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Land rights are empty, Yolngu elder tells Rudd on bark petition anniversary Land rights are empty, Yolngu elder tells Rudd on bark petition anniversary
(2 months later)
Fifty years ago the Yolngu people of Yirrkala in remote east Arnhem Land changed history, but to this day respected leaders of the community say not enough is being done for Indigenous land rights.Fifty years ago the Yolngu people of Yirrkala in remote east Arnhem Land changed history, but to this day respected leaders of the community say not enough is being done for Indigenous land rights.
The Yirrkala bark petitions, signed in 1963 to protest against the federal government's approval of a bauxite mine on their reserve, were the spark for a land rights movement that engaged much of Indigenous Australia and resulted in the first formal acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in law.The Yirrkala bark petitions, signed in 1963 to protest against the federal government's approval of a bauxite mine on their reserve, were the spark for a land rights movement that engaged much of Indigenous Australia and resulted in the first formal acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in law.
The two petitions, signed by 12 Yolngu clan heads, called on the House of Representatives to reconsider the mine approval and resulted in a parliamentary inquiry which concluded that the Yolngu should receive compensation for their lost land. The 1967 referendum, which recognised Indigenous Australians to be recognised in the census, followed, and then the landmark 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights Act in the Northern Territory.The two petitions, signed by 12 Yolngu clan heads, called on the House of Representatives to reconsider the mine approval and resulted in a parliamentary inquiry which concluded that the Yolngu should receive compensation for their lost land. The 1967 referendum, which recognised Indigenous Australians to be recognised in the census, followed, and then the landmark 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights Act in the Northern Territory.
At a commemorative ceremony in Yirrkala on Wednesday, the prime minister, Kevin Rudd, hailed the documents, which are the theme of this year's Naidoc (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) week, as the "Magna Carta for the Indigenous peoples of this land", adding: "These bark petitions present a bridge between two ancient and noble traditions."At a commemorative ceremony in Yirrkala on Wednesday, the prime minister, Kevin Rudd, hailed the documents, which are the theme of this year's Naidoc (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) week, as the "Magna Carta for the Indigenous peoples of this land", adding: "These bark petitions present a bridge between two ancient and noble traditions."
Before Rudd took to the stage at Rika Park, the respected Yolngu elder Galarrwuy Yunupingu frankly threw down a gauntlet to the prime minister. Addressing Rudd directly, he said: "This land right is empty. It's full of everything, but it's full of nothing ... when you have a look at it, closely, there's nothing that gives to individuals."Before Rudd took to the stage at Rika Park, the respected Yolngu elder Galarrwuy Yunupingu frankly threw down a gauntlet to the prime minister. Addressing Rudd directly, he said: "This land right is empty. It's full of everything, but it's full of nothing ... when you have a look at it, closely, there's nothing that gives to individuals."
The crowd applauded and Yunupingu continued: "We have looked forward to the land rights giving us something, at least they gave us something in its name. The land rights is for Aboriginal people but the land ownership and use of land ownership is not for Aboriginal people, it's for mining companies. For white fellas."The crowd applauded and Yunupingu continued: "We have looked forward to the land rights giving us something, at least they gave us something in its name. The land rights is for Aboriginal people but the land ownership and use of land ownership is not for Aboriginal people, it's for mining companies. For white fellas."
The crowds applauded again.The crowds applauded again.
"This time it is [for the] economic side of the land rights, [for] the money that comes into the hands of the Aboriginal people through their own country and not to the mining company or contractors," he said. "We want to develop our country and we want to develop our own soil.""This time it is [for the] economic side of the land rights, [for] the money that comes into the hands of the Aboriginal people through their own country and not to the mining company or contractors," he said. "We want to develop our country and we want to develop our own soil."
Rudd responded by pledging his support for a referendum on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within two years of the next election. He urged the opposition leader to work with him.Rudd responded by pledging his support for a referendum on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within two years of the next election. He urged the opposition leader to work with him.
He said to Yunupingu: "It should not be for white fellas to tell you how to use your land."He said to Yunupingu: "It should not be for white fellas to tell you how to use your land."
Around Australia, events for Naidoc week and the commemoration of the bark petitions continue. In Sydney, the New South Wales Arts Council held a seminar examining the significance of the petitions for the south-east of the country.Around Australia, events for Naidoc week and the commemoration of the bark petitions continue. In Sydney, the New South Wales Arts Council held a seminar examining the significance of the petitions for the south-east of the country.
Dr Heidi Norman, a specialist in Aboriginal history and politics at the University of Technology, Sydney delivered the keynote speech on new research which examines the link between the Yirrkala bark petitions and the Indigenous activist movements in NSW in the early 1970s.Dr Heidi Norman, a specialist in Aboriginal history and politics at the University of Technology, Sydney delivered the keynote speech on new research which examines the link between the Yirrkala bark petitions and the Indigenous activist movements in NSW in the early 1970s.
"The land rights push that came from Yirrkala was the impetus for the many young activists who were agitating around land. The Yirrkala people's actions really inspired them to take land rights in NSW, a very settled part of the country, to a new level," she told Guardian Australia before the seminar."The land rights push that came from Yirrkala was the impetus for the many young activists who were agitating around land. The Yirrkala people's actions really inspired them to take land rights in NSW, a very settled part of the country, to a new level," she told Guardian Australia before the seminar.
Norman added: "What land rights really engineered was a political structure. An organisation [land councils] that could facilitate the interface between Aboriginal citizens and wider forms of institutional power."Norman added: "What land rights really engineered was a political structure. An organisation [land councils] that could facilitate the interface between Aboriginal citizens and wider forms of institutional power."
Naidoc events continue throughout the week, culminating in the Naidoc awards ceremony in Perth on Friday.Naidoc events continue throughout the week, culminating in the Naidoc awards ceremony in Perth on Friday.
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