1. No category

166-392: Oncountry Learning: Indigenous
Studies, 2011
Introductory Lecture and Overview of
Yorta Yorta culture, history and connections
with Study Region
Yorta Yorta Occupation of BarmahMillewa Forest Wetlands

Yorta Yorta - Bangerang are
one and of the same group.

BM is in the heartland of Yorta
Yorta Nation-Ancestral Land &
Waters

Yorta Yorta committed to
conserving Barmah-Millewa
which is keeping place of their
cultural heritage.

Joint Management under
handback/leaseback of
Barmah-Millewa will ensure
continuity of natural &
cultural values.
Key Factors in understanding Indigenous
Culture & Land Relations
1.
Aboriginal culture in its proper time
perspective-past & present as one.
2.
The concept of change adaption &
continuity- an evolving process familiar to
all cultural groups
3.
The existence of an ongoing-living culture
that has survived & continues to maintain
its connections with the ancestral lands
BM: Habitat for Diversity of Species
 Forest-wetlands contain a diverse range of
vegetation communities & wildlife species and
is an Australian icon site.
 A habitat for the majority of threatened
species in northern Victoria & southern New
South Wales.
 Forest-wetlands assist in alleviating pressure
on flooding downstream.
 Use by many people for cultural, naturebased, & recreational activities.
Ramsar Convention & China, Japan Migratory
Bird Agreement
(Ramsar comes under UNESCO which is a specialised agency of the UN System

Barmah Moira Lakes,
protected under
Ramsar Convention (The
signing of the Convention took place in 1971
in the small Iranian town of Ramsar (since
then, it has taken the common name of the
Ramsar Convention).
White Breasted Sea Eagle

China & Japan
Migratory Birds
Agreement: (CAMBA,1986 &
JAMBA,1974,) Agreement on
international cooperation for the
conservation of migratory species &
for the protection of specific habitats.
Great Egret & White-bellied Sea-eagle
(two birds BM listed).
Great Egret
Japan, 2008

Other birds are Rainbow Bee-eater, Cattle
Egret, Greenshank, Glossy Ibis, Whitethroated Needletail, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
Latham's Snipe, Red-necked Stint, Forktailed Swift and Caspian Tern (DCE 1992).
Yorta Yorta Occupation
Timeline & Evidence of prior
occupation
Timeline & Indigenous Survival

Last two centuries (non-Indigenous
occupation) dominates the timeline &
the intensity of change that has
taken place.

Adaption cultural continuity &
survival is the outcome that needs to
be recognised.
Cultural Heritage: A Living Heritage
Mural of Biami Rainbow Serpent, Dharnya Centre
Stratigraphy(timeline) of Occupation Sites
Mounds & Middens
Recent
Oldest
Timeline of Occupation
Cultural Heritage Values: Scarred
Trees
Mound Sites: Barmah State Park
Mound
Mound
Lagoon& Natural Food Storage System, Barmah Forest
Traditional Fish Trap System
Fish Trap System
Midden
Yorta Yorta Site Protection
Traditional Stone Tool Working Site
Yorta Yorta Sites Recorded at 1999
( From: Management Plan for Yorta Yorta Heritage,
Yorta Yorta Nations Inc,1999:38-40)
Table 6. Summary of Recorded Sites in the Yorta Yorta Lands
_____________________________________________________
New South Wales
Victoria
Total
Site Type
Count
Count
Count
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Scarred Tree
118
881
999
Mound
141
212
353
Open Scatter
14
79
93
Middens
19
17
36
Burial
20
24
44
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals
312
1213
1525
_____________________________________________________
CULTURAL CONTINUITY
THROUGH
Community, Art,
Music, Theatre, Dance
Cummera & Maloga Heritage
Lynch Cooper World Champion, 1930s
Maloga: 1874-88
Sir Doug Nichols
Cummeragunja: 1889-Present
Aboriginal Leaders 1930s
Yanagai Yanagai
Play, 2006
Andrea James
Cultural Continuity in the
Yorta Yorta way
Lin Onus, Jimmy’s Billabong
Barmah Lake, Yorta Yorta country
Yorta Yorta artist Lin Onus (1948 - 1996) spent much of his life bridging the
gap between urban and traditional, art forms. He had a deep social
conscience & his work has inspired a new generation of young Indigenous
artists from south-eastern Australia.
Wally & Sony Cooper: Yorta Yorta Dance Group
Lou Bennet & Tiddas
Debra Cheetam
Pecan Summer Opera
Jimmy Little
The Cummera Walk Off, 1939

In 1939, the first-ever mass strike of Aboriginal people in this country
occurred – the Cummeragunja Walk-off. Over 200 residents packed-up and
left Cummeragunja in protest of the conditions and the oppressive
management. They crossed the border from New South Wales into
Victoria in contravention of the rules of the New South Wales Protection
Board.

This protest showed the strength and organisational skills of Aboriginal
people and their supporters. Many rallied behind the Walk-off, collecting
food and provisions and transporting them up to the Murray River to the
protestors.
Pecin Summer Opera on Cummera Walk Off, Shepparton,2010

Officials were frustrated by these Aboriginal rebellions and were
embarrassed when the media began carrying stories about conditions
Aboriginal people were living under. The Cummeragunja Walk-off in
particular brought changes to Aborigines Act of New South Wales in 1942.

http://www.abc.net.au/missionvoices/cummeragunja/default.htm

http://waynera.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/cummerwalkoff11.pdf
Day of Mourning Protest, 1938 led
to The Cummera Walk-Off, 1939
Walk-Off Re-enactment,1939-2009
From Cummera to the Flat,
Mooroopna, 1939-1957
Rumbalara Aboriginal Coop

Major service delivery organisation in
Region that began in the 1970s under the
Whitlam Governments Self Determination
policy.

Employs over 100 people and runs
diversity of programs in health, housing,
family care, and justice, aimed a ‘closing
the gap’.
Cultural Continuity through Sport, Health &
Education
Rumbalara Football & Netball Club, Shepparton
Oncountry Learning: Indigenous Studies visit to RFNC Uni of Melb,2005.
Cummera
Footy
Team,1927
Academy of Sport Health &
Education, Shepparton, 2005
(University of Melbourne)
ACHIEVING JUSTICE VIA
THE POLITICO LEGAL PROCESS?
THE YORTA YORTA STRUGGLE
Yorta Yorta v State of Victoria &
Ors, Trial (1996-1998)
Barriers to achieving land justice under Anglo legal system
& way Mabo principles are being applied by the Courts,
perverted the course of justice in the Yorta Yorta case.
Back to ‘Base Camp Politics’ - YY Agreement & BM Campaign.
Olney’s Test for Yorta Yorta Native Title
Indigenous Land Management
A Holistic view of the relationship between Land
and Natural Resource Management.
‘Break Here’
Holistic View of Land Management & Care
Indigenous wisdom throughout the world
shares a common belief system that ‘all things
are related’. What happens in one area sooner
or later directly or indirectly impacts on other
areas. The history of imported land uses
vindicates this view
‘Yorta Yorta have a long tradition of caring for
forest. They ‘see the forest & all of its
encompassing features (including all living
entities) from a holistic viewpoint’.
(Yorta Yorta Nations Inc, 1990).
Rivers-Lakes & Yorta Yorta-River
People

The rivers, lakes & their surrounds were very productive
environments- often equated with ‘Smorgas Board theory’variety, abundance & continuity of foods - fish, water
birds, eggs, tortoises, shellfish, crayfish, possum, kangaroo
& a wide range of plant foods.

Relationship between land & water in Indigenous
philosophy is highlighted in Yorta Yorta occupation which
is largely water based.

Most subsistence strategies were located, on in & around
the water bodies-fishing, collecting food resources,
campsites & middens reflect the nature & extent of past &
present occupation-Forest Wetlands.
Impacts on Ancestral land & waters

The Yorta Yorta have identified a number of issues that
pose threats to the preservation of their ancestral land &
waters. These range from:

impacts associated with the destruction and degradation of
natural and cultural values by domestic stock grazing,
logging and other hard use activities.

impact of changes in traditional water regimes

In general terms these have all had a detrimental effect on
the preservation and enjoyment of the land, water and its
natural and cultural resources
(The Management Plan for Yorta Yorta Cultural Environmental Heritage Project, 2003).
http://webraft.its.unimelb.edu.au/166230/pub/NatEstate1999.pdf
Campaign for National Park & Joint
Management
‘Reconciling Indigenous & non-Indigenous
interests in Land Management’
A Generational Shift from Exclusion to Inclusion, 1984-2008.
Declaration of National Parks and Joint Management with
Traditional Owners, 2009
VEAC: VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT COUNCIL’S STUDY OF
RIVER REDGUMS, 2008
What we've got now compared to LCC, 1984
(former Government structure to VEAC)

Acknowledgement of
‘Traditional Owners’ and
country at the start of
report is a significant shift
from past approaches-see,
p.vi.

Greater recognition &
inclusion of Indigenous
interests in VEAC terms of
reference & final
recommendations-pp.3238 on future management
of public land along Murray
Corridor.
VEAC: Key Recommendations

National Parks: Barmah, Part of Gunbower and Nyah
Vinifera.

Exclusion of Grazing and Logging NPs and continuation of
recreational uses.

Preservation and Protection of natural & cultural values.

Recognition of Indigenous interests, Joint Management
structures and hand/back lease back in five years, p.34.

Return of Dharnya to Indigenous control (with no white
ants) p.172 (new recommendation). Discuss FOI documents
Joint Management Models

Under the Kakadu/Uluru model, title to Aboriginal
land is returned to the traditional owners, and
then leased back to the Government to be
managed as a national park. A Board of
Management, on which traditional owners have a
majority, directs park management.

This is pretty much the model already used for a
number of national parks in every other mainland
State, and it is the one the Victorian
Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) has
recommended for Barmah National Park
Joint as to Sole Management

Joint Management is a recently imported western construct that is
used to ensure that when land is returned to Traditional Owners, it
is conditional upon the land being leased back to the Government
to manage jointly with the Traditional Owners.

Cooperative or Co -Management is a similar concept but the major
difference between the two, is that the ownership of land stays
with the Crown whereas Joint Management returns the land to the
Traditional Owners under a Hand back/Lease back arrangement
(VEAC, 2008: 106).

Joint Management is therefore a compromise position, between
Indigenous and non Indigenous land interests , to that of ‘Sole
Management’ which has been practiced by Indigenous Australians
for the majority of our land management history.
Key Factors that bought about a
more Inclusive approach by VEAC

More support groups involved in campaign to save River Reds in
support of Indigenous aspirations (holistic-inclusive & more
coordinated approach).

Reconciliation process has played an important part in reconciling
Indigenous and non-Indigenous interests particularly on campaign
side of things. Indigenous art, music, sport contributed to a
greater awareness on Indigenous aspirations.

Commitment by Brumby Government to Indigenous social justice
and for National Parks along the Murray ?

More efficient information systems (IT) has allowed campaign to
disseminate information wider and quicker.

Public Awareness and media representations- will come back to
this at end.

Acknowledgement of organisations, supporters, friends, and front
liners in campaign for magnificent work-well done folks.
Dharnya Centre Withers, 1985-2008
Closed because of structural damage caused by white
ants and Government neglect, May, 2007-see Video
Online at, 166392.
See Research Paper on Cultural Tourism & the Yorta Yorta
in 166392 readings online LMS
McPherson Media: Newspapers in Study
Area
1. Shepparton News-Shepparton*
2. Country News- Shepparton. Links with major vested interest groups
including
Victorian Farmers Federation; Dept Primary Industry; Rural Industries Research& Dev Coop;
Australian Dairying Corporation; Grains Research & Dev Coop; Land & Water Authorities.
3. Benalla Ensign-Benalla
4. Cobram Courier-Cobram
5. Deni Pastoral Times- Deniliquin (NSW)
6. Southern Riverina News-Finley (NSW)
7. Kyabram Free Press-Kyabram
8. Riverine Herald-Echuca*
9. Campaspe News-Rochester
10.Seymour Telegraph-Seymour.
* Location of papers that reported on YYNTC
Region of McPherson Media
Traditional Yorta Yorta Lands & Control of
Media Representations
Yorta Yorta Territory & insert of McPherson Media distribution
Apology-Wed, February 13 2008

Ten years after the “Bringing Them Home Report”, the Federal
Government made a formal apology to the Stolen Generations on
Wednesday, 13th February 2008, committing itself to ‘Closing the
Gap on Indigenous disadvantage’.

Since the delivery of the apology, the ‘Indigenous Disadvantage
Report’ of Reconciliation Australia, 2009, and the Productivity
Commission Report, 2010, found that across virtually all
indicators there are still wide gaps between Indigenous and other
Australians’ and in almost all cases ‘the gaps’ have in fact
increased as mainstream economic prosperity has accelerated
away from that of Aboriginal Australia’(Productivity Commission (2009)
Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2009. Canberra Productivity Commission).

Three years down the track (2011) students can analyse how far
we've come and whether the gap has been closed, is the same, or
is getting wider?

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,2320262
2-5001021,00.html
Key Issues

Adapting management practices to Indigenous
philosophy of land and water management
without compromising track record of land
management

Tapping into the tourism economy to generate an
economic base for local communities.

Promoting education and training through local
resources like Yenbeena and Dharnya

Other issues for group discussion
Key Issues (cont)
Contribution of Indigenous knowledge to current
land management practices-is it being given due
recognition

Inclusion of Indigenous people in land
management and care. Are Indigenous people
employed in all levels of management including
senior decision making level?

Joint management structures working
successfully in Australia-Kakadu, Ulluru,
Boodaree,(Wreck Bay ACT).
PATHWAYS FOR FUTURE
A negotiated settlement
between government & other
parties, which recognises the
Yorta Yorta as the traditional
owners under a
handback/leaseback
arrangement and inalienable
freehold title (see Models of Structures for Joint
Management of NP’s in current BM Campaign research, 2004).
‘Keeping it for the Future’
Old Dhungulla: Keep Her Flowin &
Keep the River Reds Growin
Maranooka & Thank you for your support for Yorta Yorta struggle
Lunch at Morning Glory and on Bus at 1pm for Site Visits & Story Lines