Thursday

Senior Bininj (Aboriginal) artist in Kakadu West Arnhem, John Lamibanda, created this bark painting as a show of solidarity with Standing Rock reservation and First Nations peoples gathered in North Dakota.

'This painting shows the black narin (snake). It represents the pipeline killing Bininj (Indigenous) people, and the land out there. The Bininj people are stopping it, throwing monkolli (spears). Bininj are fighting that black narin to stop it before it goes more further and kills everything.

In my painting Ngaliod (Rainbow Serpent) is helping to save their land and water and the people. Our Ngaliod is namak (good) she helps us to look after the land. We respect her, she gave us knowledge. We know she looks after the land and she will get upset. Those people who disrespect the land, she will come loud to their dreams….she will show them… stop them.'

Children’s Ground is the first organisation of its kind in Australia. Their approach focuses on long-term change, working with each child, each family and each community, so that children learn, grow and thrive in communities that celebrate cultural, social and economic wellbeing.

Thousands of Indigenous Australians have joined a global social media movement to show solidarity with those protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the United States.

Over the weekend, Indigenous Australians – including actors, elite sportspeople, politicians, and activists – joined the movement with Native Americans.


Traditional owners in Australia’s Northern Territory are hopeful that the widespread support for Standing Rock protesters will lead to greater awareness of a proposed Australian gas pipeline that locals claim will also destroy sacred sites and poison the water table.

The project is called the Northern Gas Pipeline, a 622-kilometre pipeline that would run from the Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek to Mt Isa in Queensland, where the gas would then be exported.


“The company is not telling us the proper story about this pipeline,” said Betty Rankine, a Wakaya traditional owner. “We know it will mean fracking for gas to fill it, which will damage our country, and we’re not happy about it.”

Recently, several traditional owners stormed out of a presentation by the Singaporean and Chinese company Jemena, which would manage the project if it goes ahead.

The Wakaya are calling on more Australians to join their protest.
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Responses to "Australian Aboriginal Children stand in solidarity with Standing Rock."

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