19/7/04
Once
again, South Australia's state government has authorised the
destruction of
another significant Aboriginal site, in the name of progress; this time
at
Wattle Point.
40,000
years of Australia's ancient cultural landscapes are being swept clean
of the
land by development, and government decision makers with no
understanding of
Aboriginal beliefs are authorising this destruction.
In
a few more years all of Australia's ancient cultural landscapes will
disappear
from South Australia, destroying all evidence that Aboriginal people
lived here
for 40,000 years.
How
can this government just go ahead and destroy Aboriginal sites of
significance
when we tell them they are important to us. How can you have faith in a
government that takes no notice of Aboriginal people and does not
recognise
Aboriginal beliefs?
The
government consultation process is ridiculous. They keep on making the
same
mistakes, over and over again, starting confusion and anger within our
communities.
Our
past is connected to our future. When the last remaining cultural
landscapes
are gone, our culture will be lost. We must fight to stop this
destruction.
Quenten
Agius
Direct
descendant of the traditional owners of Adjahdura Land (Yorke
Peninsula, SA).
Senior
Heritage Monitor for the Narungga Heritage Committee.
46 Maitland Rd, Point Pearce SA
5573
Mobile: 0429367121