Cultural Diversity Workshop/Seminar for Dental students: University of Melbourne 18 October, 2012 Case Study: Yorta Yorta History, Culture & Survival Dr Wayne Atkinson, Yorta Yorta Elder, Senior Fellow School of Social & Political Science University of Melbourne

Indigenous Australia BC: before Captain Cook Years Occupation & Possession Yorta

Key Factors to understanding Indigenous Culture & Land Relations 1. Aboriginal culture in its proper time perspective-past & present as one. 2. The concept of change adaption & continuity- an evolving process familiar to all cultural groups 3. The existence of an ongoing-living culture that has survived & continues to maintain its identity & connections with the ancestral lands

Yorta Yorta Cultural Heritage ‘Keeping it for the Future’ Murray River called Dhungulla in Yorta Yorta language

Ramsar Convention & China, Japan Migratory Bird Agreement (Ramsar comes under UNESCO which is a specialised agency of the UN System  Barmah Moira Lakes, protected under Ramsar Convention (The signing of the Convention took place in 1971 in the small Iranian town of Ramsar (since then, it has taken the common name of the Ramsar Convention).  China & Japan Migratory Birds Agreement: (CAMBA,1986 & JAMBA,1974,) Agreement on international cooperation for the conservation of migratory species & for the protection of specific habitats. Great Egret & White-bellied Sea-eagle (two birds BM listed).  Other birds are Rainbow Bee-eater, Cattle Egret, Greenshank, Glossy Ibis, White- throated Needletail, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Red-necked Stint, Fork- tailed Swift and Caspian Tern (DCE 1992). Great Egret White Breasted Sea Eagle Japan, 2008

Yorta Yorta Occupation Timeline & Evidence of prior occupation

Timeline & Indigenous Survival Last two centuries (non-Indigenous occupation) dominates the timeline & the intensity of change that has taken place. Last two centuries (non-Indigenous occupation) dominates the timeline & the intensity of change that has taken place. Adaption cultural continuity & survival is the outcome that needs to be recognised. Adaption cultural continuity & survival is the outcome that needs to be recognised.

Cultural Heritage: A Living Heritage Mural of Biami Rainbow Serpent, Dharnya Centre

Stratigraphy(timeline) of Occupation Sites Mounds & Middens Timeline of Occupation Oldest Recent

Cultural Heritage Values: Scarred Trees

Mound Sites: Barmah State Park Mound Lagoon& Natural Food Storage System, Barmah Forest

Traditional Fish Trap System Fish Trap System Midden

CULTURAL CONTINUITY THROUGH Community, Art, Music, Theatre, Dance & Sport

Maloga: Cummeragunja: 1889-PresentAboriginal Leaders 1930s Lynch Cooper World Champion, 1930s Cummera & Maloga Heritage Sir Doug Nichols

Cultural Continuity in the Yorta Yorta way Lin Onus, Jimmy’s Billabong Barmah Lake, Yorta Yorta country Wally & Sony Cooper: Yorta Yorta Dance Group Lou Bennet & Tiddas Jimmy Little Yanagai Play, 2006 Andrea James Yorta Yorta artist Lin Onus ( ) spent much of his life bridging the gap between urban and traditional, art forms. He had a deep social conscience & his work has inspired a new generation of young Indigenous artists from south-eastern Australia. Debra Cheetam Pecan Summer Opera

The Cummera Walk Off, 1939 In 1939, the first-ever mass strike of Aboriginal people in this country occurred – the Cummeragunja Walk-off. Over 200 residents packed-up and left Cummeragunja in protest of the conditions and the oppressive management. They crossed the border from New South Wales into Victoria in contravention of the rules of the New South Wales Protection Board. In 1939, the first-ever mass strike of Aboriginal people in this country occurred – the Cummeragunja Walk-off. Over 200 residents packed-up and left Cummeragunja in protest of the conditions and the oppressive management. They crossed the border from New South Wales into Victoria in contravention of the rules of the New South Wales Protection Board. This protest showed the strength and organisational skills of Aboriginal people and their supporters. Many rallied behind the Walk-off, collecting food and provisions and transporting them up to the Murray River to the protestors. This protest showed the strength and organisational skills of Aboriginal people and their supporters. Many rallied behind the Walk-off, collecting food and provisions and transporting them up to the Murray River to the protestors. Officials were frustrated by these Aboriginal rebellions and were embarrassed when the media began carrying stories about conditions Aboriginal people were living under. The Cummeragunja Walk-off in particular brought changes to Aborigines Act of New South Wales in Officials were frustrated by these Aboriginal rebellions and were embarrassed when the media began carrying stories about conditions Aboriginal people were living under. The Cummeragunja Walk-off in particular brought changes to Aborigines Act of New South Wales in Pecin Summer Opera on Cummera Walk Off, Shepparton,2010

Day of Mourning Protest, 1938 led to The Cummera Walk-Off, 1939

From Cummera to the Flat, Mooroopna,

Rumbalara Aboriginal Coop Major service delivery organisation in Region that began in the 1970s under the Whitlam Governments Self Determination policy. Major service delivery organisation in Region that began in the 1970s under the Whitlam Governments Self Determination policy. Employs over 100 people and runs diversity of programs in health, housing, family care, and justice, aimed a ‘closing the gap’. Employs over 100 people and runs diversity of programs in health, housing, family care, and justice, aimed a ‘closing the gap’.

Cultural Continuity through Sport, Health & Education Rumbalara Football & Netball Club, Shepparton Academy of Sport Health & Education, Shepparton, 2005 (University of Melbourne) Oncountry Learning: Indigenous Studies visit to RFNC Uni of Melb,2005. Cummera Footy Team,1927

ACHIEVING JUSTICE VIA THE POLITICO - LEGAL PROCESS? THE YORTA YORTA STRUGGLE

Yorta Yorta v State of Victoria & Ors, Trial ( ) Barriers to achieving land justice under Anglo legal system & way Mabo principles are being applied by the Courts, perverted the course of justice in the Yorta Yorta case. Back to ‘Base Camp Politics’ - YY Agreement & BM Campaign. Back to ‘Base Camp Politics’ - YY Agreement & BM Campaign.

Olney’s Test for Yorta Yorta Native Title

Indigenous Land Management Indigenous Land Management A Holistic view of the relationship between Land and Natural Resource Management. ‘Break Here’

Holistic View of Land Management & Care Indigenous wisdom throughout the world shares a common belief system that ‘all things are related’. What happens in one area sooner or later directly or indirectly impacts on other areas. The history of imported land uses vindicates this view ‘Yorta Yorta have a long tradition of caring for forest. They ‘see the forest & all of its encompassing features (including all living entities) from a holistic viewpoint’. (Yorta Yorta Nations Inc, 1990).

Campaign for National Park & Joint Management

Joint as to Sole Management Joint Management is a recently imported western construct that is used to ensure that when land is returned to Traditional Owners, it is conditional upon the land being leased back to the Government to manage jointly with the Traditional Owners. Joint Management is a recently imported western construct that is used to ensure that when land is returned to Traditional Owners, it is conditional upon the land being leased back to the Government to manage jointly with the Traditional Owners. Joint Management is therefore a compromise position, between Indigenous and non Indigenous land interests, to that of ‘Sole Management’ which has been practiced by Indigenous Australians for the majority of our land management history. Joint Management is therefore a compromise position, between Indigenous and non Indigenous land interests, to that of ‘Sole Management’ which has been practiced by Indigenous Australians for the majority of our land management history.

Key Issues Adapting management practices to Indigenous philosophy of land and water management without compromising track record of land management Adapting management practices to Indigenous philosophy of land and water management without compromising track record of land management Tapping into the tourism economy to generate an economic base for local communities. Tapping into the tourism economy to generate an economic base for local communities. Promoting education and training through local resources like Yenbeena and Dharnya Promoting education and training through local resources like Yenbeena and Dharnya Other issues for group discussion Other issues for group discussion

Key Issues (cont)- Contribution of Indigenous knowledge to current land management practices-is it being given due recognition Contribution of Indigenous knowledge to current land management practices-is it being given due recognition Inclusion of Indigenous people in land management and care. Are Indigenous people employed in all levels of management including senior decision making level? Inclusion of Indigenous people in land management and care. Are Indigenous people employed in all levels of management including senior decision making level? Joint management structures working successfully in Australia-Kakadu, Ulluru, Boodaree, (Wreck Bay ACT). Joint management structures working successfully in Australia-Kakadu, Ulluru, Boodaree, (Wreck Bay ACT).

Apology-Wed, February Ten years after the “Bringing Them Home Report”, the Federal Government made a formal apology to the Stolen Generations on Wednesday, 13th February 2008, committing itself to ‘Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage’. Ten years after the “Bringing Them Home Report”, the Federal Government made a formal apology to the Stolen Generations on Wednesday, 13th February 2008, committing itself to ‘Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage’. Since the delivery of the apology, the ‘Indigenous Disadvantage Report’ of Reconciliation Australia, 2009, and the Productivity Commission Report, 2010, found that across virtually all indicators there are still wide gaps between Indigenous and other Australians’ and in almost all cases ‘the gaps’ have in fact increased as mainstream economic prosperity has accelerated away from that of Aboriginal Australia ’(Productivity Commission (2009) Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators Canberra Productivity Commission). Since the delivery of the apology, the ‘Indigenous Disadvantage Report’ of Reconciliation Australia, 2009, and the Productivity Commission Report, 2010, found that across virtually all indicators there are still wide gaps between Indigenous and other Australians’ and in almost all cases ‘the gaps’ have in fact increased as mainstream economic prosperity has accelerated away from that of Aboriginal Australia ’(Productivity Commission (2009) Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators Canberra Productivity Commission). FOUR years down the track (2012) students can assess how far we've come and whether the gap has been closed, is the same, or is getting wider? FOUR years down the track (2012) students can assess how far we've come and whether the gap has been closed, is the same, or is getting wider? ,00.html ,00.html ,00.html ,00.html

PATHWAYS FOR FUTURE A negotiated settlement between government & other parties, which recognises the Yorta Yorta as the traditional owners under a handback/leaseback arrangement and inalienable freehold title (see Models of Structures for Joint Management of NP’s in current BM Campaign research, 2004).

‘Keeping it for the Future’ Old Dhungulla: Keep Her Flowin & Keep the River Reds Growin Maranooka - Thank you