Aboriginal jobs and concerns around logging and hunting in national parks are on the agenda at a general meeting of traditional custodians from across the state of New South Wales. Source: ABC North Coast NSW
They gathered in Byron Bay, known to the Arakwal people as Cavvanbah, which means ‘meeting place’.
From as far south as Mildura, 25 traditional custodian representatives are on the north coast to discuss issues like protecting sacred sites and ensuring they’re involved in decision-making.
Arakwal National Park Management Committee chair Yvonne Stewart said networking among land councils helps unite their voice about the way they want the landscape treated.
A recent draft report from a parliamentary committee into land use, chaired by the Shooters Party, urges the government to consider a tenure swap between national parks and state forests to ensure the timber industry’s viability.
While the Premier Barry O’Farrell says he does not support commercial logging in national parks, nor the idea of a tenure swap, Stewart said it has generated a lot of concern.
“Here you have a national park and you have logging in it … you have shooting in it, yet the groups that support shooting in national parks don’t support Aboriginal people to take their own flora and fauna,” said Stewart.
Creating jobs and training for Aboriginal people is also one of the key focuses of the meeting. About 66% of staff managing Arakwal land are Aboriginal.
“Getting our Aboriginal people back involved with the department in managing country which gives them an income, but also a learning tool through the elders of those committees in cultural connection, cultural renewal,” Stewart said.
This is the first time the Bundjalung people have hosted the meeting. The last general meeting was held in the Baradine area, in northern New South Wales.
Aboriginal elders gather at historic meeting place By Margaret Burin Aboriginal jobs and concerns around logging and hunting in national parks are on the agenda at a general meeting of traditional custodians from across the state.
Baradine Aboriginal Land Council chairperson Sonny Magann said local employment initiatives such as Sculptures in the Scrub, helped improve morale in the young Aboriginal community.
“We have had people that have probably never worked in their lives before,” he said. “They were really proud of themselves and the self esteem that it gave them was really outstanding.”
The Pass in Byron Bay is a historically significant Aboriginal meeting site. The elders gathered there for the opening of a new path with disability access.
The Arakwal National Park Management Committee in conjunction with National Parks restored the short walk through cabbage palm tree forest.
Bundjalung man Nigel Stewart performed the welcome to country for the group, something he considers a big honour.
A ranger with National Parks he performs the long list of tasks that come with the role, as well as protecting sacred sites and taking bush tucker tours.
“All of the bush tucker that I’ve learnt around here has come from our elders; the aunties, the grandmums, we’ve been lucky to have been handed down that knowledge from them.
“I’ve always wanted to represent my people and get justice; I want to unite Australia, I think it’s very important that we come together and look after each other and our country.”
