Antinuclear

Death of highly respected Aboriginal anti nuclear activist Nabarula

Traditional owner and Muckaty anti-nuclear waste dump activist Nabarula dies in Tennant Creek ABC Alice Springs  By Emma Sleath, 22 Aug 15  A senior traditional owner and activist against the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste facility has died in Tennant Creek.

The Warlmanpa elder, now known as Nabarula for cultural reasons, died on August 5.

Nabarula was part of an eight-year campaign against the Northern Land Council’s (NLC’s) nomination of Muckaty Station, 110 kilometres north of Tennant Creek, as a nuclear waste storage facility.

She was one of a group of traditional owners who took legal action against the NLC and the Australian government saying they were not consulted and did not consent to the proposal.

At a special sitting of the federal court at Muckaty, Nabarula threatened to “block the road and let the truck run us over” if the waste dump was approved.

In an out-of-court settlement, the Northern Land Council withdrew its nomination on June 10, 2014.

Nat Wasley, from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, remembers delivering the news to Nabarula.

“I remember she did a little dance and put her fist up in the air,” Ms Wasley told 783 ABC Alice Springs.

“She was an extraordinary woman; I’m so proud and lucky to have known her.”

Nabarula’s family members were too distraught to speak to the ABC, asking Ms Wasley to speak on their behalf.

“There’s a lot of sadness and a lot of grieving,” Ms Wasley said.

“But there’s [also] a lot of joy in just pulling together photos and stories of her life …”

Ms Wasley said Nabarula was determined to fight the Muckaty proposal and did not falter throughout the long campaign.

“She was always making sure the young people were engaged and involved in the campaign events,” she said.

“But also with visitors … media, lawyers, interstate supporters, she always made time to sit down to meetings and to take people out bush if they wanted to.”

Earlier years……….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-21/traditional-owner-and-muckaty-activist-dies-in-tennant-creek/6711306

August 24, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News