First Court Claim To Aboriginal Land

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 13

First Court Claim To Aboriginal Land

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) DARWIN, March 18. “We want this country to stay with us, so that our children will always be with it, as were our fathers and grandfathers.

“Already, a special giant banyan tree, known as Wial, has been destroyed. It was at a special place and marked the division between two tribes.” These statements were made by an Aborigine in Australia’s first court case involving Aborigines seeking land rights. Six hundred Aborigines

from the Arnham Land Aboriginal Reserve have taken action in the Supreme Court against Nabalco, Ltd, and the Commonwealth, seeking a stop-work order on a 8300 m bauxite and alumina development scheme at Gove, 400 miles north of Darwin, which they claim is ancient tribal land. Mr Dadaynga Marika, president of the Yirrkala Village Council, said in an affidavit that Djakawu, a legendary Aborigine, put his people on Arnhem Land “at the beginning, long before white men came,” and he added: “Djakawu also put our water, dances, song, stories, ceremonies, our sacred places, names, and other special things, there.” The Aborigines are also seeking a declaration of ownership and freedom from interference. The case, which is being heard by Mr Justice Blackburn without a jury, is continuing-