Assumed opposition between Cape York Indigenous people and green groups “simply wrong”

The Wilderness Society Inc & Wik Projects
Joint Media Release
9 June 2009

Suggestions that the Wild Rivers controversy in Queensland shows a fundamental opposition between Cape York Indigenous people and ‘green’ groups are “simply wrong”, the Wilderness Society stated today.

The recent declaration of the Archer River basin as a Wild River by the Queensland Government was the impetus for a gathering on Country between Wik, Wik Waya, and Kugu senior elders and Traditional Owners, and Wilderness Society campaigners.

The meeting, over several days in late May, was organised by emerging Indigenous leader Gina Castelain, director of Wik Projects and a supporter of the Wild Rivers initiative.

“Wik Projects has a role in developing projects for the benefit of Wik and Wik Waya people”, said Ms Castelain. “We invited the Wilderness Society to our country to talk about the wetland wilderness near Aurukun and the relationship Aboriginal people have with it.”

The gathering focused on the protection and management of the Aurukun wetlands – an area of global significance and five times the size of the world famous wetlands of Kakadu. The meeting also discussed World Heritage recognition, developing Indigenous Protected Areas, and business and employment opportunities in the conservation and carbon economies on Wik country.

The Wilderness Society’s Anthony Esposito said, “There is a strong affinity between groups like the Wilderness Society and Wik Projects, which both seek sustainable land management in environments of exceptional natural values and Indigenous cultural heritage. Together we will work with the Traditional Owners who have expressed to us a strong desire to see their lands and waters protected and managed for future generations”.

“We want to ensure that conservation initiatives on Cape York can provide Traditional Owners with the resources and authority they need to properly protect and manage their country”, he said.

The recent meeting culminated in Wik Projects and The Wilderness Society agreeing to work together through a formal Cooperation Agreement. The agreement will focus on Indigenous conservation outcomes; sustainable business development and employment on homelands, including Wild River rangers; identification of areas of international conservation significance; and mitigation of the impacts of bauxite mining in the western Cape York area.

“The Traditional Owners are especially concerned to keep mining out of traditional country south of the Archer River, an area rich in cultural values and story places”, said Ms Castelain. “We want to work with The Wilderness Society to ensure that we are supported in maintaining the biodiversity of these ecosystems and that Aboriginal people can maintain their connection with their traditional country. The days of miners riding roughshod over our land and our plans to care for country are over”, she said.

The Wilderness Society has offered support to Wik Projects on social and economic projects such as the Aurukun Wetlands eco-cultural tours. ”We work with Indigenous landholders on combining environmental protection with sustainable homeland development. The Aurukun Wetland Charters is a particularly fine example of how an Indigenous business can capture the economic opportunities from conserving world class natural and cultural assets, and it has our support”, said Mr Esposito.

“We will also offer support for a proposed Aurukun timber salvage project to mitigate the wasteful practice of broadscale tree clearing and burning in the bauxite industry. In addition, we will facilitate scientific advice on the environmental impact of dams and other mining infrastructure and the viability of rehabilitation”, he said. Both Rio Tinto Alcan and Chalco hold mining entitlements on Wik Waya country in the area north of the Archer River.