Indigenous

Four Hope Vale locals with family ties to the Lama Lama people have begun work as rangers with Yintjingga Aboriginal Corporation thanks to the support of the Hope Vale Community Development Program. Marcus Bowen, Levi Flinders and Dylan and Harold Nipper have now joined the team undertaking land management works in the Lama Lama National Park, 300km north-west of Cooktown.

Patty Mills for Prime Minister – that was the call on Saturday night as the star basketballer drained 42 points to lead the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. The Torres Strait Island product was amazing in all the big moments as he led Australia to a 107-93 win against Slovenia to pick up a much-deserved bronze medal. Bronze felt like “rose gold” to Mills.

The Territory Labor Government  and  Aboriginal  and community sector  leaders have today signed a ground-breaking Agreement to deliver a safer community and better justice outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. The Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) is the first of its kind in the Territory.

The Community Hub hosted felting workshops in June to create beanies for the Alice Springs Beanie Festival. Entries were sent down for display, judging and possible sale, and life went on. So it was a pleasant surprise to find three of the entries won awards.

The Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program (LGIDPP), a collaborative project between North Burnett Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, is a very positive way for Councils to build a relationship and look after Country.

Catherine Grimley. Tennant Creek’s NAIDOC festivities ended on a high note on Saturday with a community gathering at Nyinkka Nyunyu. Tjupi Band played their hearts out for the crowd, even being joined on stage by Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin, who got a reminder of how long it has been since he played hand drums, and what muscles he needs to use to play them.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said he was blown away by the progress of a number of Cape York communities during last week’s trip across the Peninsula ... He said he was particularly impressed with the work being done by the Lockhart River and Mapoon councils. “I was very, very encouraged to see what they are doing.” ... While in Weipa, Mr Entsch said he had a positive sit down with Rio Tinto to discuss normalisation.

Patrick Mills sunk his first basket on Thursday Island, but his journey to international stardom has rarely been in the Torres Strait. Over the next two weeks, he will attempt to lead the Boomers to a historic medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Territorians, businesses and industry are now invited to give feedback on the draft Territory Space Strategy for 2021-25. The Territory Government is developing a new space strategy to support the future growth of the space industry, attract investment and identify potential projects.

This notice appeared in Tennant & District Times, 23 July 2021.

Catherine Grimley. It may have been two weeks late, but our local NAIDOC Committee was determined that the events they had planned would go ahead as soon as it was safe to do so, so Monday morning marchers gathered outside the NLC office for the walk to Nyinkka Nyunyu to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The weather was kind to the marchers with little wind and beautiful sunshine as they made their way down Paterson Street, even the police vehicle that led the march was carrying Aboriginal flags on the bonnet, in keeping with the day.

Geoff Helisma. Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council say the Birrigan Iluka Beach’ subdivision is another step towards achieving the land council’s ‘vision’, “to empower our members to become socially and economically self-sufficient through improved health, housing, education programs and employment opportunities”.

A staff shortage in Bamaga has led to criticism of a policy change that snubbed NPA from employing overseas workers. Companies in Weipa, Cooktown and Thursday Island can employ Australian-based overseas workers in hospitality jobs, but businesses in Bamaga cannot ... “There is now a very small and limited pool of skilled labour, especially in the hospitality industry where chefs and food and beverage professionals are as scarce as hen’s teeth," says Chris Foord, Bamaga Enterprises GM.

Leading Seaman Breanna Jacobs-Rochford was a long way from home when she recently attended the 150th Coming of the Light festival on Erub Island. She joined the Navy in 2016 from Giabal and Jarowair Country in the Toowoomba region to follow in the footsteps of family members and to travel the world and experience different countries and their cultures. Currently posted to the Navy Indigenous Development Program, Leading Seaman Jacobs-Rochford provides cultural support and guidance to other staff members and recruits.

A representative from the Singleton Horticulture Project was in Tennant this week to chat with businesses and stakeholders about the future of the almost 3,000 square kilometre horticulture lease which will be used to grow grapes and rockmelons. The multi-million dollar project at Singleton Station will be developed in four stages over an eight year period and expected to create thousands of jobs each year in the region.

In just a few short years, a small, simple event, designed to celebrate the powerful role sport can have in the lives of indigenous people – and to educate the non-indigenous about Barapa Barapa culture – has blossomed into something much, much more. Last weekend, the Golden Rivers Football Netball League celebrated indigenous round, which has its roots at the small, pioneering club of Macorna.

Sheryl Lowe. Proud Ngarrindjeri and Kauma man, Major (‘Moogy’) Sumner, from South Australia’s Coorong region, received the Premier’s NAIDOC Award 2021 last week for outstanding achievements and significant service to the indigenous community of South Australia ... “He is a world-renowned performer and cultural ambassador of Ngarrindjeri arts, crafts, martial arts, traditional dance, song and traditional culture. He has travelled the world learning from other nations and sharing his knowledge and experiences.”

Cultural burning doesn't just occur in northern Australia. Across southern Australia, many Indigenous people are practicing and promoting cultural fire management, yet the emergency management sector has limited experience in collaborating with them on fire management.

A native apple tree was the symbol for reconciliation on the banks of the Richmond River in Casino last Thursday. Richmond Valley mayor Robert Mustow and Aunty Leila Walker planted the tree together ... Aunty Leila said Casino was the traditional meeting place of the Bundjalung Nation. “North of the town is the largest bora ring on the East Coast,” she said.

A spaceport on the outskirts of Weipa is still a major possibility as an Australian-based company eyes the Cape York location. Discussions have already begun between the Palm Branch Group’s Spaze Oz arm and key stakeholders in Weipa and Napranum. The site would be located near the RAAF Scherger base, about 43km from Weipa.