Session on 'Indigenous Involvement in Mainstream Conservation
Organisations. Thursday 9 September 93
Maggie Goodwin opened workshop;
"to work up indigenous involvement in environmental
organisations. Looking at some of the issues which prevent co-
operation between Greenies and indigenous people (eg
personality; looking at things/ environment in different way).
Aim of workshop - to produce a document - some sort of
guidelines to circulate to other groups about how to
communicate between both indigenous people and
environmentalists.
Question is - list of principles or set up a structure?
Talking about relationship between two groups of people -
Aboriginal community often struggling and middle class people
with time and money.
Example of problem was given. Wilderness society sough
alliance with a local land council to acquire land but also
sought to deny access to land because it was wilderness.
Koories wanted to use it. Two agendas at work.
Problem here of lack of trust. Wilderness society saying, in
effect, we don't trust you (Koories) to manage own land.
Is there a way around this?
Suggestion - set up personal relationships.
Grant Pakihana Hawke (Mana Tangata unit. Greenpeace NZ)
Differences exist within Maori but hold belief that something
has to be done to bring land back on track. Mana Tangata - we
recognise role of Maori land management and say we are here to
help you, Work at community level. Deal with people of the
area (and not just people in bureaucratic positions). Work at
grassroots - gain their confidence.
Woman from far north coast. We are setting up a landcare body.
Involving Aboriginal unit at Uni and Far North Aboriginal Land
Council. (plus others) Provide training and access to
mainstream funding. Each land Council will identify particular
land care projects for environmental repair. Repair of land
means repair of people. (Not begun operation yet).
Another speaker. Need to talk at local level about specific
issues - involve real people talking about real land and get
real communication versus talking in generalities.
Glen Innis Land Council rep. Problems of differing perceptions
of what land is for - use and conservation. Need negotiation
and compromise. Outlined educational facility development at
Glen Innis to teach about land based on NT design.
Grant. By way of helping need to put into practice
sustainability. Dry toilets, mud brick, recycle rubbish. Find
programs for people.
Alistair (ex Greenpeace Aust) After 4 years GP quit. Don't
have a lot of hope for these sort of alliances here. Rhetoric
of 'natural' alliance - ends with rhetoric.
Example of Environmentalists in SA lobby govt to ensure that
Aboriginal land used only in traditional way - one type of
society legitimate other type not.
Other examples of 'crimes against indigenous people by
environmentalists. eg Queensland Aboriginal people, claims for
national parks and environmentalists.
(example of purported expropriation of the myth of the Rainbow
Warrior itself by Greenpeace)
Because environmentalists say they care for country doesn't
mean they have an understanding of indigenous people.
First thing need to do
1. Educate own people
2. Consultation every step of the way.
Greenpeace a decade behind.
Mark (ex Mana Tangata) The first community we had to educate
(in NZ) was Greenpeace.
Now, I (a Pakeha) have resigned from position as head of Mana
Tangata to make way for Maori.
Suggestion - Any unit should be managed by indigenous people.
Imperative to bring Koories on board staff of organisations -
if they are interested.
Colin. National Liaison Greening Australia.
Who are the educators?
Most Koories are bi-cultural by necessity. Learn from the
heart. Whites trapped in one culture. ATSIC, DEET, Land
Councils can provide cross-cultural workshops.
Environmentalists must go back to organisations and admit
problems - and open minds. That is first step.
Eugene from Brewarrina - Chairman of medical service
(Talked about different types of social groups in contrast to
earlier distinction of Aboriginal Communities and Middle class
environmentalists.) Higher class, middle class, lower class -
second class Aboriginal people - ordinary citizens just go
with the flow and people with education. "White people have
no right to make decisions for Aboriginal people.
Problem with Aboriginal professionals (elitism) and nepotism.
Aboriginal people in our area don't care about conservation.
Just look forward to their benefit. Just live day to day.
ATSIC funding for medical services but still have highest
mortality rate in NSW
(Koories get) elected into position - got a vehicle - "I'm OK"
but forget Aboriginality.
Have CDEP projects but nobody outside of family would get
involved.
Not caring for Brother. Aboriginal people have become their
own worst enemy.
Pam (North Coast) A lot of Aboriginal people don't know about
conservation. Ask us to become involved. Just because we are
Aboriginal doesn't mean that we know all about land
conservation. Then we fail to live up to your expectations .
Talk to us here (today) talk to us out there.
Glen Innes rep. (Compared situation of First Peoples with talk
about badge with different colours on it - badge was spelt
"DFRNT") At a stage in Australian struggle for identity but
all one people - different colour. We were first to go through
invasion.
The green movement is like Christianity. Christianity has a
god. Green movement has good people but ... radicals.
As Chairman (of Council) learnt that I must take into
consideration what everyone has to say.
Got to know some Greenies.(Some good things) Solar panel to
get water up hill so not kill platypus with pump. Technology
from Ninbim.
Old peoples minds - it became important to adopt conservation,
land management. Took wisest people out of conservation
movement and take them back to community.
Must talk from the guts - have consultation with Aboriginal
people.
Problem with radicals (versus) negotiation and compromise to
come out with some thing constructive.
South Pacific woman rep. talked about South Pacific. Pressure
for exploitation. Establishment of conservation areas on
scientific criteria whereas indigenous community look at it
from a different perspective ( different systems of
signification).
Two come together in solidarity.
A Former Greenpeace person. Problem of discussion in rarefied
atmosphere. Problem of losing contact with reality.
(Mentioned how some things hurt environmentalist and how they
shy away) "We don't want to hear about Aboriginal groups who
aren't interested on conserving environment." Also problem
with employment (eg logging towns).
Got to get real - holistic - whole life approach.
Landcare - too isolated - care for land here and go and live
totally unsustainable lives there.
Contradictions. (Quit Greenpeace because no social policy).
Guba Woman speaker. We white's have no knowledge of workings
of Aboriginal life. One basic thing I have learnt - to go
through Council of elders. (example from Nimbim of how to
monitor digging program - Koori guidance. Contact Dept of
Works). You Aboriginal people are the guardians. You have to
tell us how to do it.
(many voices - We have been telling you. You haven't been
listening.)
Woman speaker from Nature Conservation. Lend support through
member organisations to ask for Aboriginal rights to control
Aboriginal heritage in NSW. Lobby politicians. Support and
resource Aboriginal Elders so they can meet and discuss.
June from Foster. Comes from heart. Learnt (about her country)
through training program. Learnt about sacred sites. Land
given to people from God.
If you want to learn you got to go out and do it yourself.
Genocide has denied people a lot of knowledge.
We Aboriginal people are so kind. Why should we be so kind?
Koori woman. Must also look at global picture - or no earth
left.
(She then moved into a inspired speech - no time for taking
notes.) Have had my language taken from me. I want to regain
my ceremony for land and my language before I die.
Convenor - summary of themes:
1 Must talk from the heart.
2. Work at local level.
3. Educate organisations first.
(Conference continued).