indigenous
The southern inland region of the Gulf of Carpentaria has been occupied by Indigenous people for more than 35 000 years. Whilst the McArthur River today is home to 4 main language groups, other groups did not survive the trials of European settlement. The remaining groups are the Yanyuwa, Garrawa, Mara and Gurdanji. The Yanyuwa and Mara consider themselves ‘Saltwater People’ , and the Garrawa and Gurdanji ‘Freshwater People’. In the course of the campaign the groups have become increasingly united in their opposition to the river being diverted, despite wedge politics from both the NT Government and Xstrata. Of these groups, the Yanyuwa are best known thanks in part, to their of their home country on the Sir Edward Pellow Islands, and in part due to the work of historians and anthropologists who have assisted in the documentation of their culture.
Traditional owners walking to Parliament House 16 October 2006 Traditional
Owners Views on the Expansion - Traditional owners had no right of veto over the original mining proposal at McArthur River and the company failed to negotiate an agreement or royalties following development of the project. While Traditional Owners have a Native Title claim over the mine site, they still have no formal veto rights over the new project. On meeting with many of the traditional owners in Borroloola it was clear that there were many concerns about the possible impacts of the project. In 2003, Harry Lansen, a senior traditional owner for the mine site opposed the expansion on ABC television’s Stateline program saying
“It is no good. I will be sick if they cut the place, because my spirit is there. All my songs are across the river. I don’t want to see that thing happen in the McArthur River.“
Yanyuwa Traditional Owners living downstream of the mine and in the Sir Edward Pellow Islands have been extremely vocal in their opposition to the mine. Stephen Johnston, a Traditional Owner for Vanderlin Island has recently said:
“The Yanyuwa people in Borroloola are getting their islands back after 29 years (through a land claim settlement), only to have their river taken away. McArthur River Mining has not consulted Yanyuwa people or other Aboriginal language groups downstream of the mine. The NT Government must protect the rights of economically impoverished indigenous people and their country”.
On Tuesday September 25th the Booroloola Traditional Elders Group (BTEG), representing the Traditional Owners released these statements after meeting with Chris Natt, Minister for Mines and Energy, Northern Territory.
“The BTEG are united in their position that the McArthur River, Surprise Creek and Barney Creek must not be shifted from their current position”
“The Gurdanji people know that our gudgiga, our songs and stories, will be destroyed by the shifting of our creeks and rivers”
“The Yanyuwa people know that the McArthur River and our coast and islands are already being polluted with heavy metals. The pollution will only get worse if they shift the rivers.”
