Hi.
Some more stuff in reply to Annette:
There are a number of publications which give accounts of the Hindmarsh Island
conflict and contain views and concerns of Ngarrindjeri men and women in regard to
Hindmarsh Island:
Diane Bell Ngarrindjeri Warruwarrin: a world that is, was, and will be Spinifex
Press 1998
Greg Mead A Royal Omission 1995 (self-published)
The Saunders' Report July 1994
The Mathews' Report dated 27/6/96
Journal of Australian Studies number 48 1996 'SECRET WOMEN'S BUSINESS Hindmarsh
Island Affair' (series of articles)
_____________________________
from Kumarangk Coalition UNFINISHED BUSINESS: KUMARANGK HINDMARSH ISLAND p3
Ngarrindjeri Traditional Owners Speak Out
"The importance of Hindmarsh Island for me is spiritual. As a child I grew up at
Goolwa and ived in Victor Harbor. Although I was never told the story, I believed it.
It gave me answers to unsaid things about the Island. My great grandmother is buried
on the Island near the wetlands. I feel sad about what is happening and I feel sad
about people claiming to know everything about the place without living there. My
family consists of the Sumner and Rigney family."
Marj Tripp
******************
"Hindmarsh Island is, and always was, a place of spiritual, cultural and heritage
importance to Ngarrindjeri people and in particular women. It is part of the Seven
Sisters and therefore is a place of importance for all Aboriginal women. I have seen
and continue to see the pain, suffering and struggle of the Ngarrindjeri women in the
fight to protect KUmarangk and it breaks my heart. But no matter what they throw at
them (court cases, royal commissions, lies, discrediting, etc) the spirit and belief
of the people are strong and remain strong"
Sandra Saunders
************
"To the Indigenous people of this country, their traditions, culture and history are
very important. Kumarangk is just as important to the Ngarrindjeri people and we are
not asking too much to have it protected. For all Australians, it would be a disaster
to change the whole environment, the wetlands, the bird sanctuary. Millions of birds
come every year to the Coorong and the waters surrounding Kumarangk.
The significance for Ngarrindjeri is the Island's sacredness, the land is sacred to
us. It is when the government started to move them from their birthplace that
Ngarrindjeri people started to lose all their sources of food, clothing and resources
to build their homes, 'the wurleis'. The government cleared land for farming and
development and this destroyed everything that was of everyday use to the Ngarrindjeri.
Our ancestors suffered at the hands of the white settlers. When they saw what the
white settlers were doing to their country, they would cry and feel the pain of
seeing everything that was of value to them being destroyed. It is the same today for
white people to feel the sad loss of seeing their homes and property destroyed either
by flood or fire.
After 200 years, we, the Indigenous people of Our Country, are still seeing the pain
of the white man's developments. the destruction of sacred land is another form of
Genocide."
Dr Doreen Kartinyeri.
_______________________
from Kumarangk Coalition UNFINISHED BUSINESS: KUMARANGK HINDMARSH ISLAND p10-11
Tom Trevorrow's speech to public meeting [July? 1999]
Elders, Family, Brothers, Sisters and Friends,
I want to share with you about a proud Race of people who once fully and Traditionally
occupied large section of Country along the River Murray, the 2 big lakes, the
Coorong and the ocean.
These people over along period of time learnt to live in harmony with the land,
waters, trees, plants, birds, fish and animals.
These people became so close to nature that they adopted the land, waters, trees,
plants, birds, fish and animals as part of themselves.
Stories and Sacred stories were developed by their Ancestral beings and by the Elders
upon certain parts of the land and waters which became an important part of the
survival of the people in relationship to their Cultural and Spiritual Beliefs.
For example certain parts of the land and waters are good places and bad places, other
parts of the land are the shapes of people and creatures, other parts of the land is
where ceremonies were carried out and where women carried out their ceremonies
according to their teaching and beliefs, other parts of the land is where people
lived, and food gathering land.
Also the birds, the animals, the fish, the trees became their Totems, they became
their closest friend, each clan group or tribe of these people adopted a totem which
they called their Ngaitjie.
For example if all of us here were one clan group of this race of people our Ngaitje
could be the Pelican, therefore we would become like the Pelican and the Pelican would
give us messages of good or bad and is very important for marriage lines, therefore it
is our duty to protect the pelican and its environment, this applies to all the Clan
groups and their Ngaitjies.
This Culture developed over a long period of time and existed until another Culture
stepped foot upon their land. This came as a shock to see these people with their
whitish skin. They thought they were ghosts and called them Krinkaris. The people
soon learned they were not ghosts from the dead.
The Elders and the people said there is enough land we will share it with these
newcomers, because sharing is one of our strict laws, but unfortunately this other
Culture did not want to share and terrible uncivilised acts of violence were carried
out against the people and they were slowly eradicated and dispersed off their land,
placed in Missions, reserves, etc. and told that their culture was worthless and that
they had to learn this new Culture.
I ask, was this right that one Culture comes along and does their utmost to destroy
another Culture simply because they didn't understand it? Or is it as threat to the
way that this other Culture wishes to develop? Or is it ignorance, is it greed, is it
power, is it politics, or is it Racism?
Maybe it is a combination of all these things. If it is I personally can't see the
survival of this proud race of people and their Culture. Furthermore I can't see the
survival of the dominating, ignorant, greedy, power driven, political, racist culture
which I believe are the minority group in this Country, and I believe that the
majority of those in the other Culture are seeking an answer to a True Reconciliation,
True Justice and a greater respect between the Cultures, thus putting past History to
rest.
Much has changed from traditional times for this proud race of people with their own
Cultural and Spiritual relationship of living in harmony with the Environment, but
their Cultural and Spiritual beliefs still dwell in their hearts and minds and still
dwell within the environment.
This proud race of people over the years have suffered greatly at the hands of the
other Culture. Maybe the old time system of Genocide is not being carried out in this
Country today. Maybe it is being replaced by a modern type of Genocide, like giving
the people Heritage Acts where the person with the power has the final say to destroy
these people's sites and beliefs.
Also, like Royal Commissions which investigates a Culture which has not been fully
recognised or understood and finds ways of dividing this race of people against each
other and delivers a verdict of lies and fabrication.
Also like special laws being made up by the minority in power to further defeat these
peoples rights for what they believe in.
And also developing paperwork called a 10 point plan which will probably further
destroy these people's Cultural and Spiritual beliefs relating to their land and
everything upon it that they believe in and deprive them of any rights to negotiate.
And also using their laws to sue and silence the people who support and speak out in
favour of this race of people.
IN CLOSING
This proud Race of people that I have been speaking of is the people known to many
Australians and people throughout the World as Ngarrindjeri.
Thank you.
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