Desert elders lash out at intervention (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Desert elders lash out at intervention

[photo inset - Johnny Williams (above) is among concerned Warlpiri elders at
yesterday's meeting of the desert people in the Northern Territory township
of Yuendumu. Photo: Bryan O'Brien]

Lindsay Murdoch, Yuendumu
October 25, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/desert-elders-lash-out-at-intervention/2007/10/24/1192941153102.html

THE Warlpiri desert people are angry.

"This intervention has hit us like a ton of bricks," says elder Harry
Jakamarra Nelson. "There's been no consultation with us 
 We don't know
what is expected of us and we really believe that our future is under
threat."

Mr Nelson yesterday chaired an emotional meeting of Warlpiri elders who
issued a statement attacking the Federal Government's intervention in 73
remote Northern Territory communities.

"Our communities have been overwhelmed by the large number of changes and
have been placed under enormous pressure and stress," the statement said.

"We ask political leaders from all parties to show Aboriginal people respect
and to talk to us about how we can make a new start to the intervention
after the election."

The Warlpiri, who describe themselves as a nation with 4000 people scattered
across the territory, are the first Aboriginal language group to make a
united stand against the intervention, which includes seizing control of
communities for five years.

Dick Kimber, an historian who has been involved with the Warlpiri for 37
years, is not surprised. "The Warlpiri have had a strong sense of
confidence in themselves, their language and their culture," he says. "They
have had complete authority over their land."

At yesterday's meeting in Yuendumu, 293 kilometres north-west of Alice
Springs, elder after elder spoke about their opposition to the Government
taking over their townships, which include Yuendumu, Lajamanu and Willowra.

They said that Yuendumu — a community of 800 — has had up to 20 white people
in the town since the intervention began in late June, but they don't see
how their lives will improve.

The elders spoke of their anger at the decision to quarantine half people's
welfare payments, which must be spent on food and other essentials in a
designated shop. They also spoke of their opposition to the abolition of
the permit system.

Yuendumu elders said they were furious when they learnt the Government was
taking over culturally sensitive areas — including a men's ceremonial area
and the cemetery.

One of the elders, Ned Hargraves, said Centrelink's quarantining of the
money in the half-dozen communities where it had been introduced had only
caused problems.

Mr Nelson, president of the Yuendumu Community Council, said a
government-appointed business manager, who lives in the community, had not
made clear what he wanted from the elders. "Is he a watchdog here to inform
Canberra what we are up to? I don't know," Mr Nelson said. "He has not
spoken to us as a community."

The manager fuelled anger when, shortly after arriving, he recommended that
police round up school truants and put them to work collecting rubbish.

Mr Nelson said Warlpiri elders had never before come together to take a
united stand against a government decision.

Their statement said the Warlpiri strongly supported action to tackle child
abuse. But, it said: "We are worried with the lack of respect the Federal
Government has shown us as the first Australians. We are not satisfied with
the communication and information from the Federal Government to our
communities."

Mr Nelson said Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough had never visited the
community, one of central Australia's largest.

Federal Labor MP Warren Snowdon told the meeting that if elected, a Labor
government would wind back key elements of the intervention, including
abolition of the permit system and the Community Development Employment
Program.

"Your concerns are not new to me," Mr Snowdon said. "I have heard them in 20
other communities I have visited."