train up to 40 Aboriginal clinical support officers. Associate Professor Kelvin Research and will employ and Kong, from the University train community residents to of Newcastle, Australia’s help spot and treat ear disease first indigenous surgeon, and hearing problems. Associate Professor Kelvin Kong at work. said hearing loss can lead to The program aims to cut serious disadvantage. the need for fly-in-fly-out detected and treated early. when in fact they are suffering to wash their hands and faces “If you’re not hearing, you specialists and the time They will also carry out hearing loss,” Professor a lot. can’t learn, you can’t hear the children wait to be diagnosed follow-up checks to make sure Amanda Leach from the There are also vaccines to song lines, you can’t hear the and treated. kids’ ears stay healthy. Menzies School said. stop some of the bacteria stories, you can’t sing along, It is expected to reach 5,000 Associate Professor Kong In remote NT communities that cause glue ear and you can’t dance,” he said. children, especially those aged said the program will be babies as young as one month breastfeeding during the first Research has shown that under three. driven by locals. have been found to have glue six months of a baby’s life also nine out of 10 Aboriginal The program will start “We will be behind whatever ear, a bacterial infection also helps to prevent it. children in the Northern at four remote sites and is the community needs,” he known as bulging eardrum or Professor Leach believes Territory under the age of expected to be rolled out to up said.” runny ear. hearing loss played a role “Where we can guide is to The longer the infection is in landing many Aboriginal “People can easily misinterpret a child’s say, well that doesn’t work so left untreated the more likely people in NT jails. well, why don’t we try it this it is to lead to hearing loss. She said it also stopped behaviour as being naughty when in fact way? Let’s go back and forth Hygiene is important many Aboriginal children until we get the balance right.” for stopping the spread of from getting school-ready and they are suffering hearing loss.” Middle ear infections are the infection but keeping getting an education. difficult to detect because they overcrowded houses clean can “This early and persistent three have ear disease, and to 20 communities, employing are often painless. be difficult. disease throughout childhood most of them will experience up to 40 Aboriginal Clinical Researchers are still learning Breathing in tobacco smoke robs children of the hearing loss affecting early Support Officers . how to help families work out also raises the risk of the opportunity to learn, to have brain development. Those local experts will if children have hearing loss. infection spreading. self-esteem and to reach their That’s the same percentage regularly check the ears of the “People can easily Residents should not smoke full potential,” she said. as the people in NT jails who children in their community, misinterpret a child’s inside or near children and have hearing loss. allowing any infections to be behaviour as being naughty should get the whole family October 2018 11 NEWS Old ranger station, new opportunities THE Old Ranger Station at Mpulungkinya (Palm Valley) in the Finke Gorge National Park has had a makeover, ready to host a new cultural tourism venture. Conrad Ratara has dreamt of creating work for his family there for more than 30 years, ever since he started to work with the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory in 1984. Back then, Mr Ratara looked after cultural sites in the park, west of Alice Springs, alongside his father. He has been thinking about the business long before he embarked on proper planning. “I have done my step- by-step project business development with the help of Central Land Council and Ngurratjuta. They are looking after us,” he said. In June he signed a sublease for the ranger station area on behalf of the Yalka Ratara Aboriginal Corporation with the PWCNT to operate a tourism business from the site. “I am excited,” he said. “I am the first Aboriginal Conrad Ratara welcomes visitors to Mpulungkinya (Palm Valley), where he is developing a tourism business at the Old Ranger Station (below). person to get the lease from 1988 and required extensive to the bathroom, kitchen host special interest groups “Next year will be the year. parks. So I think my business repairs. plumbing and hot water and activities. I am trying to get everything is special. If you get your lease, Mr Ratara is part of a group facilities and a vermin barrier. “We will try to put a done here before the tourist you own that one. That is what of traditional owners of the With the support of campground at the front and, season. Family is helping. I I feel.” national park who invested the CLC’s community some tents with a deck,” Mr will bring people to get rid of The venture will give tourists almost $165,000 of the park development program and Ratara said. buffel grass,” he said. who come to admire the rent income they receive from Tangentyere Constructions “I am also thinking of an “I work with my family famous red cabbage palms office where we come every members. I would like to give a reason to stay longer and morning.” them a job. If tourists pay, the learn from welcoming locals “Tourists come here to our country and He said the Ngurratjuta money would go to workers or about the stories and culture Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal on the side for rainy days and of Mpulungkinya. go without knowing Aboriginal people. Corporation will support for fixing the house.” “I would like to have his new business, “with “It is good for the future, for campfire stories, sitting an They are always happy to talk to us. the marketing, creating a the young people, that I have hour with a cup of tea and If tourists are happy, I will be happy.” brochure and with getting done this. They will be happy tourists. It is the way we tell tourists”. to learn how to talk to tourists. stories. We would talk about the NT government in the the group has already installed “At the moment I don’t have Always smile! I will invite plants, animals,” Mr Ratara upgrade of the building. a hybrid solar system, fixed a car, so people come with them and learn. I was shy said. “I spent my own money to up the carport and added two their car, I jump on or we are when I was young, but now I His plan includes cultural renovate the house, project 10,000 litre waters tanks. going for a walk.” am ok, I am getting old and walks, film nights and a (park rent) money and ABA. Two local Aboriginal He aims to open the doors ugly,” he laughed. meeting and art market It is my money. I don’t really workers will be employed on in the first half of 2019 and to “Tourists come here to space at the ranger station, like the government’s money. the project, which is due to be employ our country and go without which was damaged I like to think that we own this completed in December. more knowing Aboriginal people. in the floods of one,” he said. There’s no shortage locals. They are always happy Launched in July, the of ideas for future to talk to us. If tourists upgrade project includes improvements either. For are happy, I will be improvements example, developing visitor happy.” accommodation that can

12 October 2018 NEWS Lander River map passes knowledge to children

LOOKING FOR WORK? The CLC’s employment support team helps job seekers to write resumes and job applications and to prepare for interviews. We support employers to develop strategies to find and keep Aboriginal workers. We also talk to schools and Cowboy George Ryder and Teddy Long presented the Land River map at Yurrkuru (Brooks Soak). community groups about job TRADITIONAL owners in People’s involvement in it is project’s four stages has come Willowra are recording, incredibly important because from the Warlpiri Education opportunities. mapping and painting younger people are learning as and Training Trust and the important sites along the river well, as we go.” Granites Mine Affected Area near Willowra on a large canvas Traditional owner Dwayne Aboriginal Corporation. for their community learning Ross said the map will play “That’s all together about a centre. a vital part in the sharing of $200,000 commitment and The Lander River mapping knowledge in coming years. it’s fantastic to see how people project aims to foster “The map is important for really flourish through these collaboration between residents the future to see it so they can projects, particularly around and assist with the transfer carry on the stories,” he said. connection to country, the of knowledge between the “We know the story’s still engagement of young people, generations, with all major families and senior people around Willowra involved. “There’s a few descendants, Among the places on the map they presented at the Coniston survivors, telling stories and commemoration in August at Yurrkuru are massacre sites – passing it onto the younger ones. Liirlpari, Tipirnpa, Kunajarrayi, Athimpelengkwe and many That’s why the old people are more. “I put the names of places working on the map.” on this map, the names of places where people lived in alive. It’s really important the engagement of senior the Lander River and where that we’re talking about the people. Contact Shane on 8951 6313 people have been hiding away,” map, elders and younger ones. “It’s been really inspiring and or [email protected] traditional owner Teddy Long Sharing. Sharing with more triggered other people in other said. people. Sharing what’s been regions for similar projects.” “We’ve been going out going on in this area. Mr Long said it’s time recording places and stories “There’s a few descendants, governments helped to get the for the younger generation.” survivors, telling stories and Lander River stories out to a “What was really driving it passing it onto the younger wider audience. and motivating it was the fact ones. That’s why the old “We want support to keep that they don’t necessarily have people are working on the mapping places and stories access to places far away where map. To show the map is really to make a book. We want to you need a four wheel drive,” important. develop a story place here to the anthropologist Petronella “The legacy still lives on. It’s tell people what happened, an Vaarzon-Morel, who has been sad, it’s very sad,” Mr Ross said. interpretive display.” working on the project for the Georgia Stewart, from past five years, told the ABC. the Central Land Council’s “So they’ve put their own community development money into the project. team, said the money for the October 2018 13 NEWS

Give us a national day of mourning

From p.2. She agrees that events achievements and positive “This is similar to our people such as Coniston must be things, but some of these and some people in urban remembered nationwide. stories are really hard and I areas don’t know much about “I think it’s essential,” she think if we deny those stories the Coniston Massacre. Now said. “It matters to everyone we short-change ourselves.” we want the world to know on this continent. We need to Ms Dale-Hallett was about it.” know what happened. How it heartened by the warmth of Mr Long agreed. “Yapa land happened. the welcome she’s received at has got important history for “It is part of the historical each of the anniversary events Australia,” he said. narrative that has shaped our she’s attended, starting with “That’s why we need to build understanding and narrative the 75th anniversary back in something there for the future and experience of Australia 2003, when she first came – for Yapa families and white and if we deny those stories face-to-face with the families of the victims of her great uncle. “It’s like ANZAC Day, “That level of respect and generosity, spirit, amazing, like memories of people deeply, deeply affected me,” she explained. who’ve been in war.” “And it happened again on Liza Dale-Hallett and her twin brother Chas paid their respects. this occasion too. The warmth families to come along and we deny the opportunity to of the reception, you just can’t learn what has happened.” learn, to educate ourselves, and take on board those there. It’s a continuing lived fault that. It’s amazing and in He wants governments to appreciate where we are and challenging parts of our past?” reality. every way, deeply humbling support a national memorial to forge positive connections.” Ms Dale-Hallett said there’s “There’s a huge burden that because it’s such a context of day, “for recognition of “If we do not fully engage clearly been an ongoing perpetuates the trauma and I such deep pain.” massacres not only here, but with these really complex and trauma carried through the think it’s better to assist the Ms Dale-Hallett said that all massacres of Aboriginal quite distressing elements of generations that can be traced process of healing to listen if the broader Australian people that happened around our history how do we step to the massacre. to these stories and it doesn’t community can come to terms Australia”. forward into the future in a “Oh yes. Absolutely. I mean preclude the possibility of with its bloody history known Ms Dale-Hallett was at the positive way?” how can you not feel that listening to other stories as the ‘frontier wars’ it will only 90th anniversary ceremony “How can we possibly trauma,” she suggested. “A which are inspiring and strengthen the nation. and the 75th as well. grow and mature as a nation highly emotional space. It’s perhaps shine other lights on

14 October 2018 Hundreds of NT deaths added to national massacres NEWSmap

THE number of massacres of massacres. indigenous Australians that have been The recently launched stage recorded by a major research project two extends through to 1930, has risen to 240, but that figure will incorporates for the first time sites only grow as the record is added to. of frontier massacres that occurred Professor Lyndall Ryan, from the in the Northern Territory and South University of Newcastle is leading the Australia, along with some further project, which verifies and records the incidents in Eastern Australia. It also massacres on an online digital map. includes 10 sites where non-Aboriginal The researchers were able to verify 19 massacres in the Northern Territory taking a total of 679 Aboriginal lives. “People have been generous in people were massacred. Coniston massacres offering the research team further The researchers were able to verify corroborating data and information 19 massacres in the Northern Territory about incidents that were not yet taking a total of 679 Aboriginal lives. included on the map,” Professor Ryan More than 6,200 people in total were said. killed during the massacres included “The high level of community interest to date, but Professor Ryan predicts and engagement comes from regional her team is only halfway through Australia, where most of the incidents researching the full extent of the took place, suggesting that people in violence during the colonial frontier, the regions really do want to know and the final number of massacres is what happened. likely to be closer to 500. “It’s important to document these The figures are likely to incidents because they resolve the long underestimate the actual death standing question: how violent was the toll because the researchers colonial frontier? counted only events for which “The map shows that massacre was sufficient information remains widespread and affected hundreds of and can be verified by records. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stage three of the project, communities.” which will include sites in Stage one of the map recorded 172 Western Australia as well as incidents across Eastern Australia the rest of Australia from 1788- between 1788 and 1872. It documented 1960, requires more funding to the massacre site locations, details go ahead. Go to the online map: of the individual massacres and the https://goo.gl/sFmMtm sources corroborating evidence of the

October 2018 15 NEWS Blitz results are in: What’s eating our bilbies? RESULTS from the first national where they are still surviving. Mr Moyle said. Bilby Blitz are in and it’s mostly The 250 areas rangers scoured They also recorded signs of the good news. for signs of the threatened bilby’s main predators, cats and Rangers found bilbies in most marsupial, also known as track foxes. areas where they expected them plots, were two hectares large. The findings have rangers and to survive and there appear to be Track plots were in areas scientists scratching their heads reasonable numbers of them. where bilbies were expected to about which feral animal poses a “This suggests healthy breeding be found, where they had been greater threat to bilbies. populations in these last refuges recorded in the past, or where “Rangers found cat signs in 66 of the bilby, which are mostly it was thought there was the of the 250 survey areas, including on Aboriginal land,” the Central greatest chance of finding them. where many signs of bilbies were Land Council’s regional land In two areas near Kiwirrkurra also found,” Mr Moyle said. management officer, Richard and in the Northern Tanami “This may mean that bilbies Moyle, said. where bilbies had not been can survive living side by side “Indigenous rangers from 11 recorded in the past, rangers with cats.” groups in the Northern Territory detected signs of bilbies. Rangers found evidence of and Western Australia found The only area where the foxes in 44 of the 250 track plots. bilby tracks, scats and burrows in rangers didn’t find any bilby “Whilst this number is lower 39 of the 50 areas they surveyed signs even though some had than for cats, where there were with the new Tracks app.” been sighted there recently, foxes there were fewer or no The blitz around the Easter was the Illeuwurru area, east of signs of bilbies. Further, evidence period was the first cross border Barrow Creek. of bilbies was greater in the areas survey of bilbies that collected “The rangers found old where there were cats,” he said. comparable information about B1 and B2 at the launch of the Bilby Blitz in March. burrows, but no fresh evidence,” “Perhaps that means foxes Tanami Pipeline creates Yapa jobs in record time

IT took a record seven months mob. They recognise me with of consultations, 15 meetings that knowledge as a senior and a swag of agreements, man. I have been protecting but as anyone driving to and all those sacred sites and from Yuendumu can see, the culture.” Tanami gas pipeline is finally Newmont’s Francois Hardy being built. thanked the traditional Twenty two local Aboriginal owners, the CLC and the people are working on the company that won the construction of the pipeline contract to build, own and from the Amadeus–Darwin operate the pipeline, “for pipeline to Newmont’s all their hard work and Granites and Dead Bullock dedication to successfully Soak gold mines. complete all agreements in a When complete, the very short timeframe”. pipeline is expected to help The pipeline will be 440 cut the number of road trains kilometres long, running transporting diesel to the underground from the mines and improve safety on Amadeus-Darwin pipeline the Tanami Highway. on Narwietooma Station to It will allow the mines to run Dead Bullock Soak and cutting on solar and gas, cutting their through four Aboriginal carbon dioxide emissions by land trusts and three cattle 20 per cent. stations. Carbon dioxide from Between September 2017 burning diesel is one of the and April 2018 the CLC gases that cause dangerous presented to 26 different global warming. affected groups the company’s The pipeline can also supply proposals, the proposed gas to Yuendumu in the future pipeline route, its impacts, if the community wants to and potential compensation make the switch from diesel. and benefits. Some of MPC’s workers on the pipeline are local Aboriginal people. Yuendumu elder, Tommy It consulted with the Watson, who works as a traditional owner groups and of the agreements before it cultural monitor on site the native title holders for gave the green light to one protection during the Narwietooma, Napperby and pipeline benefits and impacts agreement, five section 19 Likkaparta mob have deeds and three indigenous “They recognise me land use agreements. projects in the pipeline Meanwhile, the CLC’s employment unit worked A GROUP of traditional team to improve their with that knowledge closely with lead contractor owners of the land tourism business at the MPC, its business partners and traversed by the Northern Likkaparta outstation. as a senior man.” the Central Desert Regional Gas Pipeline near Tennant The outstation hosts Council to make sure as Creek are investing their visitor groups and runs construction of the pipeline, Mount Doreen stations and many people from Laramba, income from the pipeline art workshops. approved of the CLC’s process its anthropologists conducted Yuelamu, Yuendumu and agreement in a mobile The group has to negotiate the pipeline. site clearances along the route. Nyirrpi as possible got work phone repeater and other committed a total of “I have done all that cultural Then it negotiated with the and training opportunities on projects. $440,000 to install the work, really busy,” Mr Watson company. the project. The Kurtinja group repeater, construct a toilet told delegates at the CLC’s The CLC’s executive It has referred more than is working with the and shower block and a August council meeting. considered the outcomes 100 applications from Central Land Council’s workshop and upgrade “It’s been really good of the consultations and Aboriginal candidates to MPC. community development the communal kitchen. working with that pipeline the terms and conditions 16 October 2018 NEWS have a greater impact on bilby lobby for funding for the next numbers than cats. We need blitz. to do more research to find out In the meantime, the alliance which of these feral hunters is a whose combined area covers greater threat to the bilby.” the last refuges of the bilby, Once the rangers’ bilby data will take over the management has been carefully analysed it and further development of the will inform not only the ranger Tracks app. Blitzed! groups’ work plans, but also The Bilby Blitz was the first national initiatives to help protect time the rangers used the app to the bilby. gather their tracking information “The data will help land in a standardised way. managers and ecologists to detect It allows the results of this local changes in biodiversity, as first (or base line) survey to be well as monitor broader impacts compared with future surveys. of feral species and climate The popular app has been change across Australia’s desert translated into Warlpiri and regions,” Mr Moyle said. Waramungu so far and is “This will help rangers to better available on both Apple and manage the country for bilbies Android devices. through the use of fire and the The CLC developed the app control of feral animals.” as part of a comprehensive Fresh bilby tracks have day captured this healthy Her colleagues and the The rangers will carry out threatened species data led Muru-Warinyi Ankkul male. traditional owners have not additional surveys to gather collection, storage and Ranger Gladys Brown to two The CLC’s threatened spe- stopped looking for signs of more information ahead of the management system linked active bilby burrows near a cies guru Richard Moyle the threatened marsupial, next Bilby Blitz in about three to the CSIRO’s Atlas of Living community north of Tennant reckons there are also two which only survives on Creek. young females. pockets of Aboriginal land years’ time. Australia. GB’s team set up a sensor GB took part in the first between Central Australia The Indigenous Desert camera and the following national Bilby Blitz recently. and the Indian Ocean. Alliance, including the CLC, will Teaching the ancient art of animal tracking ELDERS and rangers from Elder Veronica Dobson said ecological knowledge and skills, across the Central Land intergenerational knowledge born out of thousands of years Council region have agreed to transfer is about young people of observation and practice, are work on an animal tracking learning how to survive out for caring for country. training program for the bush. In recent years, scientists rangers. “They need to know where and governments have also The decision is the result of they can find water and food. embraced what they like to call 30 of them spending a whole It is the survival techniques IEK – or indigenous ecological day to discuss how to teach they need to know. This is knowledge. future generations what they where they come from, where They now understand need to know so they can their father walked around as that combining traditional keep looking nomads. skills with Western scientific after country “They need to learn now understanding is the best way properly. from the old people before to look after the environment. they pass on and take the “Sadly, this recognition knowledge with them,” said comes at a time when fewer Ms Dobson. and fewer young people are Yuendumu elder Tommy interested in learning these Watson said youngfellas have skills from their elders,” “got to learn how to look after regional land management the land because we would not coordinator Sam Rando said. be alive (without it). Mining Ms Dobson says most of companies are coming for the interest is in remote minerals looking at country, communities, where mobile we have to push them away.” devices and other technologies Jerry Jungala Patrick, from “can work both ways”. Lajamanu, agreed. “I think it is very important “For a long time, my for them to learn their culture Rangers Max Kennedy and Dione Kelly (left) tracked bilbies with their app. ancestors not been make and own language and to have a mess on our country, it on technology, rather than learning out bush. and keep it in a safe place at the they used to look after just sit back and think that it Take elders to the school and Central Land Council,” he said. it properly, for hunting, will always be there. It is not teach with the rangers about His grandfather, Jerry camping out and telling going to be,” she said. tracking, bush tucker, bush Jangala Patrick, taught him the stories about what “We could put a bit of medicine. So there is two way about tracking. dreaming is for Aboriginal culture in the learning, Aboriginal way and “Which way animals go, what that country,” Mr phones,” Anmatyerr Ranger western society way.” time it was,” Mr Kelly said. Patrick said. coordinator Josie Grant said. North Tanami Ranger “All animals have a song line. “To learn, they “Like we use tablets with Dione Kelly uses the Tracks Every tree has a name, story have to go through the Tracks app in different app to record in Warlpiri and and song line, so if we lose that the elders, learn from languages. We use it at the English the information he and knowledge, we will be lost out grandfather and father.” school in Ti Tree and also his colleagues collect on bush there. Some were thinking big, with during culture trips,” Ms Grant trips. “That is one thing the rangers talk of a ‘bush university’, but said. “We do record our knowledge need to act on,” he said. by the end of the day everyone “Getting the on tablets He hopes the new course will agreed to start small and elders to hold keep everyone on track. develop a training course for the young ones rangers on animal tracking. to learn how to Countrymen and women use the tablet have always known how and the cyber important their tracker. It is a two way of

October 2018 17 NEWS LOOK AFTER YOUR ANIMALS! Rock rat survival in rangers’ hands THE Central Land Council’s rangers were thrilled to find that the critically endangered Centralian Rock Rat is still hanging in there at Ulamparru (Mt Edwards) near Papunya. Now they’re waiting for the results of hidden camera footage from Ngarnka (Mt Leichhardt). The tiny mammal, one of Australia’s rarest, used to roam across Central Austra- lia, but today is only found on The hot weather is expected to attract thirsty mountain tops above 1000 camels, horses, donkeys and cattle metres. to communities and precious water places Feral cats and changed where they can cause a lot of damage. vegetation and fire patterns have made it impossible for The CLC is seeking support the rock rats to survive in to manage animal welfare issues lower-lying areas. over the summer. The CLC rangers captured images of rock rats on nine of For more informationplease call 8951 6211. Rock rat. Photo: Rohan Clarke. their motion sensor cameras on top of the mountain. MacDonnell Ranges, where Karinyarra (Central Wedge). my life,” he said. rock rat from wildfires. “It was hard work putting up visitor signage near creek beds Warlpiri and Anmatyerr Mr Raggett and his The Anangu Luritjiku the cameras,” Ryon Raggett claims they can still be found. ranger groups worked on the colleagues installed motion Rangers have also been from the Anangu Luritjiku However, a recent rock rat survey of Ngarnka. sensor cameras at the top of teaching local students about Rangers, said. survey at Mt Sonder drew a When there is no helicopter the mountains which can take the unique animal. “We couldn’t wait to get blank. to take them to the top of the photos day and night. “We’ve been to the schools them down and find out what In the past, rock rats were mountains they must climb up They lured animals to the at Papunya, Haasts Bluff and was up there. Seeing the found as far away as Uluru, with all the gear. cameras with a peanut butter Mt Liebig to show the kids all rock rats on the pictures was Karlu Karlu (Devil’s Marbles), Mr Kelly said the views and oat mix and retrieved the the work we have been doing exciting.” the Granites in the Tanami make climbing worthwhile. cameras after three months to with the rock rats,” Terrence His colleague Preston Kelly, and the Davenport Ranges. “You can see all the other see what they have captured. Abbott explained. from Yuendumu, agreed. Five of the sites where mountains in the area like Mt “Unfortunately the other “The kids were really happy “Finding out that the rock scientists believe they Wedge, Mt Liebig, Mt Zeil, Mt surveys came up blank,” to listen and learn from us.” rats were still there was good. may survive today are on Sonder and even right back to ranger co-ordinator Boyd Until five years ago, the Now we have the big job of Aboriginal land. Tilmouth Well.” Elston said. elusive species was thought making sure they are safe This means the CLC’s ranger Ryon Raggett, from the ”This means Ulamparru is to have died out, with the from feral cats and fire,” Mr groups hold the key in the Anangu Luritjiku Rangers, critically important for the last recorded sighting on the Kelly said. fight against the extinction Haasts Bluff Aboriginal Land Rock rats used to live of the species. Trust back in 1960. throughout the West The first step is to find the “Now we have the big job That changed in September rock rat’s last remaining of making sure they are safe 2013, when a remote sensor hideouts. camera captured a rock rat on Rangers in Papunya helped from feral cats and fire.” the land trust and the rangers with surveys at Meerenie swung into action with fire Bluff, Ulamparru, also enjoyed the climb. survival of this species.” management and survey Watiyawanu “I was really excited because He said his team will activities. (Mt it was my first time on top of continue to burn fire breaks Liebig) Ulumparru, looking down at along the base of the mountain and Papunya after living there all to protect the habitat of the

What projects has your ranger group goanna, birds. been working on? The biggest project Why is it important to work on your was the black footed rock wallabies near country? Because my elders have been Nguyarrmini community. We know it is looking after it. But it is different now. They there so we have been surveying and cat didn’t have feral animals at that time and trapping in the same area. The cats are a soakages are now disturbed. These days predator for the wallabies. there is lots of fixing to do. What made you want to be a ranger? One What is the type of work you do as a day [former CLC staff members] Fiona ranger? Lots of things, various things. Walsh and Nick Gambold went to my Members of traditional owner ranger homeland doing some planning for cattle, advisory committees sometimes tell us assessment and surveying of the area and what to do on their country. Looking after that got me interested. So I started helping country is a good job. We work with schools them out and working out there. I love in Tennant Creek and bring a poster to show doing surveys for threatened species, little what we do. animals and tracking. I love working with animals. The little ones from the family What is the best thing about being a are growing up, I like to take them out ranger? It’s like being a role model to on country to learn about track and bush others. I would like to encourage more tuckers. women to work with us so we can work equally with men and What strengths do you bring to your women. ranger group? I make sure everyone comes to work in the morning. I talk to people What do you like doing about being on time. We were learning outside of work? I spend tracking from old people as we were time out bush, taking growing up, we always talk about tracking. my grandkids and show We used to get out hunting and old people them tracks. Bird tracks. Gladys Brown used to point out tracks of kangaroo,

18 October 2018 ARTS Have choir, will travel

WINNING a Special Achie- “They were crying… happy vement Award at the National tears because we were singing Indigenous Music Awards has in our own language. Their boosted the confidence and hearts were touched when we travel plans of the Central sang the harmonies. It was Australian Women’s Choir. beautiful,” her sister Carolyn The choir performed at the added. 15th NIMA awards in Darwin The singers love to learn in August and was also one about other indigenous people. of the highlights at this year’s “We went to an American Alice Desert Festival. Indian Museum and saw a lot During a break at the of pictures and heard their festival’s Desert Mob event traditional stories about the choir members told Land stars, similar to the Seven Rights News that reactions Sisters story,” said Kathryn to their recent performances Windi. in the United States capital Marian Swift enjoyed the Teresa Nipper and Marion Swift (centre) from the Central Australian Aboriginal Womens Choir. Photo: Desert Song/A. Hullah. Washington had given them interaction with the other an appetite for further travel. choirs they met in the US. Before they flew out of Sydney, them at Araluen,” Kathryn “I’m looking forward to “We got to join in with lots “It was great. We had some they recorded a message to the Windi said. meeting the people,” Ms Swift and lots of choirs from other little workshops where we Socceroos ahead of their World Her sister said the women said. countries - India, Canada, shared songs with other groups. Cup match against Denmark. are not worried about being far “In the news you see there Madagaskar … around the They were curious about our The choir gathered in the SBS from home. are a lot of people and there’s world,” choir member Kathryn language and we taught short TV studios to sing Waltzing “When we travel together desert areas as well. Windi said. songs. Matilda in Western Arrernte we’re happy and don’t get “I’d like to see if they still “It was the first time they “It’s good to learn some other and Pitjantjatjara. homesick. We are like one big have their traditions and what were seeing Aboriginal people. songs from other countries. I “Next year the choir will be family.” they do differently to what we They were amazed when feel very lucky,” she said. going to New Zealand with The choir is also waiting for do. I think it will be a good they heard us singing in our The women are keen to share the Soweto Gospel Choir from confirmation of a planned trip experience.” language,” she said. their good luck. South Africa. We sang with to India. Dogs and brumbies come to life in art centre short films

ART lovers from around “I made the papa sculptures Australia were treated to a swag and the ladies in Warakurna of animal-themed short films helped,” she said. from two of the region’s most “I helped Jonathan set up the innovative art centres during set and make photos to animate. this year’s Desert Mob in Alice I also helped collect the sound.” Springs. The Alice Springs audience Ngayuku Papa (my dog) had appreciated the sneak preview of the audience at the Araluen art CB’s short film before its official centre in stitches. launch at the South Australian Tjanpi artist Cynthia Burke Museum next February. and animator Jonathan Daw The film will be shown as brought the unique artwork part of the Adelaide Festival of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers exhibition about Australians to life with two stop-motion and their dogs. animations using grass The relationship between sculptures as their actors. horse and rider was the subject The short films capture the Tiny used to protect her little of Iwantja Arts’ Never Stop thrills of the goanna hunt niece Satita as a baby. Riding, a short film featuring and celebrate the special “He would bark if anyone tried Peter Mungkuri, Alec Baker and role that dogs play in remote to pick her up. He was a special Kunmanara Pompey. communities. dog”. The film took shape as the CB, as she is better known, The award-winning broad- senior men taught a group of contributed her weaving and caster, who spends her time youngfellas, including fellow media skills to the film about between Warakurna and artist Vincent Namatijira her loyal dog Tiny. Irrunytju in Western Australia, (pictured in black below), how to stay in the saddle. The ‘Indulkana spaghetti “My favourite thing was to travel western’ was shot during a horse camp at the Welbourn Hill cattle to communities in the car with him Cynthia Burke and her loyal dog Tiny in real life and in animation (left). station in the north east of South and visit Tjanpi artists.” Australia last year and kicks off life-long love of western films, Kenmore, Granites Downs, with a guitar solo by the late Mr country music and the cowboy every station” before he became “My favourite thing was to paints and sculpts for several art Pompey. lifestyle to the next generation. a highly regarded artist who last travel to communities in the centres when she’s not operating Themselves former stockmen “I like teaching the young year won the $100,000 Hadley’s car with him and visit Tjanpi the cameras for Ngaanyatjarra and station hands, the older people what I’ve been doing Art Prize for landscape painting. artists,” CB told the audience. Media. artists were keen to pass on their since I was a boy,” Peter He clearly enjoyed hamming it Mungkuri said. up as a gun-slinger on horseback “Working in the saddle. They and chuckled at his favourite might want to work on a station. scene “dancing in the cowboy When the community gets cattle way”. they might run ‘em, that’s why.” Alec Baker’s days in the saddle One of the youngfellas, “tall may be over, but that didn’t stop one, ninti”, is his grandson. him from starring in a shoot-out “I talk to him all the time, in with another mobility scooter the camp: ‘you gotta watch ‘em rider. horses or you might break a leg Their message: no matter or get killed or something’.” what struggles you may be Mr Mungkuri was “branding, facing, above all else, you should mustering bullocks and never stop riding. breaking horses at Mimili, October 2018 19 OBITUARIES A “humble and honest leader”- Bernard Abbott IT is hard to imagine Wallace grew the calves up. learned about whitefella He recounted how when a cup of tea and listen to his Rockhole, a small community “We had plentiful supply of manners from the station he was about 13 years old he stories about his country. west of Alice Springs, without meat and nanny goats, and managers before they learned threw his report card away. “He would talk about the the late Bernard Abbott, who Mum had our own veggie their ABCs. A girl found it and returned it future of our young people did so much to set it up. garden.” “We learnt ‘Yes boss, no to the school’s welfare worker. and how he wanted them to Mr Abbott helped to start His brother Terry, one of boss’. Whenever we did a job, “She came and seen mum learn about their culture and the community during the 14 siblings, still keeps a cattle don’t be told twice. When they then. ‘This boy is pretty brainy, kinship.” outstation movement, on his herd at Wallace Rockhole. tell you once, you do it. You’re he got 90 something for And the future is in good father Gordon’s country. Mr Abbott, his wife Hilda, a good man if you don’t talk English, he got 70 something hands. “We started off with tin who he married in 1988, and back,” is how his big brother for maths’.” “He made us strong. We are sheds. It’s a township now, sons Howard, Gordon James Doug remembered the station In 1969 his mother allowed really proud of him, of what he more or less,” he recalled in and Steven always looked days in Every Hill Got a Story. the Lutherans to send him to has done for the community one of his yarns for the Central forward to a bit of killer at Bernard Abbott had to wait one of their colleges, at Walla and with the land council. He Land Councils’ oral history Christmas time. until he was about eight years Walla near Albury-Wodonga, helped people speaking out for collection Every Hill Got A He was born in 1954 - at the old to go to Hartley Street where he did his HSC four their land, not just in Central Story. Alice Springs Hospital’s ‘native School in Alice Springs with In the days before bores ward’, as he’d like to remind his older brothers. Mr Abbott helped to cart people. He boarded with Pastor Eli drinking water from a dam at As a child he first lived Rubuntja and his wife Lenora “Kwementjaye carried Waterhouse to the community at Henbury Station, where at the Mission Block. The in an old Blitz truck and his parents worked, and boys used to play with their a strong land rights worked for Murray Pearce, remembered playing in the shanghais at the old police from Hermannsburg, as a sand hills there. paddock. stockman. He mostly grew up at After one year he transferred message to politicians “We were all sort of Idracowra Station down the to the new school at Traeger independent then,” he said. Finke River, where his mother Park where he did well but, and never stopped “We had our own cattle. The Ida was from. with characteristic humility, mission gave Mum and Dad, There was no school at kept quiet about it. all of them, little poddy calves Idracowra, but his eight “I used to do a lot of study for fighting for what – to Mum – and all them mob brothers and five sisters myself,” Mr Abbott said. he believed.” years later, gaining all credits. Australia, but everywhere,” Mr “I was both grateful and Abbott’s son Gordon James privileged really,” he said. said. When Mr Abbott returned “I would like to join the land to his family, who were living council one day, follow in his at Owen Springs Station by footsteps as a member,” he then, he started to work with said. Len Kittle and learned about “Dad would love that,” son the law. Steven agreed. “I didn’t know Aboriginal Mr Kelly said Mr Abbott was law then. I was a little weye a strong sportsman in his day. [boy]. I got educated by the “He was playing for Souths. whiteman’s way. I left school Sometimes we played against and came back here and went each other,” he explained. through tribal law then, and The lifelong Carlton learnt both ways.” supporter even won the Hume Two-way education Junior Football League Bill remained close to his heart, Thomas trophy as best and and educating everybody about fairest player in 1972. Aboriginal culture came with Mr Abbott was glad to see the territory. the federal court determine “In the beginning the sites in June that native title exists meant a lot for the Aboriginal on his childhood home on storyline, that’s how they Henbury Station. survived. Their culture was He was one of the traditional very strongly related to their owners who had fought sites and their storylines. unsuccessfully with the CLC Any trespassers, you would for more than 40 years for the have been killed for that. We return of their country. don’t go around killing people They even tried to buy the for damaging our sites now, we station with the help of the do it legally, by whiteman’s law Indigenous Land Corporation. now.” Their plans were dealt a bitter As the chair of the Aboriginal blow in 2013, when Henbury Areas Protection Authority for was sold to a consortium of a couple of terms Mr Abbott established Central Australian oversaw his share of legal pastoral families. action. The day of Mr Abbott’s On the executive committee funeral in September fell on of the Central Land Council the day of one of the CLC’s bi- Mr Abbott was a thoughtful monthly executive meetings. and constructive voice and The meeting was cancelled CLC chair Francis Kelly paid to allow members and staff to tribute to the long-serving attend the service at the Alice council member. Springs Lutheran Church, “Kwementjaye was a humble where the large crowd reflected and honest leader who carried the respect he commanded far a strong land rights message to and wide. politicians and never stopped Mr Abbott is dearly missed fighting for what he believed,” by his wife and sons, his Mr Kelly said. four beloved grandchildren “He was a good listener and Kuhlani, Kilynn, Levi and storyteller. I liked to visit him Lionel, his extended family in Wallace Rockhole to have and his many friends. 20 October 2018 OBITUARIES Kathy Booth - vale dear friend and colleague KATHY Booth dedicated it belonged, in the pocket of more than half her life to her work shirt. the Central Land Council. You never knew what she Mourners who attended would come out with. It was Boothy’s funeral at always funny and sometimes Innisfail in Queensland a bit risqué. Her big laugh, in August heard that humour and ability to see the her colleagues were silly side of things drew people “heartbroken at losing to her. They could join in and a work mate, friend and loved her for it. She gave all round, deeply good people nicknames and always person”. used terms of endearment. It Here is an edited version was her way of making you of the eulogy past and feel special. present staff wrote New staff would very soon together: work out that they needed Boothy started working at to know her. She was the go- the CLC 30 years ago, when to person if you were stuck she was as young as the with organising a vehicle, land council. They grew up staff to assist or catering for together, experiencing the a meeting. Her resilience many challenges and changes. and perseverance were She started in the planning extraordinary. and development department CLC director David Ross headed by Marcia Langton, summed it up best: “Kathy did when Pat Dodson was the a magnificent job.” director. Among her different She loved a good party and roles was council liaison would get dressed up and (working with the executive always looked stunning, a and 90 delegates) and field change from her boots and officer with the regional work wear. services unit (RSU). Boothy’s house in Alice Boothy found her real calling Springs soon became home when, 15 years ago, she began to many family and friends to supervise the RSU’s field and nothing was ever too operations, a team of mostly at Bamboo Springs who had a throughout Central Australia were often so exhausted much trouble for her. Family Aboriginal men. Many women long standing friendship with relied on the RSU, and they could barely speak, but meant everything to her and would find it a challenge, but Kathy. At council meetings behind the RSU was Kathy staff always knew they could she cared for many. When Boothy thrived and what a they would always make time Booth. In recent years, she rely on Boothy to get them she got a rare chance to go great team they were! She to sit down and chat about was part of a dynamic duo of something to eat or directions away, she always brought back fitted right in and matched it what had happened since the Queenslanders– the Kathy to a camp spot away from presents for the grannies. She with the blokes who respected last meeting. One of the last Booth and Marty Darr team. the noise of the generator. travelled all over the country her because she was respectful council meetings where she to visit family and friends. On to others and good at her job. presided as the ‘mess boss’ one occasion, returning home Boothy was good at over the kitchen tent was at Kathy was good at managing from Queensland, she drove managing the unmanageable. her friends’ outstation. through a flooded creek and She was the ‘mother hen’; the Boothy is remembered for the unmanageable. She was the lost her car. We thought it ‘boss’ with a heart of gold; one her no-nonsense approach ‘mother hen’; the ‘boss’ with a only happened to tourists! of a kind. to cooking tens of thousands Generosity, respect and The job brought her into of meals at CLC meetings. heart of gold; one of a kind. loyalty are the qualities contact with council members She would not tolerate new Boothy is remembered for. and Aboriginal people staff, especially baby lawyers The CLC family showed their throughout Central Australia. and anthropologists, hanging Those who shared the hard She always had a good story gratitude by adding to the All who met her held her in around the neat and tidy work, the long hours, the 4am to tell, seated in her special large turnout to her memorial high regard. setup as they ‘messed up her starts on bitterly cold winter chair with side table, cuppa service in Alice Springs. They Among her many kitchen’. mornings, the heat and the and smokes, and a lighter on have lost one of their own, but longstanding friends were The CLC’s many large dust, the interminable road the end of a rubber string that she will always be part of the Desley Rogers and her family meetings and events trips and the good times always bounced back to where family. Farewell to the last of the Apetyarr brothers KWEMENTYAY Morton his early life. stockmen in protest. The men in South Australia, where he for all Alyawarr speaking Apetyarr was the last of “I went to Lake Nash wanted to be paid money, not worked for a few years on a communities. his Apetyarr brothers from when I was small. Ruby just rations. sheep station. With his huge knowledge Ampilatwatja on Aharreng Tracker Apetyarr looked “In the 1950s and 1960s “Later on I came back to of country, Kwemantyay country. Born sometime after me there. My fathers I worked for Rex Hall at my family and my Aharreng provided information for around 1925, he worked as and grandfathers were there. Ooratippra Station. No country. We camped at three different native title a stockman and boundary Arurrunga (Honeymoon claims and many sacred rider on the eastern Sandover Bore) before Amperlatwaty sites clearances across the Highway stations. In 1949, he walked off Lake Nash (Ampilatwatja community) Sandover region. This was not long after the was built,” Kwemantyay said. Whenever there was a bush ‘revolver times’ when most Station with the other stockmen in Following the grant of a trip to record knowledge or to Alyawarr had to leave their protest. The men wanted to be paid small piece of Aboriginal protect sacred sites he would country because of massacres. land over his country and the be along for sure. In those early days, before money, not just rations. establishment of Ampilatwatja Right to the end Kwemantyay cars, Kwemantyay and his Mr Morton worked tirelessly was a tireless fighter for his family were still walking The station managers gave fences then. We lived in a on the many community peoples’ self-determination. all over the place along the me work when I was 14 or 15 humpy near the homestead,” boards trying to provide His spirit, good humour, Sandover River. years of age. They put me on Kwemantyay remembered. services to his people. guidance and teaching are In the Central Land Council’s horses then.” He also drove cattle as far as From 2004 he was one of deeply missed. oral history collection Every In 1949, he walked off Lake New South Wales, Birdsville the main people pushing hill got a story he described Nash Station with the other in Queensland, and Maree for a regional corporation October 2018 21 INTERNATIONAL Ancient farmers shaped Wins for First Americans the modern Amazon over two oil pipelines NORTH American courts have long opposed it. environmentalists, indigenous have delivered First Nations They are concerned, in groups and ranchers clashing peoples in Canada and the US part, that increased shipping with oil producers and pipeline victories in their fights against traffic to and from a terminal builders for more than a two controversial oil pipelines. at the end of the pipeline in decade is set to continue Indigenous Canadians are Vancouver would endanger after a judge ordered a full a step closer to stopping a recovering killer whale environmental review of the the construction of a 1,150 population. revised route. kilometre oil pipeline from Lee Spahan, chief of the The $11-billion 1,900 A cassava farmer checks his crops in the Juma Reserve, part of Alberta to the Pacific coast for Coldwater First Nation, which kilometre pipeline that would the Brazilian Amazon. Photo: by Neil Palmer/CIAT/Flickr. export. led the challenge, told AP carry heavy crude oil from In August, a Canadian app- about his peoples’ opposition Canada’s oil sands in Alberta A NEW study has found cut for farming. This was eals court annulled approval of to the pipeline. to Nebraska in the US was that ancient indigenous a much more sustainable the project, dealing a stinging “They can say they consulted, rejected by former president farmers shaped today’s way of farming.” blow to the government of but they never, ever, ever got Barack Obama in 2015, Amazon rainforest Dr Maezumi went on Justin Trudeau. our consent,” he said. although President Donald thousands of years ago. to say those responsible In a unanimous decision, the The Canadian government Trump gave it swift approval Research about for the management of federal court of appeal said the must now carry out another soon after his election. 4,500 years of cultivating the Amazon today could government failed to consider review of the project, giving However, US District Court the forest in the eastern learn something from the concerns of some First greater consideration to judge Brian Morris, has ruled Amazon shows how the farmers thousands of Nations. consultation with First Nations in favour of the Indigenous farmers introduced crops years ago. The pipeline would carry peoples and the impacts on Environmental Network, that boosted the number “Ancient communities 890,000 barrels of oil a day. marine life. among other plaintiffs, and of edible tree species and likely did clear some The government approved Meanwhile, the Trump ordered a review of the revised improved the nutritional understory trees and the pipeline in 2016, saying administration in the US route to complement one value of the soil through weeds for farming, but it would reduce Canada’s has suffered a setback in the that was carried out on the the use of fire. they maintained a closed reliance on the United States. long-running battle over the pipeline’s original path. The farmers improved canopy forest, enriched Environmentalists and Keystone crude oil pipeline. the soil they worked rather in edible plants which indigenous groups, however, The battle that has seen than clearing more land, could bring them food,” said Dr Yoshi Maezumi, he explained. from the University of “This is a very different Exeter in the United use of the land to that of Kingdom, who led the today, where large areas study. of land in the Amazon is “People thousands of cleared and planted for years ago developed a industrial scale grain, soya nutrient rich soil called bean farming and cattle Amazonian Dark Earths,” grazing. Dr Maezumi told the Terra “We hope modern Daily website. conservationists can learn “They farmed in a lessons from indigenous way which involved land use in the Amazon continuous enrichment to inform management and reusing of the soil, decisions about how rather than expanding the to safeguard modern amount of land they clear forests.”

Chief Lee Spahan raises an eagle feather after responding to a Federal Court of Appeal ruling on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. Photo: Darryl DYCK/AP. World rangers present and past honored for bravery AUSTRALIA’S indigenous by the International Ranger president of the federation conservation without rangers ranger in more than 50 years rangers work in some of the Federation, which supports Sean Willmore said more than is just conversation, so to be killed by poachers in the most dangerous conditions in rangers and their work around a hundred rangers had died in thankyou to you for making Kruger National Park in South the world. the world, shows that 871 just the past 12 months. all the projects we do in Africa. From the hot weather to the rangers lost their lives around “Some of us have lost supporting our colleagues African website IOL snakes, crocodiles, illness, the world. colleagues this year,” he said. possible.” reported that the country’s equipment they use to the A further breakdown of “Somewhere in excess of 100 Work as a ranger protecting Environmental Affairs terrain they cross, they face the figures shows 327 died rangers again lost in the last environmental and cultural Minister Dr Edna Molewa life-threatening situations. in Africa, 410 in Asia, 10 12 months that we know of. heritage in some parts of the spoke at his funeral. Seven rangers lost their in Central America, 26 in We also salute them on this world takes on the added She said rangers had taken lives in Oceania, including Europe, 54 in North America special day. threat of violence from up arms because of the threats Australia, between 2009 and and 37 in South America. “To our supporters, we say poachers, illegal loggers, they and the environment 2018. Those figures are believed to thank you for standing with soldiers and terrorists. face. One of them, 36-year- be an underestimate though as us. Not just with a sign, but Rangers have died from "In particularly hard hit old Dave Gliddon, is on the many deaths go unreported. many of you action as well. drownings, elephant and areas the ranger corps has roll after the father lost his They also don’t include the We can’t do it without you rhinoceros attacks and plane been militarised, with some life in a rock fall in the Blue number of rangers injured in and it means a great deal to crashes. rangers engaged in daily Mountains in 2017. the line of duty. the rangers around the world The day before World confrontations with heavily In fact, the honour roll for In an address for World to have your support. Ranger Day, Respect armed gangs in the parks. the same period, as compiled Ranger Day on the 31st of July, “We often say that Mathebula became the first Poachers pose a major threat

22 October 2018 SOCIAL

Lots of the Central Land Council’s rangers graduated from the Batchelor Institute in September.

Molly Presley, Peggy Martin and Maisie Wayne sang at the 90th Coniston anniversary commemoration.

Henry Jakamarra Cook, from Lajamanu, celebrated his 101st birthday.

Arrernte woman Shirleen McLaughlin wants the flag to be permanently flown at Anzac Hill. Photo: ABC/Nick Hose Martu and CLC rangers and staff swapped bush medicine recipes at Hayes Springs (see story p. 8). Photo: Fiona Walsh. World rangers present and past honored for bravery to the rhino population, counterparts, but their particularly in the Kruger environmental contribution National Park, Limpopo, is no less important. KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern CLC staff held a morning Cape, North West and tea on July 31 to mark World Mpumalanga," Molewa said. Ranger Day and recognise the "Respect’s death has work their ranger colleagues highlighted that rangers work do. in environments that range The CLC continues to lobby from peaceful on one day the federal government to to confrontational the next. expand one of its greatest This is a line of work where Aboriginal employment the ranger stands between the success stories and secure criminal and poacher and the the future of ranger groups country’s heritage." beyond 2021. Back in Central Australia, the Central Land Council’s Photo: Rangers from network of ranger groups Kenya. Photo: Jeremy may not face the same Goss/Big Life Foundation. dangers as their international

October 2018 23 THEY DRESSED HER UP LIKE A MAN

All the bad things had been happening at Jarra Jarra, Hanson River way, before I was born. People been driven away by the murderers, they came to Dad, frightened. They run away and some stopped at Greenwood [Station] and some kept going to Tennant Creek. Dad said, ‘Go into that yard, they won’t shoot you here.’ And then he told them to move on, in case something else worse might happen. They went through Hatches Creek. Dad’s father was there too. He was a policeman, and so Dad went with them. Dad didn’t like the idea, but he went with his dad. The police and all, one lady, Kitty Napangardi, showed the police trackers where to go. They used that lady, to show the police where the Aboriginal camps were. They dressed her up like a man, haircut like a man. She was from Barrow Creek side. It was cruel that the people used her. They collected my old man at Greenwood and they travelled to Hatches Creek, police and all. Dad was driving the packhorses and somewhere through Kurundi Station, he was telling me, some of our people were cutting sugarbag by the side of the road, minding their own business hunting. My old man looked over and saw people, and told the woman, ‘Don’t tell them they are there.’ But she did, she went up the front and told the police – and they shot the poor buggers. They were killing anybody, they weren’t looking for people that did the damage over there. They were killing anyone, the government people were. Old people who lived along the Hanson Creek, they were happy, then after the shooting they scattered. But I tell you right now, today even, people are still living in the fear. They are not sure of white people, no trust for them still today. People are not sure what is going to happen. You wonder why our young people are getting stuck into grog – it is to calm their fear, which is the real truth.

~ Sonny Curtis ~ Excerpt from Every hill got a story

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

Willowra girls preparing to dance at the Coniston Massacre 90th anniversary commemoration.