Connected-To-Country-Issue-03.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
APRIL 2016 Connected to ISSUE 03 ABORIGINAL NRM NEWS FROM THE SA ARID LANDS Anita Patterson, right, presenting her speech with her mother and Yandruwandha elder Gloria Patterson nee Kerwin CONTENTS YANDRUWANDHA YANDRUWANDHA YAWARRAWARRKA RECOGNISED AS NATIVE TITLE HOLDERS 01 YAWARRAWARRKA TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE BORN ON COUNTRY 04 RECOGNISED AS UP AND DOWN TO THE DESERT NATIVE TITLE HOLDERS WHENEVER WE CAN… 06 IKARA-FLINDERS RANGES After a near 20-year legal journey for the NATIONAL PARK 08 REGINA BRIDGING THE GAP 10 Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka people, the day had HARD YAKKA 12 finally arrived – their Native Title claim was upheld. As part of the momentous day, applicants Theresa Bottrell and Anita Paterson gave heartfelt and moving speeches to the hundreds in attendance, bringing many to tears. Extracts from these speeches are shared here, with their kind permission. Continued on Page 03 CONNECTED TO COUNTRY | 01 WELCOME Catherine Hollingsworth Mark Murray Sutton Tyler Leonard Nutt Michael Malavazos Neil Power Daryl Bell John Virtue Stuart Pauline Paul McKenzie Rick Barratt Janet Brook Ross Sawers WELCOME BACK (Absent) It brings me great pleasure to welcome you back to Connected to Country, this time with news Connected to Country is a space where we share from three of the region’s language groups: the the variety of stories Wangkangurru Yarluyandi, Kuyani Adnyamathanha, and natural resources and Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka. management activities that are occurring on his third edition is a proud one and is of all, of their delight in being on country, traditional lands across Tstraight from the heart as Traditional sharing stories with the young people so the SA Arid Lands region. Owners – Theresa Bottrell, Anita Paterson, that they too may look after their country Jean Barr-Crombie, Valerie Naylon-Fuschtei, and pass down those stories. We also welcome Uncle Mark McKenzie, and Regina On behalf of the Board, I thank Theresa, contributions from other McKenzie – share their pride, often with Anita, Jean, Valerie, Uncle Mark and government and non- hints of pain, in their continuing journeys to Regina for allowing us to share their government agencies, protect their culture and their country. words here. native title holders and As you read this edition you will find common themes are shared – of the Janet Brook individuals so that we can importance of respect, recognition, and Presiding Member collectively present ideas, partnerships; of sharing knowledge, SA Arid Lands Natural Resources stories and knowledge protecting cultural sites, preserving Management Board to raise awareness of language; of acknowledging elders past and present while finding employment natural resources matters opportunities for the young; and, most in the region. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! CULTURAL SAFETY Connected to Country readers can also keep up WARNING to date with natural resources management Readers should take care when viewing this activities in the SA Arid Lands region by document. This publication may contain images of liking the Natural Resources SA Arid Lands deceased persons, significant places or items and Facebook page. This page brings you news may cause unintentional grief or upset. from the Co-management Boards and Advisory All references to Aboriginal culture within Committees that are taking care of our this document (including images, quotes, stories national parks, the SA Arid Lands NRM Board, and language) have copyright and cultural use Pastoral Board and our six district-based protocols which apply. Any reproduction of this NRM Groups. material must seek appropriate authority. Our page is here www.facebook.com/ naturalresourcessaaridlands or search for Natural Resources SA Arid Lands on Facebook. 02 YANDRUWANDHA YAWARRAWARRKA …from Page 01 special bush hearing of the Federal ACourt was held at Cullyamurra Waterhole on 16 December, where the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka were formally recognised – by consent – as the rightful native title holders of approximately 42,000 square kilometres of north-east South Australia. For Theresa, a Yawarrawarrka woman, her journey began at a young age when she was first introduced back to her country. “…I stand here today on the beautiful Cullyamurra Waterhole banks – the place where my uncle, Fredrick Brown, was Theresa Bottrell accepting the consent to determination from The Hon Justice J R born and the place where my beautiful Mansfield AM grandparents, Snyder Brown and Mable Harrison-Brown, first introduced me to this amazing and wonderful land at the “I’d like to say to age of seven – accepting our consent to determination,” said Theresa. our elders, past Filed in 1998, the original joint claim and present, who covers an area that includes Malkumba- “Without the knowledge of the history Coongie Lakes National Park, Innamincka from our past and present Yawarrawarrka have… paved this Regional Reserve and the Strzelecki elders, we would not have been so lucky foundation for us all Regional Reserve. to have walked on this beautiful land and However, this was not the first claim [be] recognised as our true traditional to walk on – thank lodged over the Innamincka area. people of today.” you all… we so wish Theresa recalled the story of how the Despite her tears Anita – a Yandruwandha Yandruwandha and Yawarrawarrka came woman – said the day was a happy one, you were here today together to lodge the joint claim. marking the culmination of years of work. but we know you “In 1996 Uncle Jack Guttie, Uncle Charlie “For me it’s a form of closure, for all these Moore and Leslie Harris Senior lodged years being here and recognition for my are here with us in a claim on behalf of the Yandruwandha cousins who took our uncles and went in spirit,” said Theresa. people. and got the claim registered,” said Anita. “It wasn’t until 1998, when a meeting “We are recognised in the history books The final words of the day went to Kyam was held in Broken Hill… with the as stone-chip people, but today I’d like to Maher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Yawarrawarrka, Yandruwandha, and be recognised for where [we’re] standing Reconciliation where he touched on how the Dieri people with the Aboriginal – by Cullyamurra – where the water runs important this determination was. Land Legal Rights Movement, and after in and out and through our country. “A person’s place in the world, their discussions between our elders it was “For me, it’s representative and symbolic identity and where they’ve come from, is recognised that Yandruwandha and of how we are. Long through the ages; critically important to everyone, but for Yawarrawarrka people had a connection deep as it is and through our spirit, and Aboriginal Australians – the oldest living to the land, therefore forming [the] our body and minds; and wide as our culture on the planet – it is especially Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka joint people are scattered all over this country important. Native Title Claim.” at time to time when we come here – so “Today is a step in the right direction… Years of tireless negotiation with the that’s how I would like to be remembered “Nothing has been given, it is a mere State Government, pastoralists, mining, here today.” recognition of what all of you know. gas and petroleum companies would For both women the celebration was a This always has been, and always will be follow before native title – and formal bittersweet one, with many that started Aboriginal country.” recognition of the Yandruwandha the journey 18 years ago passing as the Yawarrawarrka people’s connection years trickled by. to country as the Traditional Owners – “We have lost many of our old people The Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka would be determined by consent. Traditional Land Owners (Aboriginal along the way. Aunts, cousins, sisters, “My journey and my family’s journey is Corporation) administers land brothers – but we are representatives us on behalf of the Yandruwandha quite a significant one… people who made the journey here today Yawarrawarrka people of far north “It has been one for me made up of – those who could get here and others eastern South Australia. Visit www. knowledge, sacrifice, and love, and most who aren’t able to be here,” said Anita. nativetitle.org.au for more information of all respect. CONNECTED TO COUNTRY | 03 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE Traditional Owners are playing a key role in helping to understand, preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the Diamantina catchment as part of the SA Arid Lands NRM Board’s Channel Country project. Here, Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Traditional Owners Jean Barr-Crombie and Valerie Naylon-Fuschtei share what it means to them to get out on country and for their traditional knowledge to be respected. BORN ON COUNTRY Valerie Naylon-Fuschtei and Jean Barr- Crombie, Wangkangurru Yarluyandi Traditional Owners at Tepamimi Waterhole Jean Barr-Crombie I was born on Alton Downs ON LANGUAGE Station in South Australia. We weren’t allowed to speak our language at school so we did lose a lot Looking back on my but my mum and dad spoke it at home. special day makes me feel We’re still not very good at having a big conversation in language but we do very much connected to understand it and we talk it whenever we can. country. As I’ve got older I guess I was luckier than most: my family I’m more into looking after had it at home and we sort of picked up on it from there. Mum was right into country and culture which stuff about native title and teaching her has been passed down children the dreamtime stories – but when you’re younger you don’t take any through generations. I live notice. Now I’ve taken a lot of interest in it. My sister Joyce and I pass on our story on country in Birdsville through canvas, our traditional art and and I am one of many books so that the kids will understand it.