The article in yesterdays Australian written by former Australian of the Year - Galarrwuy Yunupingu
defines Yunupingu as a very different kind of thinker from Noel Pearson.He is deliberate rather than quicksilver, solemn rather than combatitive, his voice is a rare one, has a proud tone,deeply political in its understanding of the Australian State, yet always steered by traditional beliefs.
He has four wives, feeds a wild crocodile by hand from the beach fringeing his outstation home each morning.
His views are aligned with no obvious political or ideological camp,other than the camp of Yolngu tradition.
Here's what he says;
"Aboriginal people in remote areas don't want to live like this, sitting there, getting handouts on our own land, while the land is used by other people, we want the good things of life too.
When I go to the Southern cities, Melbourne and Sydney, they dazzle me with their wealth and prestige, swimming pools, libraries, creches,stadiums,museums,art galleries,gardens and old buildings all done up and restored to great beauty.
It just amazes me.Billions of dollars being spent on internet connections, and not just that, but their speed.
Most outstation people just wish for a phone that works.
Each morning I listen to the radio news and during lunch, I watch the sessions of Parliament on TV. The Parliament is an institution of great power and tradition with respect for law and procedure.
Like a song cycle the parliament can unfold slowly before your eyes.
I like the ceremony, but it is the great debates and the content of ideas on the floor that hold my attention.
The Parliament concerns itself with the lives of the people and it is the future of the people that troubles and inspired the Members.
The debate is always about doing the right thing for the people, and one side says they will perform this task better than the Opposition, seeking to prove to the people that it knows their need.
The patten developing every day in the Parliament is the pattern of economics, not about anything else.
The Parliament in this country is built to look after the wealth of its people.
The question always arises in my mind as to whether my people are included in these great debates? Who speaks for us ? Where is our role? Are we also the ones they are fighting for, or do they speak only for those that have elected them?
I sometimes call out to our ancestral heroes that we should be included in these great debates, and represented in the Parliament.
In reality I know that we are out of this debate,of which the first theme is: ECONOMICS and the second theme:LEADERSHIP.
If we are in this debate,it is as a threat to economic development, or, we are a disappointing participant in this economy.
The reality for Aboriginal peopleis that we are Un-Economic.
It has become clear to me that to live life as we wish on our homelands, we must create economic activity and develop a real economy for ourselves.
So Our clan has established a number of small enterprises, the most important of which is a timber mill near Dhanaya, where a number of Gumatj men have taken up the work,working with Forestry Tasmania,we started to harvest some of the millions of stringybark trees that grow on our land, this timber when properly cut is some of the finest hard wood in the land.
With this timber we have built a dormitory for the workers who now number 18.
A building company has supported us,and local contractors have helped. Hearing of our effort, Rotary sent us support also.
We also have a cattle station nearby where 4 men are engaged in building new yards and fences and bringing our 400 head of cattle under control.
We have used the clan's royalty money to pay these men real wages, and they are working like real men. My sisters tell me they look like real men.
The next key is LEADERSHIP.
The way forward lies only with ourselves.
I wish for my people to cast off the layers of control and domination that we confront every day from Government, bureaucracies,local councils,shires,registrars,magistrates,police, inspectors who set themselves on us every day, smothering us.
The littlest person in the littlest office becomes a dominator and controller of our lives, dictating new methods of control, forgetting the real authorities who are left sitting under a tree, unable to use a phone or a computer.
The world of red tape has come to control us and block our ambitions.
I have observed that white people don't like being told they are not needed.
Yolngu interests come second to the interests of outsiders, and too many outsiders live off us and our special place in the world.
My solution is simple.
The Senior men and women of east Arnhem Land must be given power to lead, this is the power of the Yolngu Parliament, whose members are sworn to the future of the people.
We must be allowed to draw on the lands laid down by our ancestors that have forever balanced, nutured, and guided us.
There is a role for Government in partnership with us, with clear boundaries.
Our words must be listened to.
We want to develop our land, have security in our townships, education for our children ,a job for men and women, a home for their families. We want roads and bridges, schools, hospitals, sporting grounds and libraries as does every other working Australian.
We will seek the power to enforce our authority when it is questioned, and we want to make our own bargains over land, understanding that our people's benefits cannot be gained without being a part of the ecomonic trade of the outside world.
We understand that the bargain must run both ways if we are to achieve the future that we want, which will ensure that we survive and prosper with all our individuality and uniquesness intact."
Galarrwuy Yunupingu has studied and researched society in the 21st century, and identified that our society is based on the economy, and leadership.
He has set out in his community,to create work and business, putting his people to work,making them financially independant,and therefore able to contribute to their own community, and the wider economy.
For leadership,he wants Aboriginal Leaders to be recognized and given autonomy, in partnership with the rest of Australia.
Domination and control of one party over another never, ever works.
History shows it doesn't work in Government, it doesn't work in marriage,it doesn't work in Companies, it just doesn't work.
The majority of Australians want to help Aboriginal people: they are sad and sick of the images of alchohol abuse,neglected and abused children, a race in utter despair.
But we've been " helping " for years, and it hasn't worked.
We need to start listening,and that plea is in every Aboriginal face,man,woman and child, and written on every facet of the intervention.
Whether we are lead by Labor, Liberal or Green, no Government can change the status quo for Aboriginal people.
Governments don't bring about change
People do.
The Australian people have to demand change, and Government will follow.
