Oombulgurri Western Australia - Aboriginal Issues

I heard on SBS1 last night that the Oombulgurri mob are basically homeless in Wyndham having relocated because of declining services in the remote Kimberley settlement of Oombulgurri, like the closure of the school.  Over the last two years the WA government has spent some $4 million on work around the community.  The TV footage showed fairly solid houses at Oombulgurri.  The TV presenter mentioned that the Oombulgurri people had been promised housing in Wyndham but the reality is that they are living in small tents without water or sewage facilities. The TV presenter also reported that there had been serious alcohol issues at Oombulgurri.  I think a lot of us might turn to drink if our culture had been left in tatters by white settlement.

Surely a leader from the Oombulgurri people can be found and mentored to lead these people to a grog free and better existence where their pride is restored as they once again have cultural roots to hold on to.  That leader could rebuild the cultural roots so that the population of Australia at large offers and regularly shows its respect for the culture.

Come on WA government, find an indigenous leader or leaders and mentor them so that they can lead with confidence and promote their people so that they are respected across Australia.

One woman from Oombulgurri, now in Wyndham, said that she felt lost and is it any wonder.

In the eyes of the United Nations we are not doing too well, however one can cite all the clauses and declarations one likes and beat our country over the head in terms of these matters but we know well enough that we are not doing the right thing.  Find the indigenous leaders and support them to turn these situations around and do it now.  We must feel for the elders who I guess cannot see light at the end of the tunnel but they cannot be ignored by having a sole focus on the young.  You can't write some off in the hope that it will all come right if the young are educated and get jobs.  Of course education and jobs will be essential but the elders are also here now and are hurting.

Those great indigenous leaders are out there like Patrick Dodson and Noel Pearson and many others.  Can Oombulgurri throw up a respected leader who can carry the day?  There are many functional indigenous communities that can be used as models of what can be achieved by indigenous leaders (men and women).

I hope the Oombulgurri mob can hold their heads high well before we have to vote in the 2013  referendum on recognising Australia's First People in the Australian Constitution.

The WA Government may just have to bear some costs to revive and keep communities like Oombulgarri going until the young have reached an age and have the knowledge and skills to decide where they want to live.  It is the least that can be done as a true reparation for the effects of white settlement. Also the WA and the Federal governments could run regular TV adds to showcase great indigenous communities in order to educate the Australian people in the lead up to the 2013 referendum.  In this way Australians would have the opportunity to learn to respect what their indigenous brothers and sisters are and can achieve.