MURUJUGA MEMBERS WITHDRAW
GEOFF VIVIAN
Key members have withdrawn from Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation as they say it is not protecting Burrup rock art sites.
Traditional custodian Raelene Cooper was a board member.
“We as Mardudhunera Traditional Owners or custodians were not comfortable in supporting Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation as we don't feel that the purpose it was set up for it's doing,” she said. “And that is protecting Murujuga, the Burrup and the rock art.”
She said as a traditional custodian she needed the freedom to speak out in the face of the impending Perdaman gas plant, which would displace three more rock art sites.
"I've been voicing my concerns, and I know a lot of other custodians and members of the community (have) also, in terms of the removal of ancient rock art,” she said.
“We've had enough of that with Woodside. Woodside's done all that. They took out that whole hill.
“And you've got individuals who sit within this company and in the corporation who have ties to this, so they say, this Ngurra, this land. And yet I don't see any actions or evidence to show me personally or anybody else what they are doing. They're not protecting this place.”
Another was Patrick Churnside, who was Cultural Advisor with the Murujuga Rangers program.
He resigned because he said culturally inappropriate decisions about the rock art were being made, and as a Murujuga member he was not free to speak out.
“It’s basically to me spelling out that we have our hands tied behind our back,” he said.
“And we are getting told to go and speak about country in the hope that that consultation is then turned into a totally different language in the corporate structures of decision making.
“Whereas the elders and knowledge holders may come to a point of view or understanding that we’re going to talk about country or share some of this ancient and sacred knowledge that they have been passed or maintained under that custodial authority. And is then transformed into a language in the eyes of Government and Industry that says: ‘this is approvals from the corporations for this to go ahead’.”
Ms Cooper and Mr Churnside were among 27 traditional owners and custodians who signed an open letter to Woodside last month objecting to the proposed Scarborough gas project.
WA Aboriginal Affairs minister Tony Buti said nothing in the State’s agreement with MAC and Woodside prevented them from providing submissions under any legislation to protect Murujuga’s cultural and heritage values.