Miner tried to fudge study: anthropologist - Yindjibarndi Aboriginal ...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/miner-tried-to-fudge-studyanthropologist/story-fn9hm1pm-1226497319853
Miner tried to fudge study: anthropologist
by: Paul Cleary
From: The Australian
October 17, 2012 12:00AM
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation's Michael Woodley, far right, with, from left, Angus Mack,
Middleton Cheedy and Stanley Warrie. Picture: Courtney Bertling. Source: The Australian
AN anthropologist engaged by Fortescue Metals Group says his services were discontinued
after he refused a demand to amend sections of his report discussing indigenous heritage
where the company wanted to mine.
In a statement made to a lawyer, Brad Goode says his "tenure with FMG was not continued" after he insisted on
including references to the cultural significance of Kangeenarina Creek in the Pilbara. This included accommodating
the wishes of the local Yindjibarndi people to have a 50m exclusion zone either side of the creek.
Mr Goode says FMG's heritage managers "tried to pressure me into altering the report" because it strongly
amplified the wishes of the Yindjibarndi people to protect the creek, an area within FMG's Firetail deposit.
"It was the worst, the most reprehensible act I have ever experienced as an anthropologist," he said.
FMG engaged Mr Goode last year to conduct indigenous heritage surveys within the Firetail deposit of its
Solomon hub lease. He worked with local Yindjibarndi people who joined him on heritage surveys within the
mine site.
Under pressure from FMG's managers, Mr Goode said he would not amend statements made by local
informants about the significance of the creek.
The changes would allow FMG to mine the area without having to formally apply for permission under the
Aboriginal Heritage Act.
An FMG spokeswoman said last night that the company ultimately submitted Mr Goode's report to the
government.
"We have a large number of consultants and we always scrutinise their work closely to ensure that it is
relevant, complete and complies with the requirements of the relevant government agency from whom we
are seeking approval, in this case the Department of Indigenous Affairs," the spokeswoman said.
"It is not uncommon for us to raise queries and work through those with the consultant.
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"As your question shows, the report contained all the information that the consultant believed should be
included. We submitted the report in support of our application for approval which we obtained and with
which we are complying."
Michael Woodley, chief executive of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, said Mr Goode's revelations
showed that the native title system had become "tainted" by FMG's excessive influence.
"It has become clear to YAC that the WA system of Aboriginal heritage protection is a sham. FMG pays out
big money to individuals and consultants who will say what FMG wants them to, so that sacred sites of the
Yindjibarndi people do not get in the way of FMG's project and profits," Mr Woodley said.
Mr Goode's account marks the second time in which consultants have complained publicly about pressure by
FMG to modify their indigenous heritage reports.
In August last year, anthropologist Sue Singleton wrote to the WA Registrar of Aboriginal Sites about FMG's
threat to withhold payment unless she deleted key sections of a report about the Firetail area.
The WA Department of Indigenous Affairs has confirmed that two heritage sites within the FMG lease were
destroyed and a third was significantly damaged.
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