40 KIMBERLEY LEADERS WILL TRAVEL TO PERTH TO PROTEST PROPOSED CHANGES TO HERITAGE BILL
Source (Kimberley Land Council)
Kimberley Land Council will be holding a march in Perth this week to protest the controversial proposed changes to the WA Heritage Act.
The protest was organised following WA government’s decision to keep section 18 of the WA heritage act in its draft proposal.
Section 18 allows ministers to veto decisions made on the destruction of Aboriginal heritage sites.
Adjustments to the bill come after the destruction of the sacred site Juukan Gorge by mining giant Rio Tinto last year.
Bardi man and deputy CEO of Kimberley Land Council Mr. Douglas Dantoine said the act is worst than the original.
“It is a compromising piece of legislation”.
KLC chairperson, Mr. Anthony Watson is calling on all traditional owners of WA to take part in the march.
He said the McGowan government has one opportunity to get the laws of Aboriginal heritage right.
“As it stands the draft Aboriginal heritage bill fails to take the crucial step in recognising us as the decision-makers for own country and cultural heritage”.
CONCERNS ABOUT BILL FROM ABORIGINAL GROUPS FROM AROUND THE STATE
Concerns across the state are coming from Aboriginal groups , with Nyoongar people expressing equal concerns in the south and south-west.
Biboolmirn Nyoongar, Joe Collard who took part in the Uluru conference has welcomed the KLC group with proper protocol. Mr Collard is also a survivor of the Pinjarra massacre that happened in 1834.
Joe Collard says KLC needs to follow proper Indigenous protocol and meet up with Noongar elders before their journey down. Joe Collard Right, Hayden Howard Left (Source: Birrdiya)
Mr Collard said the issue goes right across the state, including in regards to the cultural site of his grandmother who was born on the Hotham River (Wanarriny). Not far from her birthing ground is one of the biggest Gold Mines in the world - Newmont Boddington Gold mine.
“She was born by the Hotham river. Right next to this river is the Boddington goldmine,
“The American company gives our group (Gnaala Karla Booja) around $100 000 per year in royalties ”.
Mr Collard says the Aboriginal Heritage Act historically has minimised people’s rights to their tribal lands.
“Our people in the south-west has been hit as the frontline of colonisation, so we know very well what the heritage act means for us, it’s designed for government”.
Mr Collard has asked for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Ken Wyatt, and MP Ben Wyatt to be present during the walk.
Nyikina man Mr. Hayden Howard is living in Perth but is originally from Hall’s Creek in the East Kimberley.
His grandmother was part of the stolen generation and was sent across the Kimberley’s from his home in Hall’s Creek. He said that this becomes an issue for descendants of the stolen generation, due to people in families not being willing to share family history and stories to members of the stolen generation.
He has thrown his support behind the protest, and has asked for people who are in leadership positions to come back to people.
“They are representing the people, we aren’t getting any feedback from them”.
Around 40 Kimberley traditional owners and allies will be traveling to Perth for the protest.
The march will begin at 11 am in Kings Park in Perth. For more information look here.