KILLALEA State Park has hosted one of the biggest gatherings of Aboriginal people in the Illawarra and South Coast in recent times.
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Hundreds of people joined a three-day camp to talk fishing rights, cultural needs and connection to country from last Friday to Sunday.
Illawarra Legal Centre’s Linda Tucker said the centre has worked with the local Aboriginal community to address what has been a volatile relationship with NSW Fisheries, leading to fines and imprisonment of Aboriginal people.
“Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and other partners have taken a proactive approach to this and other issues facing the Aboriginal community by organising this major cultural event, and welcoming NSW Fisheries and other officials to join them around the fire for a yarn with South Coast’s traditional owners,” Ms Tucker said.
‘‘This is a very special area for our local Aboriginal community and the ideal place to hold this important event.
“Illawarra Legal Centre is working with the local community and NSW Fisheries to promote greater understanding of cultural rights as we do not want to see Aboriginal people imprisoned over fishing.
“We need to build relationships between Aboriginal people and local officials as the first step.
“The law and the way it’s implemented is a major problem at the moment.”
ILALC chief executive officer Derek Hardman was excited about the event.
“The aim of this gathering is to take a proactive response to the many uncertainties facing Aboriginal communities with plans to form a Traditional Owners Advisory Body to advise on matters of cultural and heritage significance,” Mr Hardman said.
“It’s a matter of bringing our people together and talk about issues – this is the first gathering of its type in our area and brings together Aboriginal Land Councils from eight areas from La Perouse in the north to the Victorian border.
“In a way we are making history, but in the end how much we get out of it will be up to our people who attend – I suppose it’s a matter of self-determination.”
The event has sparked interest across NSW with MPs, government officials, academics and legal and community workers joining the gathering to see how all groups can work together.
“It is an exciting development that the Aboriginal community is taking a positive stance and welcoming NSW Fisheries and other officials to their gathering to begin working together on many different issues,” Ms Tucker said.
