Cheers
Rod
Yorta Yorta Federal Court Hearing - Day four
The Yorta Yorta / Bangerang Native Title Claim hearing resumed in a large
marquee at Rumbalara, near the rural Victorian town of Mooroopna on
Monday, 28th October, 1996. Rumbalara is a major community health and
resource centre for Yorta Yorta people of the the region. It began life as
a disasterous housing project after police and council authorities
bulldozed longstanding fringe camps at Mooroopna in the 1950's. Today it
provides an excellent example of the success that can ensue when self
determination is given a real chance to work.
The hearing made news in more ways than one. For the first time, the
Federal Court of Australia permitted television cameras to record
procedings. The major Australian media outlets were all represented.
The Yorta Yorta claimants were also granted permission to film the entire
procedings.
Proceedings commenced with a brief introduction to the community from
Frances Mathyssen, Chairperson of the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative.
Ms Mathyssen also paid tribute to Lyn Onus, a prominent Yorta Yorta artist
who had passed away in the course of the week.
Ross Howie, counsel for the claimants, called the first Yorta Yorta
witness, Ken Briggs, a member of the Yorta Yorta Elders group.
Mr Briggs gave detailed evidence of his descent from Yorta Yorta people
living in the region prior to white ocupation. He spoke of the passage
from generation to genertion of traditional rights in the area; rights to
the land and its resources, rights to control access to the land. He spoke
of his own education in such matters, by men and women who were already old
when he was boy in the 1920's and 30's, and of the difficulties which they
had faced as a result of the pressures of white settlement in the region.
Ken spoke of the 1939 'walk-off" when the majority of the Yorta Yorta left
the settlement because of an oppressive manager and a dispute about use of
some of their lands by a timber mill. They set up camp along the river
banks and in the forests near Barmah and Mooroopna. The camps remained for
nearly two decades, providing the first home for many of those living
today.
He expressed deep concern about the environmental degradation which had
resulted from the immense pressure on the land and the waterways during
his lifetime, and indicated that the Yorta Yorta people.
Ken Briggs was followed by Alf Turner, another Yorta Yorta elder, who spoke
in part of the the long history of Yorta Yorta attempts to have their
interests recognised by white society. He had spent a significant part of
his childhood living with William Cooper, one of Australia's most prominent
Aboriginal leaders in the 1930's.
William Cooper's mother was born before white occuption of the area. Cooper
was one of te founding members of the Australian Aborigines League, and
organised petitions to King George V seeking better treatment of Aboriginal
people. He played an active role in the famous "Day of Mourning" in 1938.
He spent most of his life living within Yorta Yorta territories and was
buried at Cummeragunja settlement.
Both Ken Briggs and Alfred Turner gave evidence of matters such as
traditional boundaries, food prohibitions, the traditional and contemporary
use of natural resources and many other matters. Each demonstrated deep
knowledge of genealogical associations with the area, dating back to the
time of first white occupation in the 1830's.
The day's hearing closed at 4 PM
___________________________
Yorta Yorta Hearings Day 5
RUMBALARA COMMUNITY, MOOROOPNA
9.07 AM, TUESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 1996
Continued from 28.10.96
Ken Briggs gave further evidence this morning, providing extensive
information about the family histories and ancestry of scores of Yorta
Yorta. After three hours of examination, he was replaced by Frances
Mathyssen (Chairperson of the Rumbalara Co-operative).
Ms Mathyssen's evidence occupied the remainder of the day. She discussed
processes of cultural change and adaptation - emphasising the fierce
determination of the Yorta Yorta to maintain their cultural traditions
despite being surrounded by non-Aboriginal society. She indicated some of
the formal and informal processes which the Yorta Yorta use to maintain
these traditions - ranging from the development of formal educational
programs at places such as Worawa College, through cultural camps, to the
individual activities of parents and grandparents throughout the Yorta
Yorta community.
Ms Mathyssen also spoke about the use of traditional herbal remedies, the
continuing dependence of many people on traditional food sources and the
use of ochres and other natural resources for artefact manufacture.
She spoke too of the immense stress placed upon the burial of members of
the Yorta Yorta community on their own territory so that their "spirits can
roam free."
The hearing was adjourned at 4.12 PM until the following morning.
(This summary produced by Rod Hagen, anthropological consultant to the
Yorta Yorta claimants.)
Rod Hagen
rodhagen@newcontent.net.au
or rodhagen@netspace.net.au
Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia