24/03/2005 - What was
once an annual gathering of Aboriginal people
in the Australian Alps which must have occurred
for thousands of years will be repeated next
week for the first time in many a year in
what is being hailed as a significant and
historic meeting.
It is believed that for many thousands of
years people of the different Aboriginal language
groups which surrounded the Australian Alps
of southeastern Australian would gather each
year at certain meeting places to discuss
issues of mutual importance, share stories,
food and companionship.
It is a practice that has not occurred for
many decades but will again at Dinner Plain
in the Victorian Alps next week (April 1-3).
It is being called the Australian Alps First
Peoples Gathering where it is expected more
than 100 traditional owners representing country
from around the Alps will gather to meet and
talk for two days.
The gathering is being sponsored by the Australian
Alps Liaison Committee (AALC), a body incorporating
government agecnies with a major role in managing
significant parts of the Australian Alps national
parks; the NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Service (NPWS), Parks Victoria, and Environment
ACT.
Along with 100 Aboriginal traditional owners
will be at least 50 conservation agency staff
who will together spend the weekend discussing
the future management of Aboriginal heritage
across the Australian Alps.
Australian Alps program manager, Gillian
Anderson, said today that the gathering will
be an historic moment.
"We know this event in many ways repeats
a practice which must have occurred thousands
of times over the millennia before the arrival
of Europeans.
"It is something that has not happened
for a long time now and I know the traditional
Aboriginal owners of this country are looking
forward to this event. It is an important
recognition of their historic attachment to
this country and for many I expect it will
be an emotional experience to gather and talk
as their forebears had done.
"The primary purpose of this gathering
is to bring together Traditional Owners of
Country within the Alps to rebiuld relationships,
share information, and experiences and discuss
future involvement in the management of the
Australian Alps National Parks.
"It will also provide a forum for traditional
owners and national park staff from Victoria,
ACT and NSW to meet, establish ongoing connections
and discuss park management face to face,"
Ms Anderson said.
The weekend will begin with a welcome to
country followed by informal discussion and
workshops in a spectacular alpine setting.
Later there will be Aboriginal dancing at
the High Plains Lodge to which the wider community
are invited to attend.
