Highlights of Issue 1, March 2004

Editorial

Viewpoint: Changing the Water

Traditional Owners Fly High at Truscott

Obituary

KCP Magazine

Traditional Owners Fly High at Truscott
By Bill Worth

Colourful totems, impressive dancing and a feast of turtle meat marked an historic event late last year at Truscott Airfield.

The Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the traditional owners, officially took over 200,000 hectares of land from the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation and then signed a lease of the airfield to Triple A Air Services. The latter use the remote bitumen strip as a supply point for coastal surveillance and the servicing of oil rigs.

Wunambal elder Louis Karadada remembers helping engineers and soldiers build the secret airbase during World War II. Louis said he was very happy to have ownership of his traditional land "where I was born, where I grew up, where I got my culture and pride from."

Sister Visitation attended the ceremonies along with sixty others from the Kalumburu settlement, some fifty kilometres to the east. Mr Wayne Bergmann from the KLC (Kimberley Land Council) spoke at the handover of the importance of the moment and how difficulties can be resolved by mature well-intentioned negotiations. Bishop Saunders led a prayer and blessing for the day, and remarked on the significance of "a joyous occasion that reversed the misfortunes of history and re-instated justice for the traditional owners".

Traditional Dancing featured in the celebrations at the Truscott handover.
Photo: CAS.

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