Antinuclear

Yanakanai Ngarpala Yarta – Come Here to Our Country: Hawker’s first protest against nuclear waste + Camp Out 7-9 October 2016

Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners of the area slated for a national nuclear waste dump in South Australia, will host 50 people on country for “Yanakanai Ngarpala Yarta – Come Here to Our Country”, a 2-day camp.

The camp will conclude with Hawker’s first protest march against the proposed nuclear dump since the nearby property at Wallerberdina / Barndioota was shortlisted almost one year ago in November 2015.

“We want to keep the precious Flinders Ranges nuclear free. While opposition to the nuclear dump is not unanimous in Hawker, it is very strong… we will be gathering next Sunday to make that sentiment loud and clear,” said Hawker local Robert Webb.

The Yanakanai Ngarpala Yarta camp will host locals interested to learn more about the area’s cultural heritage as well as people from the United States, New Zealand, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Adnyamathanha woman Regina McKenzie said “I want everyone to come and meet the ancient land, to experience our living Adnyamathanha culture and understand why our homelands must not be desecrated by nuclear waste”.

The weekend of activities will include a visit to the sacred Hookina Spring, exploring the site near the proposed dump area where flooding destroyed a railway bridge and sunrise at the artefact-rich sand hills near Cotabena.

Sunday’s rally will hear from Adnyamathanha people, local members of the Flinders Local Action Group and the Conservation Council of SA.

“How can our women still sing our songs to our children when we have poison on our land? We don’t want that waste dump coming to our land,” concluded Regina McKenzie.

October 5, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | ACTION