As a group working on the protection of wilderness, especially in Cape York,
this bitter throwaway line must be challenged.
The Australian Heritage Commission's National Wilderness Inventory has
identified Cape York as being a region of high wilderness quality.
At the same time we recognise that wilderness, defined as a large area of
remote natural country substantially free of modification by industrial
society, is also aboriginal land, much of it still inhabited by or only
recently removed from the control of its traditional custodians.
Indeed, we have made sure that the work we did on three areas in the past
year (Starcke, Kalinga, Line Hill) has been with the agreement and
involvement of the Aboriginal people.
We have attempted to follow the Wilderness Society's policy on Aboriginal
Land Rights as closely as possible, and that approach has enabled us to
build a solid working partneship, and indeed friendship, with the Bubu
Widjin who's land rights we support, and who are the true custodians of the
Starcke wilderness.
We have taken a lot of flack, and faced a fair bit of public bewilderment,
for flatly rejecting the National Park offered by Goss as being the
appropriate way to protect wilderness in the region, or meeting the just
claims of the Bubu Widjin.
With the way that National Parks are managed in this part of the world (only
5 QNPWS rangers cover an area the size of Victoria) and given the land
management problems resulting from dispossession, pastoralism, land
speculation, tourism, and poaching, it is abundantly clear that places such
as Starcke can only be protected through Aboriginal ownership and control.
Greg S.
Wilderness Society policy on Aboriginal Land Rights.
1. Land Rights
TWS recognises that Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of
Australia, and therefore supports Aboriginal Land Rights.
2. Wilderness Protection
TWS believes that there need be no conflict between wilderness protection
and Aboriginal Land Rights. As a society dedicated to wilderness protection.
TWS recognises that wilderness is by definition Aboriginal land. Under this
definition, wilderness is compatible with traditional Aboriginal habitation
and ownership under freehold title.
3. Aboriginal Land Management
TWS believes that management plans for wilderness areas should be developed
through open consultation. These plans will incorporate both traditional
Aboriginal land management practices and modern ecological knowledge. TWS
believes that hunting, fishing and other traditional food gathering rights
could be a part of these plans, as well as the protection of plants and
animals, including endangered species.
4. Consultation
TWS recognises the need to liaise closely with Aboriginal communities in its
campaigns to ensure the wishes and priorities of those communities are
recognised. Therefore, TWS will consult and negotiate with Aboriginal
communities both prior to and throughout every campaign.
5. Aboriginal Involvement
TWS activities will reflect Aboriginal involvement, including media work,
lobbying, fundraising, merchandising and information to members.
6. Employment
TWS will actively seek to employ appropriately skilled Aboriginal people.
Their employment will not be restricted to Aboriginal Liaison positions.