Open Letter from Nyungah Land and Culture Protector Iva Hayward-Jackson


Recently The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, committed to closing down approximately one hundred and fifty remote Aboriginal communities in the State of Western Australia.

The Premier has claimed that the closures would be in the best interest of Aboriginal people in the State of Western Australia. He has followed the old uninformed line that demonises Aboriginal men by insinuating that Aboriginal women and children are under great threat by the men in the communities.

This is all bought on by the Abbott government’s withdrawal of funding of countless Aboriginal issues including Aboriginal communities.

A small amount of the revenue from the mining sector alone would cover the cost of this and other improvement. It is only fair to share in the richness of the land with the idea of equality in the treatment of Aboriginal people. After all, Aboriginal people are the traditional "owners" of the land and waterways that holds all of the precious resources that made Australia a rich and wealthy country in the modern world.

We must remember that Aboriginal people belong to the oldest continuing culture on the planet. Aboriginal people were slaughtered, enslaved, raped pillaged and plundered by the British Colonisers. Surely in this day and age, we must listen to them and take and act seriously on Aboriginal people's concerns. Instead Barnett and Abbott are hell bent on destroying the Aboriginal race of Australia, however well meaning their intentions are. When will this madness stop?

It is as though Aboriginal people have no human rights to sustain Aboriginal culture - to protect and preserve our Sacred sites that includes the Sacred Lands and Waterways that are leftover from the destruction and desecration of the past two hundred years since the invading Colonisers came to our Sacred Lands and Waterways.

Many non-Aboriginal people and some Aboriginal people keep making the same point over and over. They say that the answer is "education" of Aboriginal people. Perhaps they are right, however they mean non-Aboriginal "education" so that Aboriginal people can live in the white man's world by the white man's laws. But if we are to be fair and equal then there must also be "education" of Aboriginal Lore Customs and Traditions for Aboriginal people and equal time to study and learn both cultures’ education systems.

Aboriginal people must be compensated as is the right and proper thing to do for a peoples who have been wrongly disposed of their land, culture and all of their belongings. This is the least that can be done instead of dragging a peoples into the future that only offers death and destruction of them and their culture.

How cruel and inhuman is it to force Aboriginal people from their Sacred Lands and Waterways only to end up at the Colonisers’ rubbish tip or outside the bottle shop at the hands of unscrupulous people with evil intentions of abuse and if that is not enough then Aboriginal people will be caught by the authorities and imprisoned where they will more than likely "never make it out alive."

The fact is that Australia has the highest Incarceration rate and the highest suicide rate of Indigenous Peoples on the Planet. After all, many of us are forced into this position by Alcohol, Drugs, Prostitution and other evils introduced by you, the Colonisers.  This is the reality of Aboriginal people in the State of Western Australia - no hope , no future and the reality is that Aboriginal people are never listened to and our thoughts are never acted upon. Not even the so called free and open media will even help us any more. We are left to the Genocidal politicians to devour our corpses.

Non-Aboriginal Australia only wants to hear what makes them feel good,  like they belong in the Sacred Lands and Waterways of our Aboriginal Ancestors. Non-Aboriginal people only want to hear solutions that make them feel comfortable. Non-Aboriginal people only want to hear what makes them feel like they have accomplished making a fair and open society on the back of British colonisation.

Non-Aboriginal people believe that Aboriginal people of Australia are as lucky as them, if not luckier, because Aboriginal people were colonised by the British and not others such as the Spanish, Portuguese or the Dutch or French. The truth is that the British Empire Colonisers were just as brutal, if not more brutal, than others in some cases. A fact is a fact.

Australia just refuses to look back at the atrocities of the past and acknowledge the rape pillage and plunder by the British Empire upon the Aboriginal Nations of this continent and surrounding islands.

Why have we never been treated as Equals and why have you, the Colonisers, not shared with us so that we may  have all prospered on the Sacred Lands and Waterways that have belonged to Aboriginal peoples and our Ancestors since the beginning of time? Why are you so greedy that you will direct us all to a future of poisoned Land and Waterways that will not sustain us all into the future?

Aboriginal Ancestors installed in us to protect and preserve our environment for future generations. Why do you have a society that is selfish and is built on lies and dishonest explanations of the past? Why does your culture give a few much wealth and many little or nothing?

Nyungah Warrior Yagan once said "You came to our country you have driven us from our haunts and disturbed us in our occupations as we walk on our own country we are fired upon by the white man why should the white man treat us so"

It was once said by the old people. "Jangga Meenya Bomunggur" The smell of the White man is killing us.

Perhaps they mean Premier Barnett and Prime Minister Abbott?

Iva Hayward-Jackson
,

Nyungah Land and Culture Protector

*UPDATE

Perth Indymedia had an opportunity to speak with Iva Hayward-Jackson on this issue.  You can listen to that interview from the following audio player.

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See:

WGAR News: Government Buck-Passing Could Force Aboriginal People Off WA Homelands: Amy McQuire, New Matilda

https://indymedia.org.au/2014/11/15/wgar-news-government-buck-passing-co...

Newsletter date: 16 November 2014

Contents:

* News: Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Government Buck-Passing Could Force Aboriginal People Off WA Homelands
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Outrage at prospect of closing down communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Redneck agenda to close down communities
* News: Nicolas Perpitch & Anna Vidot, ABC News: Cost of closing remote communities greater than tackling issues, Aboriginal leaders say
* Audio: Ryan Emery, World News Radio: Fears over WA community closures
* Audio: ABC News with NIRS: WA Greens: Closure of remote communities will be harmful
* News: Nicolas Perpitch, ABC News: Jigalong would struggle to cope with influx if nearby communities closed, says chairman
* News: Anthony Stewart, ABC News: Alice Springs to be hit hard by WA community closures, NT Indigenous leader Alison Anderson says
* News: Patricia Karvelas & Paige Taylor, The Australian: WA remote closures 'apartheid', says Warren Mundine
* Analysis / Opinion: Alex Bainbridge, Green Left: Aboriginal communities resist government attacks

See:

The Stringer: Redneck Western Australia 2014, by Gerry Georgatos
http://thestringer.com.au/redneck-western-australia-2014-9066

The Stringer: South Australia’s remote communities could face closure, by Gerry Georgatos
http://thestringer.com.au/south-australias-remote-communities-could-face...

WGAR News: Kimberley Aboriginal communities condemn Colin Barnett's plan to close small communities: Bush Telegraph, ABC RN

This newsletter: https://indymedia.org.au/2014/11/23/wgar-news-kimberley-aboriginal-commu...

Newsletter date: 24 November 2014

Contents:

* Statement: Croakey: "Do not turn our people into fringe dwellers once again": Fitzroy Crossing groups on threats to close WA remote communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Larissa Behrendt, The Guardian: Shutting WA's remote communities is a false economy. It will cost Indigenous people far more than it saves the state
* Audio: Verica Jokic & Cameron Wilson, Bush Telegraph, ABC RN: Kimberley Aboriginal communities condemn Colin Barnett's plan to close small communities
* Analysis / Opinion & Audio Interview: Indymedia Australia: Open Letter from Nyungah Land and Culture Protector Iva Hayward-Jackson
* Analysis / Opinion: Amnesty International Australia: WA Government must abandon "traumatic" plans to close Aboriginal Homelands communities
* News: Alex Salmon, Green Left: Protests against closure of 150 Aboriginal communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: South Australia's remote communities could face closure
* News: CathNews: Bishop fears 'catastrophic' result of WA town closures
* News: ABC News: Labor says anger and frustration brewing over possible closure of remote Aboriginal communities
* News: Gian De Poloni, ABC News: WA's PGA head Tony Seabrook backs closure of remote Aboriginal communities
* Background: WGAR News: Government Buck-Passing Could Force Aboriginal People Off WA Homelands: Amy McQuire, New Matilda

Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA

https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/08/background-plans-to-close-aboriginal...

WGAR News: Shutting down Australia's Aboriginal areas: Royce Kurmelovs, Al Jazeera

https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/08/wgar-news-shutting-down-australias-a...

"Contents:
* Analysis / Opinion: Royce Kurmelovs, Al Jazeera: Shutting down Australia's Aboriginal areas
* Audio Interview: Let's Talk: Jon Altman on re-emergence of WA and SA threats to neglect Aboriginal citizens living at homelands
* Video Interview: WTV: Gerry Georgatos on the threat to close homelands/remote communities
* Audio: NIRS: Cultural organisation warns against remote community closures
* Audio Interview: Let's Talk: Arrernte woman, Celeste Liddle on removal of people from WA Communities
* Letter: Congress: Open Letter to Prime Minister - Remote Communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Congress: National Leadership Needed for Remote Communities
* Background to the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Analysis / Opinion: Ray Jackson, Indymedia Australia: "The British constitution was soaked with our ancestors' blood"
* Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA
"

WGAR News: "Ethnic cleansing" said Dennis Eggington of forcible removals off Country: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer

https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/15/wgar-news-ethnic-cleansing-said-denn...

Contents:
* Change.org Petition: Stop the closure of the homelands. State and Federal governments must fund services in remote Aboriginal communities.
* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: "Ethnic cleansing" said Dennis Eggington of forcible removals off Country
* Audio: NIRS: Proposed WA remote community closures labelled "ethnic cleansing"
* Analysis / Opinion: The Stringer: Australia's human rights record shambolic according to Pope Francis and Bishop Saunders
* Media Release: ACSJC: Human Rights Day: Time for Australia to Take Stock
* Analysis / Opinion: Melissa Parke, The Guardian: Aboriginal people are entitled to be treated as human beings, not just as a fiscal problem
* Video: Bronwyn Herbert & Leigh Sales, ABC 7.30: Remote Aboriginal communities face closure, leaders voice concerns
* Analysis / Opinion: Dr Woolombi Waters, The Stringer: To end our trauma government must stop the assault on our People and our Culture
* Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA

WGAR News: Forrest review of Aboriginal welfare: the good, the bad...and the very ugly: Land Rights News - Central Australia

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/01/03/wgar-news-forrest-review-of-aborigin...

Contents:

* Audio Interview: Minelle Creed, Living Black Radio: Brisbane Food Van [Featuring Wayne 'Coco' Wharton, Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy (BASE)]
* Submission: Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APO NT): The proposed Government budget cuts to Aboriginal services
* News: Central Land Council: Land Rights News - Central Australia: Battle rages against budget pain
* Analysis / Opinion: Central Land Council: Land Rights News - Central Australia: Forrest review of Aboriginal welfare: the good, the bad ... and the very ugly
* Analysis / Opinion: Antinuclear: Australian government's budget cuts threaten remote Aboriginal communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Calla Wahlquist, The Guardian: Mining royalties may save WA's remote Indigenous communities from closure
* WGAR Background: Aboriginal Peoples and the impact of the Federal Budget
* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA

WGAR News: Forced Displacement of Aborigines in West Australia: Franciscans International & Edmund Rice International

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/01/08/wgar-news-forced-displacement-of-abo...

Contents:
* Joint Urgent Appeal: Franciscans International & Edmund Rice International: Forced Displacement of Aborigines in West Australia
* Background: Franciscans International: Indigenous Peoples
* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA

WGAR News: Closure of remote communities devastates residents: Miranda Wood, Red Flag Newspaper

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/02/14/wgar-news-closure-of-remote-communit...

Contents:

* Change.org Petition: Saving Aboriginal communities: Stop Colin Barnett premier of Western Australia
* Video: Eleanor Gilbert, Vimeo: Gerry Georgatos discusses the closure of WA Aboriginal homelands with Hugh Riminton
* Analysis / Opinion: Miranda Wood, Red Flag Newspaper: Closure of remote communities devastates residents
* Analysis / Opinion: Jessica Lukjanow, Global Research: Australia May Stop Providing Water and Power to Remote Aboriginal Communities
* Analysis / Opinion: Ben Collins, ABC Kimberley: Indigenous community closures: essential service uncertainty
* Video: NITV News: Planned Closure of WA Communities Highlights WA's Poor Contribution to Closing the Gap
* News: Calla Wahlquist, The Guardian: WA premier withdraws royalties help for struggling Aboriginal communities
* News: Sydney Morning Herald: Spend 'to save WA Aboriginal communities'
* News: Vicky Validakis, Australian Mining: Mining not dead in WA
* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA