End – don’t extend – the racist Intervention!

Vanguard June 2012 p. 4
Nick G.

The Federal Government is set to further extend the draconian and racist NT Intervention for a further ten years despite overwhelming opposition from Yolŋu communities (Indigenous communities in the Arnhem Land region of the Northern Territory.

The so-called “Stronger Futures” legislation has been condemned by the Yolŋu Makarr Dhuni (YMD or Yolŋu Nations Assembly) representing the eight peoples of the area in a special appeal to the leaders of the NT and Federal parliaments.

The appeal rejects interventionist policies and calls on both parliaments to work in partnership with traditional communities to determine appropriate policies that will genuinely meet the needs of the Aboriginal peoples of the NT.

Of particular concern to the YMD is the effect of the legislation on the 9000 Aboriginal people currently living in more than 500 small homeland communities in “remote” communities.

It condemns the racist Intervention for cutbacks in services that deny support to these communities, deliberately forcing homeland residents into major towns where they are susceptible to culturally disrespectful practices and from which they face difficulty in caring for country.

Gumatj people’s spokesperson Djuŋadjuŋa Yunupiŋu Dalkarramirr says: “(The intervention) takes us back to the 1920’s 30’s – to the early mission days, the stolen generations.  Our memories have been taken back to the time when the Welfare people stepped into our land”.

“Our Homelands…People are moving in (to communities). Homelands have bayŋu (no) road fixing, bayŋu (no) help for airstrips, all houses are built in town (attracting people in),” he said.

Referring to pressure by the federal Government for traditional owners to grant the government leases over their lands, the YMD stated that until the Stronger Futures legislation was thrown out they would refuse to participate in land lease negotiations and refuse approval for any exploration licenses.

This places Yolŋu peoples in direct confrontation with the rapacious mining companies and provides an additional reason for all Australian people to demand the nationalisation of the mining sector.

It further illustrates the need for a future independent and socialist Australia to respect Indigenous land, law and culture and to extend to Indigenous communities genuine self-management and self-determination.