Statements of SupportThis wouldn’t be accepted by any other section of the Australian society. If they tried to implement this against women, or Jews, or gays, the country would be in an uproar. Why do we accept it for Aboriginal people?
Olga Havnen, Indigenous leader and CEO, Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the NT (and founder of the original Women for Wik group)
In 1931 Molly walked home with her two sisters, following the rabbit proof fence. Mr Neville, the Government Protector, was outwitted and defeated. Now, 76 years later, John Howard is subjecting Aboriginal communities to the kinds of laws and the kind of thinking which Mr Neville used. Mr Howard says that “Unless the Indigenous people of this country become part of the mainstream of the nation, their future is bleak.” Aboriginal culture lies at the very heart of this country. What will we do if that is destroyed?
Christine Olsen, writer & producer
By October of 2007, Women for Wik had set up a website (an avenue for community voices, forum for public discussion and clearing house for the Intervention) which at its peak received 160,000 hits. This was at a time when there was very little in-depth media coverage of the Intervention.
The organising committee (Christine Olsen, Rosie Scott, Olga Havnen, Raylene Rosas, Eileen Cumming and Eva Cox) organised a packed and very emotional public meeting in Sydney addressed by Northern Territory Indigenous women and elders Rachel Willika, Eileen Cuming, Raylene Rosas, Olga Havnen and chaired by Dr Anita Heiss. These women spoke movingly and eloquently about their experiences with the Intervention and deep opposition to it.
Women for Wik Statement on the Intervention
The Federal action in the Northern Territory could provide a unique opportunity to improve conditions in Aboriginal communities, but there is also a real possibility that it may make things worse. As currently planned it will undermine key aspects of Aboriginal societies – country, kin and culture. Moreover, by using a top-down approach it has the potential to work against self-government and, in some instances, contravene human rights. This will not improve the lives of Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory.
Accordingly we call on both Federal and Territory governments to recognise the importance of Indigenous identity and develop an environment of mutual respect through cross-cultural awareness, communication and engagement. Like many Australians who walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconcilation , we believe our generation can ensure a fair go for Indigenous citizens.
Like so many other Australians, I absolutely oppose the racist N.T. government Intervention. You ask “Why do we accept it for Aboriginal people?”. I don’t, but the only thing that stops me from marching on the streets is that we regularly see older women from communities up north asking for these restrictions to stay! Then I sink back again, because I want to support whatever N.T. communities want for themselves. There are mixed messages being given, and they stop many of us from loudly and angrily publicly stating the absolute obvious – that the Intervention is disgustingly racist and an intolerable injustice.
At Women’s Web – women’s stories, women’s actions http://www.womensweb.com.au we condemn our government’s continued intervention policy. We condemn anything that treats people who are unable to find decent, dignified, acceptable, properly paid work and who don’t have a private source of income as second class citizens who must be given ‘special treatment’.
As feminist women, we are familiar with this treatment – sometimes given to women in our families. We also understand unrewarding and poorly rewarded work. As we are living after the Second World War, we are familiar with the cruelty, devastion and moral bankruptcy that can result when groups of people are picked out to have ‘special treatment’ inflicted upon them against their will or without their informed consent .
The NTER is a shocking invasion against aboriginal peoples. It is a stain on this Country that must never be forgotten. Its catastrophic social consequences for remote communities may take more generations to recover.
The Intervention has been internationally condemmed, and by the United Nations in the strongest terms. In January 2011 Australia reports again to the UN and not only the Pacific Community but the International Community must hear the voices of Australians. The current Government’s policy on NTER does not lead me to believe that the rollback will be government initiated, it has to be done by the vox populi.