Rio Tinto destroys Indigenous Heritage Sites at Juukan Gorge WA — Australia’s Lack of Cultural Preservation
On May 24th this year, the mining company Rio Tinto blew up two caves at Juukan Gorge, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, in a bid to extract approximately $135 million worth of iron ore. These two caves are sites of Indigenous cultural significance, with an archaeological survey revealing evidence of human occupation from more than 46,000 years ago. Through the blast, both of the rock shelters collapsed leaving the traditional owners, the Puutu Kunti and Karrama and Pinkura peoples (PKKP) in shock (Cockburn, 2020). How could Rio Tinto possibly justify this act of cultural vandalism?
Rio Tinto’s actions at Juukan Gorge have become a part of a federal inquiry. Throughout this inquiry, Rio Tinto has attempted to claim some ignorance of the significance of the caves. They have tried to mislead the public by blaming the destruction of this ancient place on failure of their internal company systems. However, reports reveal that Rio Tinto knew the significance of the caves in 2004, 6 years before they blasted them (Borschann, 2020) .
Jamie Lowe, the chief executive for the National Native Title Council, states:
“It is now clear that what led to the catastrophic destruction of Juukan Gorge was not a result of a breakdown of procedures but a result of the enormous cultural and values deficit within Rio Tinto,” -Jamie Lowe (Courtesy of Cockburn, 2020).
The inquiry has now been deferred indefinitely due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples say that they feel “robbed of a voice” and are extremely disappointed and frustrated by the deferral, considering Rio Tinto has already had the chance to speak.
To make matters worse, unauthorised photos taken after the rock shelters were blasted have been offered up for sale. Puutu Kunti and Karrama and Pinkura peoples were appalled by this. PKKP Spokesman Burchell Hayes explains further:
“We do not know who has taken these images or whether the photographer had permission from Rio Tinto to fly over the Brockman 4 mine site, and are appalled that anyone would consider profiteering from our anguish caused by the desecration of these sacred sites.” — Burchell Hayes (Courtesy of Borschann, 2020).
It is often disrespectful to photograph these sites at any time, let alone to gain profit once they have been destroyed.
This is just the latest example of the destruction of sacred Indigenous sites. The rich cultural history and significance of these heritage sites has never been properly acknowledged. In schools children learn about the ancient civilizations and sites of Rome and Egypt, yet there is barely any learning of the cultural heritage that is right on our own doorsteps. Often Indigenous heritage sites are unknown, unacknowledged and even actively destroyed. Sites such as the Baiame Cave in Yengo National Park, NSW have been destroyed by tourists, photographers and even authorities such as National Parks and other government organisations who have tried to repair things without permission from the traditional owners (Boney, 2017). The traditional owners of the Yengo National Park area are the Wonnarua people. Wonnarua man Waylon Boney talks further about how we can protect these sites:
“We need to come together and start sharing these stories with each other, start getting behind each other, to protect these carvings and the sites.” — Waylon Boney, 2017.
Indigenous Australian culture is the oldest living culture in the world, as such it is paramount that these ancient sacred sites are protected and valued by all Australians. One group of people that take care of both land and these heritage sites are Indigenous rangers. Country Need People manages Indigenous Ranger Programs all across Australia. Over thousands of years Indigenous people have developed knowledge of how to sustainably manage the environment and create cultural well being. It is essential that groups such as these continue to protect these precious sites as an important form of cultural preservation. If you would like to find out more about Indigenous heritage sites or like to learn about some of the sites near you take a look at the Australian Government Indigenous Heritage website here.
