Keepers of Lake Eyre
Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right
Update
Adelaide, South Australia
1 August, 2000
In this update:
1. Walking the Land- message from Arabunna Elder and Peacemaker Kevin
Buzzacott, on the Walk.
2. Walk Route and some dates.
3. Web site with photographs of Peace Walk and the Arabunna Going Home camp
4. Call for financial aid: Keepers of Lake Eyre bank account details
5. Contact the South Sydney Council to support the Sydney Aboriginal Tent
Embassy, in Victoria Park - with background information
6. ABC News report on Arabunna Going Home Camp and WMC eviction case
________________________________________________________
1. Walking the Land- message from Arabunna Elder and Peacemaker
Kevin Buzzacott, on the Walk.
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 22:03:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nicholas Szentkuti <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Here is a message from Kevin Buzzacott. Please forward this to your
friends and contacts. Please support the walk and the embassy in Victoria
Park Sydney.
Walking the Land for Our Ancient Right
From Kevin Buzzacott, elder, leader and peacemaker, and the Walk for Peace
from Lake Eyre to Sydney 2000
29th July 2000
We are walking our land, in the company of the old people and the old
spirits of the ancient land. We are walking from Lake Eyre to Sydney, to
arrive before the Olympic games, carrying the real flame with us, the
sacred firestick with our big message of Peace to the World.
We must break through for Peace. All people are invited to join us and to
take this message for Peace to Sydney. The sacred fire symbolises peace,
warm hearts and minds, sharing, and the healing of sorrow. It burns with
ashes from the first Aboriginal Tent Embassy fire in Canberra and holds the
ashes of our leaders now passed away. People have brought ashes, sticks and
water from special places to join with the fire and water from the old Lake
on its way to Sydney and the sea.
The time is right, the old people are with us. The old land is calling, and
the call is to join the walk for peace.
In June this year, people gathered at the southern shore of Lake Eyre and
with ceremony and song and dancing from the old women of Coober Pedy, the
walk began. Arabunna Elder Kevin Buzzacott led the walkers through the
desert towards Marree, accompanied by cummunity leaders from Adnyamathanha
country. The walk has carried the firesticks and Aboriginal flags across
the Flinders Ranges, travelled south and east through pastoral leases,
along the dingo fence, and followed the road through Broken Hill,
Wilcannia, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Moree, and is now heading to
Canberra and then to Sydney.
We have just left Moree, 50 days walking, done 1700 km, carrying the peace
fire. The people have welcomed us everywhere, come out to meet the walk,
lit fires and joined us for picnics and talking and music, and given us
special gifts and messages to carry. In Moree, the local elders and the
town council have welcomed us with a barbecue, and the police have escorted
The Walk through town. The message is going ahead, and the elders in
Gilgandra and Dubbo are preparing for our arrival.
Each place has showed such hospitality and sharing, and yet all across the
land there is hurt and sickness, there is such healing needed. Many parents
feel sad for their childrens' future. In the desert country there are ugly
mines and the springs are drying up, the land and the deep ground water are
in danger from radioactive industries. The pastoral land is dried and weedy
from grazing, the river country is salted and the rivers silting up from
cotton and crop irrigation and pesticides. Most of the old land is locked
up so no one can walk on it.
We have got to break through for peace, bring people to the Fire to talk,
and to end all this hurt and destruction.
For the walkers, this experience is very happy; it's about learning and
sharing and respect. There are walkers from all over the country, and also
from many other countries. The walk is accompanied by vehicles carrying
good food, there is a well made camp each night and lots of music and
stories. More are joining us and it can only get bigger and better.
Come and join The Walk through our land. The old ancestors are with us,
bringing their blessing.
You can join us at any place -- just bring your self, your swag, bring your
flags and stories and music and spirit.
WE arrive in Dubbo on Wednesday August 2 then south to Cowra, then to
Canberra by August 23 where we gather at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
opposite the old Parliament House. We leave Canberra on August 26 to arrive
in Sydney on August 31. For more details of our itinerary please phone 0417
838 906.
We are walking the right way, the old spirits are with us, we can't lose.
If we move -- that old country power will come with us Let's all go home.
Monday July 31st Coonabarabran,
The peace walk is presently recharging itself up in amongst the bungles of
the Warrumbungles, 40 km out of Coonabarabran on the track through the park
to Gilgandra. Yesterday a magic day with walkers ranging 100 km on both
sides of the Newell Highway in the Pillaga Scrub country, teeming with
wildlife and the bush rich with regrowth after fires and rain. We add the
Pillaga to our endangered list, they want to log it for charcoal. The
previous day the walk had slogged out over the vast wheatfields in the leg
out of Moree. A great time in Moree where the walkers saw their
predecessors on video; the freedom riders who brought their bus up to Moree
in 1967 to confront the apartheid and racism here. On the way out through
the town, Kevin Buzzacott's caravan, having survived its bash across the
dingo fence, lost a wheel as it rounded the bend into the main street
showering sparks onto the road. His mobile home remains parked in the town,
in the good care of a sympathetic council. A couple of hard long days with
walkers coming in after dark but now having a day off and the walk feeling
strong and in good spirits though there is a yowie alert at camp.
_________________________________________________
2. Walk Route and some dates.
WE arrive in Dubbo on Wednesday August 2
then south to Cowra,
then to Canberra by August 23
where we gather at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy opposite the old Parliament
House.
We leave Canberra on August 26 to arrive in Sydney on August 31.
For more details of our itinerary please phone 0417838 906.
Or call the Keepers office: (08) 8340 4401
______________________________________________________
3. Web site with photographs of Peace Walk
and the Arabunna Going Home camp
Peace Walk and Arabunna Going Home camp
photograhs are available at the following web site:
http://www.skynet.net.au/~jomal/kole
The photographer describes them thus:
"I took when I visited the peace camp and walked into Broken Hill."
Have a look.
_____________________________________________________
4. Keepers of Lake Eyre would welcome your funding support for:
- Arabunna Going Home Camp, at Lake Eyre South
- Keepers of Lake Eyre office, investigation, email updates....
- Walking the Land- For Our Ancient Right
Bank account:
Commonwealth Bank
Account name: Keepers of Lake Eyre
Account Number: 5112 1008 2328
Now you know where to empty the small change from your pocket!
Thanks in advance for your donations.
___________________________________________________
5. Contact the South Sydney Council to support the
Sydney Aboriginal Tent Embassy, in Victoria Park
Background information below.
From: "Corrie Hodson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 01:10:30 GMT
here is the contact info for South Sydney Council regarding the tent embassy.
South Sydney City Council
Locked Bag 5000, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Centennial Plaza, Tower B,
Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Phone: 02 9288 5000 Fax: 02 9288 5999
EMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.sscc.nsw.gov.au Area (sq Km):
18 Population: 85859 Wards: 3 Meetings: 2nd & 4th Wednesday 06:30PM
COUNCILLORS (9) Mayor: Clr John Fowler Deputy: Clr John Bush Clr Peter
Furness, Clr Christine Harcourt, Clr Jill Lay, Clr Amanda Lennon, Clr
Shayne Mallard, Clr Tony Pooley, Clr Gregory Shaw
SENIOR STAFF
General Manager: Mr John Bourke
Civic Affairs Manager/Public Officer: Mr Bill Andrew
Director Finance: Mr Michael Duffy
Director, Corporate Services:
Director, Health & Community Services: Mr Grahame Dearsley
Director, Organisational Development: Mr Peter Chaffe
Director, Planning & Building: Mr James Harrison
Director, Public Works & Services: Mr Ron Wilcoxon
Media Manager: Mr Damien Furlong
Public Officer: Mr Bill Andrew
Auditors: Spencer Steer and Associates
___________________________________________________
** A further call for support and background information:
Please distribute widely..
URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT
We encourage all supporters of Indigenous Rights to contact the South
Sydney City Council stating their support for the Victoria Park Tent
Embassy (see details below)
To support the Victoria Park Aboriginal Tent Embassy phone the South Sydney
City Council on tel: 02 9288 5000 or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
****************************************************************
On the 14th July, Isabel Coe, a veteran and elder of the Aboriginal Tent
Embassy in Canberra established an off shoot of the original Embassy, in
Victoria Park across the road from the University of Sydney. The Victoria
Park Embassy will be used to inform visitors and the media during the
Olympics about the suppression of Indigenous rights by past and present
governments.
On July 25, South Sydney City Council, issued the Embassy with a letter
stating that they were currently unlawful occupying the park and demanded
that they agree to Council terms if they wished to remain (attached below,
with Embassy response).
In addition to the Council's attempt to close down the Embassy, a number of
Sydney's radio "shock jocks" have gone on the offensive, labeling the
Embassy a disgrace and encouraging listeners to ring the Council and complain.
In response, the Indigenous Student Network (ISN), who unanimously agreed
to endorse the Victoria Park Embassy at a recent meeting, have launched a
email and phone campaign in support of the Embassy.
We encourage all supporters of Indigenous Rights to contact the South
Sydney City Council stating their support for the Embassy.
To support the Victoria Park Aboriginal Tent Embassy phone the South
Sydney City Council on tel: 02 9288 5000 or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please distribute this email widely.
The Tent Embassy also welcomes any donations of funds or goods (e.g.
seating, tents, equipment, kitchen utensils etc) to assist in its
running. All visitors welcome.
Kim Bullimore On behalf of the Indigenous Student Network
Media Release issued by the Victoria Park Tent Embassy in response to the
Council's letter.
COUNCIL THREATENS ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy has been set up to assert Aboriginal
Sovereignty and in particular highlight how the Aboriginal people are
regarded as "aliens" in our own land. We call upon the Australian
community to respect our universal right to life.
We welcome the dialogue that has transpired between the Aboriginal Tent
Embassy and the South Sydney Council and call for full co-operation in
achieving a peaceful coexistence whilst the Aboriginal Tent Embassy carries
on our aims and objectives which are safeguarded by the United Nations
Human Rights Instruments. The Tent Embassy believes that common sense can
only prevail in this regard. For the last two mornings the Mayor of South
Sydney Council and the Newtown Police had arranged meetings with
representatives of the Embassy at 10 am each day. The Mayor and
representatives of the Police did not show up for these meetings and this
morning the Council sent a couple of minor representatives around to
deliver a letter that outlined the conditions of agreement for occupation
of Victoria Park. This seems unusual to us since we have been here from
Friday 14 July, the 28th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. We
are enclosing a copy of this letter.
The Embassy's responses to the conditions imposed are listed hereunder:
1. "only one tent and caretakers accommodation may be set up in the
100 square meters defined by council"
RESPONSE: This condition reinforces past policies and interferes with our
ancient right to assemble and have a corroboree.
2. "the site must be vacated within one week of the Olympics"
RESPONSE: That decision will be decided at the time.
3. "A maximum number of four people specifically nominated by name
occupying the campsite overnight"
RESPONSE: This interferes with the camp function as a community and it is
not safe to have a Maximum number of 4 people.
4. "the business of the campsite be only conducted during sunrise to
sunset"
RESPONSE: The Aboriginal Tent Embassy since its inception in 1972 as always
operated on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis.
5. "No vehicles being parked in the campsite or driven on the park"
RESPONSE: Interferes with supply vehicles and the function of the Embassy.
6. "the campsite fore being contained within a metal drum"
RESPONSE: The campfire is a ceremonial fire and the spirit of the fire
cannot be imprisoned in a metal drum.
7. "A porta-Loo being provided and maintained for the use of the
occupants of the campsite"
RESPONSE: Not applicable as the Sydney University has provided more
hygienic and cleaner facilities for us to use.
8 "That no public address system or amplification equipment shall be
used."
RESPONSE: The Aboriginal Tent Embassy uses these facilities to get our
message across and to welcome people to the site.
9 " No alcohol or drugs being consumed"
RESPONSE: This is Embassy Policy.
10 " offensive behavior of persons not being tolerated by the campsite
personnel"
RESPONSE: This is Embassy Policy.
11 " That the council and Minister for conservation shall be
indemnified against any claims for injury to persons or damage to property
arising out of such approval and such indemnity shall be expressed in the
form of public risk insurance policy in the minimum amount of $10,000,000
for any individual claim"
RESPONSE: This is legal jargon and has nothing whatsoever to do with
Aboriginal Sovereignty.
Isabell Coe said "The document from South Sydney Council reminds me of the
past genocidal policies of the Aboriginal Welfare & Protection Board". And
we invite all press to the meeting with South Sydney Council tomorrow
morning Wednesday at 10 am.
_______________________________________________________
6. ABC News report on Arabunna Going Home Camp
Report in responce to WMC dropping their eviction case against the camp in
the Supreme Court, on Friday July 21.
This Bulletin: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 15:03 CST
LOCAL NEWS : South Australia ABC online
Protesters remain at WMC's pastoral lease
Protesters are continuing to base themselves at WMC's pastoral lease in the
north of South Australia, after the company withdrew Supreme Court action
to have them removed.
WMC started the action claiming that the protesters had damaged company
property.
Keepers of Lake Eyre spokesman Chris Littlejohn says the camp is part of
the ongoing Arabunna Going Home project, which aims to give Arabunna
Aboriginal people access to their traditional lands.
He says those on-site plan to stay indefinitely.
Mr Littlejohn says as well as continuing their protest at the camp, they
are also looking at applying for court costs from WMC for the case.
"We feel like the camp has been legitimised," Mr Littlejohn said.
"Those at camp we hope are more safe than they ever have been and there's
several keepers there at the moment looking after the camp and the fire for
peace that's being carried to the Sydney Olympics."
_______________________________________________
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