Kimberley Appropriate Economics Interim Report - Australian ...

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The Kimberley Land Council, along with others, has a great interest in the development of the region, and we
have already done a lot of work looking at what the future should hold. I will now go through some of the things
we have found out.
All Kimberley Aboriginal people of course have a long history ‘on country’. That’s really long – thousands of
years. Throughout most of those years, we have made a good living from country. At the same time, we made
sure that we looked after country – our lives depended on it.
As the Kimberley region was settled by non-Indigenous people, we were pushed to one side in both our ability
to use the resources of the land, and in our ability to influence what was done with and to country.
It was only 40 years ago that the Miriuwung and Gajerrong people had their country drowned for the Ord
project. Some were loaded on to trucks and dumped in the Kununurra townsite. Others were left to escape the
rising flood as best they could.
It was also around that time that we were recognized as citizens in our own country.
Over those past 40 years, there have been some significant changes in our ability to both use country and to
have a role in decisions about country.
These changes have come partly through legislation like Native Title, but also from a broader recognition of
our moral rights our human right, our knowledge and skills, and especially our connection to country and the
relationship between identity, culture, and well being.
As we move into the modern context, we have had to become organized in terms that allow us to engage with
the ‘mainstream’ community.
To do this in the area of land management, we have to articulate or speak clearly and strongly about our beliefs,
values, and aspirations for country.
The Kimberley Land Council has been actively involved in developing a clear picture of what country means to
us, and what we must do to care for it.
As you can see from this slide, the centre of this picture is culture, rights, and responsibilities. Culture,
although its very complex, is basically ‘who we are’it is our foundation.
From our culture, we have certain rights to country, and also certain responsibilities to look after country. This
applies now, just as it did 100, one thousand, or ten thousand years ago.
From this cultural centre, we develop a vision for country and a plan for seeing that vision turned into actions.
We undertake projects that work with and for country, and we get involved in making decisions about how
country is managed.
What we should end up with is a ‘sustainable development plan’ for country. This Roundtable today will help as
make that plan.
Our culture, and the rights and responsibilities that go with it, define who we are. But defining who we are can
only be done in terms of country and our strong relationship to it. I like to describe this idea of country as ‘a
place of belonging’. Its not just an area of land – it is a source of both physical and spiritual sustenance. When
we ‘belong to country’, we are well in body and in mind. The existence and health of people and of country is a
single thing.
Country includes the physical and living environment. It includes spirituality, cultural identity, history,
economy, and responsibility, and forms the basis for society and life. Keeping country healthy includes keeping
people healthy.
I’m not just talking about the past – these things apply right now. Our knowledge and understanding remain
strong, and our rights and responsibilities to country are slowly being restored. Our focus is still on securing
the country’s future, keeping it strong and healthy.
So what is our vision for the Kimberley? And how do we achieve that vision?
We believe that the future must include recognition and involvement of Kimberley Aboriginal people in
management of country, in setting directions for country. We must maintain, rehabilitate, and protect country,
and avoid environmental problems before they occur.