The historic signing of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Environmental Protection Agreement was held this morning at Wolseley Park as the nation commemorates the sixth anniversary of the National Apology.
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Gomeroi Elders and the community held a Welcome to Country ceremony at the Red Kangaroo Memorial followed by a peaceful procession along Conadilly Street.
The agreement is between Gomeroi Elders, Maules Creek landholders and environmental protectors for the area threatened by the Maules Creek and Boggabri mines.
Gomeroi spokesperson Dolly Talbott said the flagship event sets out the protocols for protecting cultural heritage, lands and water and formalises the ways in which Gomeroi Elders and community will come together to protect what is jointly important to them, while differentiating between the signatories to the Agreement.
“Gomeroi people, as traditional owners, have a unique cultural and spiritual connection and custodial rights and obligations to care for, access and protect the lands, waters, flora and fauna within Gomeroi County, “ Ms Talbott said.
“We especially have responsibilities and rights in relation to the protection of our ancestor’s burials, our sacred places including men’s areas, women’s areas, camping grounds and ceremonial places.”
Ms Talbott said the Protection Agreement will also ensure that the protection of Aboriginal culture and heritage will be integrated into any protection efforts of any party undertaking their democratic right to peaceful protest.
“It’s ironic that Whitehaven Coal has been the catalyst for such long overdue change and dialogue and perhaps finally some reconciliation and understanding of each other and healing between traditional and local land holders and farmers will result,” she said.
Respected Gomeroi Elder, Dick Talbott said the common threat of open cut mining in a culturally and environmentally significant area such as the Leard State Forest has brought the communities together .
National Co-ordinator for Lock the Gate, Phil Laird, said the agreement represented an important landmark in the battle to protect the cultural and environmental values of the Maules Creek and Boggabri areas.
“Conservationists, Maules Creek farmers and Gomeroi custodians agree to fight to stop the destruction of culture and biodiversity in this beautiful place.”
The procession was followed by a barbecue lunch in the park at Boggabri, opposite the Whitehaven Office.
