A handful of soil: 50 years since iconic land hand-back
Keira Jenkins |
Half a century ago then prime minister Gough Whitlam poured a handful of soil into the hands of a man who had led an eight-year protest for the rights of his people.
On August 16, 1975 Mr Whitlam travelled to Wave Hill Station, about 600 kilometres south of Darwin, to hand back land to the Gurindji people.
During an official handover ceremony, transferring leasehold title to a parcel of land at the Wave Hill cattle station to Gurindji people, Mr Whitlam poured the soil into the hands of senior Elder Vincent Lingiari.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the iconic image of the red earth trickling from Mr Gough’s hands to Mr Lingiari’s was an enduring tribute to the courage, determination and solidarity of Gurindji people.
“There is more to do to ensure Traditional Owners can unlock the economic potential of their land and build the long term prosperity that will see their communities thrive,” he said.
“Let the milestone we look back on today, inspire us for the journey ahead.”
Mr Lingiari had been a stockman at Wave Hill, and almost a decade earlier had led 200 Gurindji, Mudburra and Warlpiri stockmen, domestic workers and their families on a strike.
Walking off the station, the workers were taking a stand against injustice, demanding fair pay, better work conditions and the return of their traditional lands.
The group set up at Dagauragu, and for eight years the strikers stayed firm in their demands.
The Wave Hill Walk Off helped pave the way for Aboriginal Land Rights legislation in the Northern Territory, and for federal laws which enabled First Nations people in the NT to claim rights for Country.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the strike laid the foundations for Aboriginal land rights across Australia.
“The formal handover of land to the Gurindji people – and the soil passing from one hand to another – is a defining moment in the Aboriginal land rights movement and Australian history,” she said.
Each year, the annual Freedom Day festival brings people together to mark the walk off and the hand-back.
The Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation says this year’s festival carries extra significance, marking the 50th anniversary.
“The festival is in recognition of a story of national significance, which changed the Australian landscape and history forever,” the corporation said in a social media post.
“Vincent’s legacy still lives on today through his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all the Gurindji people.”
The Freedom Day festival will be held at Kalkarindji from August 22 to 24.
AAP
