Posted by mcarthurriver on July 30, 2007
Come along and see new film footage of the mine and hear some great speakers.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
6.30 – 8.30pm Tuesday 31st July 2007
The McArthur River region has had a long and troubled history since European settlement. In recent times, a plan to mine and divert the McArthur River has caused strong concern and controversy. The forum will examine the mine’s approval, the Supreme Court decision, and the NT Government’s response, reflecting on their significance for the Northern Territory.
The forum is in support of the Traditional Owners from McArthur River who will be in Darwin for the Federal Court Challenge, 30-31 July.
Posted in McArthur River | 9 Comments »
Posted by mcarthurriver on July 30, 2007
Yanyuwa elders from Borroloola in the Northern Territory have arrived in Darwin to attend this week’s Federal Court case against the Commonwealth.
The case follows the approval of expansions at the McArthur River Mine, allowing the company to convert from an underground to an open-cut mine and divert five kilometres of the McArthur River.
Traditional owners from Borroloola are challenging whether the Commonwealth followed due process in approving the changes.
The case will continue for the next three days.
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/30/1991463.htm
Posted in Indigenous Culture, McArthur River, Northern Territory, Traditional Owners, Xstrata | 2 Comments »
Posted by mcarthurriver on July 30, 2007
A man claiming cultural ties to the McArthur River Mine (MRM) site says a group of women and children have been refused entry to sacred land by management.
Jackie Green says about 25 people wanted to perform a cultural dance on land just inside the boundaries of the mine site yesterday, but were stopped at the gate.
The group had a documentary film crew and a representative of the Territory Environment Centre with them.
Mr Green says the mine should allow local Indigenous people to exercise their culture on the land.
“We can’t exercise our culture any more because they’ve got that lease and they’re stopping us from doing that,” he said.
Mr Green says he was embarrassed when a mining company executive arrived at the stand-off in a helicopter.
“The manager of McArthur Mine, Brian Hearne, landed the chopper, right in front of the Toyota that I was driving,” he said.
“All the dust and grass was blowing into my kid’s eyes, and that was really embarrassing.
“We feel no good because we can’t go back in there and exercise our culture.”
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/26/1988930.htm?section=justin
Posted in Indigenous Culture, McArthur River, Northern Territory, Xstrata | No Comments »
