Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the world: Martu people rejoice over a legal victory for land rights in Australia, Ecuadorian voters reject oil drilling and mining in sensitive areas, and concerns rise in Canada over possible cuts to Indigenous Services.
AUSTRALIA: Martu people celebrate legal victory for land rights
The Western Australian government affirmed in federal court that the Martu people of the Western Desert are the rightful custodians of their ancestral lands, leading to a formal recognition of Native title rights in Australia, National Indigenous Times reported on Aug. 24.
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Martu applicant Kennedy Finlay and representatives from the Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation were present in the courtroom to witness the milestone acknowledgement from the Western Australia government.
“We are very happy today that governments and the court have agreed this land belongs to Martu,” Finlay said, according to National Indigenous Times.
“Our ancestors cared for this land, and then gave us the responsibility. We will use our Native title rights to care for our country and keep our culture strong.”
The government’s acknowledgement comes after years of discussions and consultations involving the Wanajarra and Yina (Elders) Council, along with gatherings of Martu common-law holders over all Martu ngurra, or country.
The Martu community will now shift its attention to the Karlamilyi National Park, an expansive natural reserve situated in Western Australia. The park’s status has been the subject of prolonged negotiations with the state government.
Tony McRae, chief executive of the the Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, said the Native title rights put Martu “in a strong position to control access to their land.”
“JYAC is the trustee for Martu rights and we ensure any activities on country are done under binding agreements,” McRae said. “This gives Martu control over country and gives land users the certainty they want to do business.”
ECUADOR: Voters reject oil extraction, mining in sensitive areas
Ecuadorians have voted to halt future oil drilling in the eastern Amazon within Yasuni National Park, a delicate protected region recognized for its vulnerable rainforest and secluded Indigenous communities, Mongabay reported on Aug. 21.
More than 5.2 million voters supported the halt to crude oil drilling, with about 3.6 million opposing a decision to stop crude oil extraction.
And more than 70 percent of voters approved a referendum to halt mining of copper, gold and silver in the Chocó Andino de Pichincha, a biosphere reserve outside Quito, Ecuador.
The referendum on oil drilling strengthens safeguards for the isolated Indigenous communities in the area, Mongabay reported.
“It was worth going out campaigning in the different provinces of Ecuador,” Norma Nenquimo, vice president of the Waorani people of Ecuador, told Mongabay after the victory. “We’ve traveled through the Amazon, the mountains and the coast — and this is the result.”
The referendum pertained to the potential closure of an oil block within Yasuní National Park named Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini, where drilling has been ongoing since 2016 despite opposition from conservationists and local Indigenous communities.
The area currently houses 12 oil platforms and 230 wells, yielding roughly 57,000 barrels of oil daily, according to operators. Oil extraction has significantly propelled economic growth in Ecuador, which ranks among South America’s leading oil producers.
Environmental and human rights advocates have highlighted concerns about oil spills and construction of a roadway from the drilling sites, which they say endanger Indigenous communities such as the Tagaeri, Taromenane, and Dukagaeri and other groups, including the Waorani, Kichwas, and Shuar.
The protected region, which spans nearly 2.4 million acres, is one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, hosting 1,130 tree species, 81 types of bat species, 593 species of birds, and a variety of other flora and fauna.
“I believe that all the fauna in the ecosystem that couldn’t speak up for themselves, the rivers and the animals, are spiritually happy,” said Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai, an Indigenous Shuar leader and president of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative, according to Mongabay.
“We have that connection [with nature] and I can feel the harmony.”
CANADA: Government eyes cuts to Indigenous services
Canada’s Minister of Indigenous Services has confirmed that officials are considering budget reductions to Indigenous Services Canada as part of broader cost-cutting efforts by the nation’s Liberal government, CBC News reported on Aug. 24.
Minister Patty Hajdu said the focus will be on reducing administrative inefficiencies rather than impacting service delivery to Indigenous populations, but acknowledged that Indigenous Services would also look for budget-cutting measures.
“We’re going through the exercise,” said Hajdu, according to CBC News. “Every minister is expected to look for savings. For me, the red line is anything that affects the quality of life for First Nations people.”
She continued, “That’s my commitment to First Nations people, and it’s the work that the deputy [minister] is doing through the lens of ensuring that service delivery won’t be impacted.”
The Métis National Council leaders conveyed their disappointment about potential budget cuts.
President Cassidy Caron voiced concerns that Métis priorities might be overshadowed by those of non-Indigenous individuals, particularly since this year’s budget did not allocate any new funds specifically for Métis initiatives.
Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, noted that essential services such as water, education, and housing on reserves are consistently underfunded.
My final thoughts
A win for one is a win for all. My final thoughts are in Australia, where the Martu people are celebrating a victor in a land rights case. I join with them in rejoicing in this significant triumph in the federal court, where their land rights have been officially recognized and upheld. This momentous event holds broader implications, serving as a beacon of hope for Indigenous communities worldwide.
It also highlights the ongoing struggle for the protection and recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples across the globe. Most importantly, it shows that the struggle for all human rights, including land rights, for Indigenous peoples may take long but will eventually be won.
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