Yuendumu elder Harry Jagamara Nelson calls on NT and Federal politicians to make positive difference

BETTER housing, better healthcare, better education, better consultation and turf the Intervention — that’s the message for political candidates from remote Yuendumu

Yuendumu elder Harry Jagamara Nelson says the 2007 intervention, continued today under the Stronger Futures legislation, has done plenty of damage. PICTURE: Supplied

BETTER housing, better healthcare, better education, better consultation and turf the Intervention.

That’s the message for political candidates from remote Yuendumu, 300km north west of Alice Springs, ahead of dual Territory and Federal elections.

Yuendumu elder Harry Jagamara Nelson in his own words on behalf of his family:

On politicians: We see a lot of politicians when the elections are around the corner. We’re gearing up. Previous candidates have got in, but ... only once in while they come visit us — (they’re) not constantly talking to us every week or so to keep up with what’s happening.

On consultation and the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council:

Aboriginal people are not involved, not invited to make decisions. Not only in Northern Territory but throughout Australia. Consultation. Proper consultation. People should be selected by their own people, not the Prime Minister … Not from the top, from the bottom up.

On the 2007 Intervention, continued today under Stronger Futures legislation:

I’m sorry, it’s done a lot of damage, I tell you. The Intervention came in when we were getting into self government — I’m talking about Yuendumu. We were controlled, the workforce here, it all worked out. Then new laws came in. Me, personally, that broke my heart. It chopped the wings off the dreams I had of improving the living conditions of the people here.

10 years later, (it’s) still hurting. I am anyway, definitely. We could have been miles in front by now. (Intervention money should have spent on) roads going out the to the homelands, drilling rigs, good supplies of water. I’m not guilty. I’m not a woman basher. I’m not a rapist.

On Education:

It’s getting there very slowly. I’d like to see, in my opinion, teachers, even though they come from down south, trained in culture. Cross cultural education by our people: what to expect out there. Even (training) by white people who have been living in these communities for years and years. There should be constant consultation between parents and the teachers.

On housing:

We’re getting there with the education, very slowly, but housing, that’s the biggest problem we have all over the Northern Territory. I’m not quite sure whether the NT government is giving the money from the Federal Government out of the Budget to indigenous housing. I don’t know if it’s going through.

On housing and health:

Leaking taps and cockroaches need to be looked at very carefully in these houses. They need to be sprayed but we don’t know who to go for. They tell us this mob Zodiac, they tell us are in charge. NT Housing, they tell us to buy half a dozen bloody cans of cockroach spray. You can’t buy that every bloody week. We need that pest control mob. We used to do that years ago.

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