Showing posts with label Indigenous Traditional Owners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indigenous Traditional Owners. Show all posts
7/17/07
Muckaty Mob
An interview with Warlmanpa elders from Muckaty station, north of Tennant creek. The Northern Land Council along with unknown members of their community, nominated the land for a possible nuclear waste dump.
Duration: 16 minutes 5 seconds
File Size: 50.0 MB
7/3/07
Community says no to kkkanberra
Russell Skelton, Amoonguna, Northern Territory
July 3, 2007
THE Howard Government's assessment of indigenous communities met its
first setback yesterday when a team of police, soldiers and social
workers were refused entry to the Amoonguna community south of Alice
Springs.
Community chief executive Barry Byerley told organisers the team was
not welcome until appropriate consultation had been made with the
community's 350 residents and the purpose of the visit fully explained.
"It was a ridiculous situation. We didn't want the team just barging
in without the people being properly briefed on why they were coming
and what was involved. It was the height of arrogance," he said.
Mr Byerley said the community, which recently won a local government
award for good governance, had been angered by the Federal
Government's decision to cut off funding for community development
employment programs (CDEP), which had forced more than 30 residents
back on the dole.
"They treat the community with contempt by failing to adequately
explain the loss of CDEP after just nine months and then they give us
only 24 hours' notice that they want to come into the community.
People are genuinely worried."
Mr Byerley said he had been told of the visit on Sunday, but had
objected strongly. A spokesman for the assessment team said he hoped
they would visit the community later in the week.
Amoonguna is the first community to refuse entry. Assessment teams
have visited six communities so far.
Marie Ellis, a traditional owner, endorsed Mr Byerley's stand, saying
a community meeting would decide whether the assessment team would be
welcomed on Thursday. "I don't know what will happen, it is up to the
people," she said.
Health centre manager David Evans said the community had taken a
strong stand on sexual abuse and had recently banned a convicted
pedophile from entering. "We also have one of the lowest rates for
sexually transmitted disease in the territory, it's around 3 per cent."
Meanwhile, a team visited Docker River and the tiny community of
Wallace Rockhole, west of Alice Springs, the first of eight expected
to be surveyed this week. A number of people expressed concern about
the lack of Aboriginal leaders in the assessment team and asked for
more details.
AFP officers are now being trained in NT law enforcement and cultural
considerations before they take up duties in the communities. The
first of them are expected to be deployed in Mutitjulu on Friday.
It is still unclear if the Federal Government's planned health checks
will be mandatory for children under 16. Both federal Health Minister
Tony Abbott and the chair of the Government's new task force, Dr Sue
Gordon, hoped they would be voluntary.
"That it's an across-the-board health check, to check eyes, ears,
nose, and if there is any thought that there may be some sexual
(abuse), then it has got to be done properly," Dr Gordon said.
www.theage.com.au
July 3, 2007
THE Howard Government's assessment of indigenous communities met its
first setback yesterday when a team of police, soldiers and social
workers were refused entry to the Amoonguna community south of Alice
Springs.
Community chief executive Barry Byerley told organisers the team was
not welcome until appropriate consultation had been made with the
community's 350 residents and the purpose of the visit fully explained.
"It was a ridiculous situation. We didn't want the team just barging
in without the people being properly briefed on why they were coming
and what was involved. It was the height of arrogance," he said.
Mr Byerley said the community, which recently won a local government
award for good governance, had been angered by the Federal
Government's decision to cut off funding for community development
employment programs (CDEP), which had forced more than 30 residents
back on the dole.
"They treat the community with contempt by failing to adequately
explain the loss of CDEP after just nine months and then they give us
only 24 hours' notice that they want to come into the community.
People are genuinely worried."
Mr Byerley said he had been told of the visit on Sunday, but had
objected strongly. A spokesman for the assessment team said he hoped
they would visit the community later in the week.
Amoonguna is the first community to refuse entry. Assessment teams
have visited six communities so far.
Marie Ellis, a traditional owner, endorsed Mr Byerley's stand, saying
a community meeting would decide whether the assessment team would be
welcomed on Thursday. "I don't know what will happen, it is up to the
people," she said.
Health centre manager David Evans said the community had taken a
strong stand on sexual abuse and had recently banned a convicted
pedophile from entering. "We also have one of the lowest rates for
sexually transmitted disease in the territory, it's around 3 per cent."
Meanwhile, a team visited Docker River and the tiny community of
Wallace Rockhole, west of Alice Springs, the first of eight expected
to be surveyed this week. A number of people expressed concern about
the lack of Aboriginal leaders in the assessment team and asked for
more details.
AFP officers are now being trained in NT law enforcement and cultural
considerations before they take up duties in the communities. The
first of them are expected to be deployed in Mutitjulu on Friday.
It is still unclear if the Federal Government's planned health checks
will be mandatory for children under 16. Both federal Health Minister
Tony Abbott and the chair of the Government's new task force, Dr Sue
Gordon, hoped they would be voluntary.
"That it's an across-the-board health check, to check eyes, ears,
nose, and if there is any thought that there may be some sexual
(abuse), then it has got to be done properly," Dr Gordon said.
www.theage.com.au
4/8/07
MINING EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES STOPPED BY INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL OWNERS
MEDIA RELEASE
1st April 2007
MINING EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES STOPPED
BY INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL OWNERS
IN OUTBACK CEDUNA
Iluka Mining Corporation’s activities were disrupted by Indigenous Traditional Owners and their families and supporters on a dusty back road in the Yumbarra Conservation Park near Ceduna last Friday 29th March.
The Kokatha Mula Traditional Owners are currently in the Conservation Park undertaking preservation of country including vital maintenance of rockholes and the lake system. On Friday they encountered Iluka Resources workers clearing roads in preparation for mining exploration, which would include drilling for water.
Sue Coleman Haseldine, Kokatha Mula Traditional Owner, met the road-clearing crew on the track on Friday. After a peaceful discussion the miners and contractors agreed to leave, ceasing work for the day. Sue Coleman Haseldine stated: “The wealth and the future of this country lies in the preservation of its beauty, not in short-term mining projects that leave a legacy of problems for the environment and the local community.”
Iluka Resources are currently undertaking exploration of the area with a view to mine zircon and uranium deposits from within what is the only stretch of pristine stunted mallee bushland in the world. Traditional owners have stated that any removal of underground water would seriously affect the supply of water to rockholes that hold particular cultural significance, as well as being essential for the survival of thousands of species of plants and animals. In an era when household water restrictions are ever tightening, Iluka Resources plan to remove around 6 Gigalitres per year of underground water from the area for their mining operations.
A second team of Iluka Resources representatives attempted to resume road clearing today (Sunday 1st April) but were again turned away. Senior representatives of the company are expected to return tomorrow morning for further discussions with the Kokatha Mula Traditional Owners, who continue to hold their vigil.
Camp contact: Sue Coleman Haseldine mb: 0428872375
Alternate contact: Bronwyn Coleman Sleep: mb: 0418843263
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