MEDIA RELEASE: Government’s ‘Claytons’ Consultation Insults Aborigines Centre for Indigenous Cultural Policy CICP Aboriginal Ethics Committee slammed the Australian Government’s consultation plans to acquire a national Aboriginal representative view to place unprovenanced Aboriginal human remains in a National Keeping Place, saying it is grossly impartial, extremely deficient in scope and delivery and culturally unsound, ignoring Aboriginal Cultural Protocols. Aboriginal Elder and repatriation expert Mr Bob Weatherall backed the CICP Aboriginal Ethics Committee findings Kamilaroi Elder and repatriation expert Bob Weatherall (ABOVE) says the Australian Government’s consultation plan is seriously flawed. that the consultation plan is seriously flawed and would be extremely insulting Repatriation (ACIR) had identified the customary obligations to finally lay them to Aboriginal elders. establishment of a Keeping Place for to rest in the Land (Our Mother) and not Bob Weatherall, Chair of the Centre for unprovenanced remains as their “key hinder their journey to the spirit world – Indigenous Cultural Policy (CICP), said priority”. This is a grave mistake. As something they have been deprived of it was incumbent on Minister Tony Burke the ACIR is comprised of individuals for 200 years,” Mr Weatherall said. to immediately intervene and suspend the consultation planned by his Indigenous nominated by museums and appointed “These old people are family and Repatriation Unit, to commence by the Minister, not representing any community members of today’s living collective or organisation, they have tomorrow in Brisbane and engage an independent organisation to undertake no legitimacy to make any decisions. relatives: great grandmothers and an impartial, inclusive and culturally- Decision making rests legally and grandfathers, only one or two generations appropriate process of consultation that exclusively with the collective past; the First Stolen Generation. Still can obtain a truly representative view custodians, the ‘next of kin’ and cannot today they are kept in cardboard boxes, on the issue of unprovenanced ancestral be made without their free prior and plastic bags, drawers, cupboards and informed consent.” human remains. vaults. They deserve to be treated with He added “the Australian Government’s “They are meddling with the Rights/ dignity and a maximum of respect and Advisory Committee for Indigenous Rites of our Dead and our inherent sensitivity,” he concluded. June 17, 2013
www.facebook.com/CICP
MEDIA RELEASE