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by Cheryl Fulton
This rally was part of a two pronged approach we have taken in our Land Rights campaign to have specific areas of land returned to us by the end of 1985.
One side of the campaign is a patient educative process being concentrated on the wider community. We are endeavouring to reveal the realities of Land Rights, and combat the scare tactics that have been used by those who oppose us.
The other side of the campaign is a vociferous haranguing approach against the Liberal State Government, who enforce an assimilation policy denying indigenous Tasmanians the right to have land returned.
Supportive groups at the rally included numerous unions, environmental groups, church groups, university students, some archaeologists, peace groups and many members of the general public.
The attendance at the rally clearly illustrated that we are correct in our belief that we have a lot of support from the wider community. This was also shown in an opinion poll done by the Mercury newspaper where 56.3% supported Land Rights.
The State Government is the obstacle.
Speakers at the rally included Mick Mansell (Aboriginal Legal Service), Cheryl Fulton (State Secretary, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre). Bob Brown (Independent MHA for Denisoun) and Ken Wreidt (Leader State Opposition). Gray refused to speak or attend.
We want legislation returning the following areas of land back to Tasmanian Aborigines in 1985;
Cape Barren Island
Wybalenna on Flinders Island
Oyster Cove
Cape Grim
Mt Cameron Rock carvings area
Kuti Kina Cave area
The following mutton birding islands:
The Hunter Group
Chapel Island
The Doughboy's
Steep Head
Little Dog
Big Dog
Babel
The Tasmanian Aboriginal human remains commonly known as the Crowther Collection were cremated at Oyster Cove on 4 May 1985 in the presence of the largest gathering of Tasmanian Aboriginal people in a decade.
That site is a significant part of our Land Rights claim.
After years of confrontation and lobbying the Crowther Collection was returned to the Aboriginal community with the introduction of the Museums (Aboriginal Remains) Act 1984.
However, the government was not about to be genuine in their action. The legislation returned the remains to two 'custodians' on behalf of the Aboriginal community without any consultation whatsoever. The government continually used them as a barrier between direct negotiation between the Aboriginal organisations having political strength.
Since the cremation on 4 May the urgency of our requests to State and Federal Government for protection of the site have been ignored.
The lengthy struggle with the State Government to cremate our dead at the site is indicative of the constant denial of our rights as indigenous people, or in this instance the right of anyone to deal with their dead.
Some contemporary Aborigines have expressed a desire to have their ashes placed at Oyster Cove, and some wish to be cremated there.
The significance of the site has magnified since the first days in January 1984 when we occupied the site as a Land Rights claim.
We cannot comprehend the attitude of the State Minister for National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Beswick, which is that the area is merely an historic reserve of equal importance to the wider community.
Until our occupation of the site, it was left unkept and ridden with rubbish by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Michael Mansell from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service is currently overseas on a 'Journey for Dignity'.
He will visit at least seven countries, negotiating with Governments and the administration of museums and universities to have Tasmanian Aboriginal remains returned to our community.
The journey began from Geneva where Mr Mansell attended the International Law Conference, and presented a written report tothe Working Groupof the Human Rights Commission on the Gray Government and the situation of Tasmanian Aborigines.
Countries he will visit include France, Holland, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, England and the USA.
The first Museum to be visited is the Musee De L'Homme where arrangements have been made for discussion between the Directors and Mr Mansell.
The French Museum de l'Homme in Paris is ready to return the skulls of nine Tasmanian Aborigines if the Australian Government asks.
The secretary of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Mrs Cheryl Fulton, said in Hobart yesterday that the return of the skulls had been arranged by a Hobart Aboriginal lawyer, Mr Mike Mansell, who is on a three-month tour seeking the return of Aboriginal remains.
Mrs Fulton said the centre had written an urgent letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Hayden, asking him to make the formal request to France.
She said the heads of nine Aborigines and the pelvis of another who died in the 1830s were displayed in the anthropological wing of the Paris museum.
They had been sent to Europe by George Augustus Robinson, known as ‘the protector of Aborigines’, along with Aboriginal artefacts, between 1829-39.
'It is most distressing to discover how our dead were mutilated and their dismembered remains shipped overseas.' Mrs Fulton said.
The remains returned would be cremated in the traditional way.
Sydney Morning Herald 23.8.85.
Cheryl Fulton is the State Secretary of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
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URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLawB/1985/60.html