Aboriginal Women Reclaiming
Culture And Land (A.W.R.C.A.L.)
Sun, Moon and Stars
Homeland Prosperity Project
This project is based on social justice principles. It is hoped that the initial development stage will be resourced by non-Aboriginal people seeking to address the injustice of invasion, colonisation and Aboriginal disadvantage in Australia.
History and overview
During the first half of the twentieth century Aboriginal people who had survived the frontier wars were forcibly moved from their traditional countries into the mission and reserve system. This project has been developed by Baganan Kurityityin Theresa Creed in consultation with her family and their tribal associates. This family was amongst those removed from Boulia and taken to Palm Island. They seek to be reunited again with their traditional territories and ancestors. This family has suffered patiently for ten years waiting for the hopes of native title to be realised, with no significant achievements. They are now looking for more creative and “outside the square” opportunities to, again, be one with and prosper on their traditional country. In this context, A.W.R.C.A.L. has been created.
Where? This has been developed with the town of Boulia in mind. It is a good place for traditional and historical reasons as well as economic development potential. However the area between Boulia, Mt. Isa and Cloncurry is also appropriate country to be considered.
Project Objectives
To raise funds to secure land and development capital
-To develop sustainable living and economic systems for prosperity on Kalkadoon and Pitta -Pitta country for traditional owners, the local Aboriginal community and the non-Aboriginal residents on the country.
-to create an education centre that promotes
- sustainable agricultural and industrial development in Aboriginal communities,
- the truth of history and indigenous world views to non-Aboriginal Australia and the global community.
- Aboriginal cultural, spiritual and artistic development
Principles of sustainable energy, water, agriculture and horticulture systems will be developed and explored in conjunction with Aboriginal food systems and knowledge. Living systems will be developed to sustain residents and visitors and to be an education/demonstration resource..
The project will run education programs as follows,,,,
1/programs run by and for Aboriginal people to facilitate and provide skills and resources for the development of prosperity. In particular the development and management of sustainable agriculture, energy production, water use, communications, new technologies and business development
2/programs to educate non-aboriginal people about sustainability, reconciliation and social justice.
3/programs to entertain tourists as an economic enterprise in itself.
The project will include a holistic health component incorporating western, eastern and Aboriginal health traditions involving -
-nutrition programs (and associated food production needs)
-self help and specialist training in eastern health traditions such as acupuncture/pressure. exotic herbs, diagnostic technique, first aid etc.
-in line with cultural revival, develop community process and specialist training in Aboriginal health traditions including bushfood, psychotherapy, aromatherapy and healing notions associated with art, music and dance for the benefit of the local community.
the holistic, multidisciplinary approach to health care will also be an asset to economic opportunities including tourist ventures such as health retreats.
Community and economic development
This is about Aboriginal people returning to country, completing the circle that was broken. While doing things the proper way in Aboriginal culture and law is a good idea in theory, many of the Aboriginal social processes have been smashed or repressed during colonisation. If the proper structures cannot process the business the idea fails. Therefore a precondition and underlying principle of this enterprise is a community development process that catalyses and resources the re-emergence of Aboriginal decision making, land management and governance processes..
This project will be owned and controlled by traditional owners and will have relevance to all Aboriginal people from any tribal background, and indeed non-Aboriginal people living on kurityityin territory, as well as traditional owners.
The economic objective of this project is to develop sustainable, Aboriginal owned and controlled industries. Each aspect of this project, will be used as opportunities for skills and job training opportunities’. This project will also require traditional owners to develop corporate business skills and systems to become entrepreneurial and expansive in business development.
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