Noongar elders on WA's south coast say their calls to halt a prescribed burn in the Mount Roe National Park were ignored by the State Government

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Noongar elders on WA's south coast say their calls to halt a prescribed burn in the Mount Roe National Park were ignored by the State Government. The burn was approved by state government departments and the local Aboriginal Corporation, but the elders fear it has damaged cultural artefacts within the park.

Transcript

00:00Elders returning to country with sinking hearts.

00:05We need you to understand what this country means to us.

00:08The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

00:11started controlled burns in the Mount Rowe National Park in late September.

00:16In October, nine local Elders signed a letter asking the Environment Minister

00:20to suspend all prescribed burns to address concerns about protecting flora, fauna and cultural heritage.

00:28Despite that plea, aerial ignitions went ahead in November.

00:32We sent a letter and asked if the Government can meet with us. That was ignored.

00:40You know, there could have been other artefacts out there that we didn't even get the opportunity to check out.

00:48Now, Elders fear unregistered cultural heritage sites have been damaged.

00:53Those lizard traps, those Ngarmaboya, are there for survival.

00:58The Mount Rowe burn was included in a plan approved by the Waggalkaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation.

01:04A spokesperson for the Corporation says there were no registered cultural heritage sites within the footprint of the burn,

01:10so they were powerless to reject the plan.

01:12The Elders and the Corporation say most cultural heritage sites remain undocumented.

01:18In a written response to the Elders, the Director General of the Department indicated that a committee,

01:23including Waggalkaip representatives, provides a formal avenue for consultation with traditional owners.

01:29The Elders support the controlled fire program, but are disappointed at the lack of protection for cultural sites.

01:35Stop ignoring our letters. That was a big insult.

01:40Custodians of Country, asking for a seat at the table.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended