The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has condemned the Australian Electoral Commission’s proposal to name a new federal electorate after Aboriginal resistance leader Tukalunginta (pronounced Tu-kah-lung-een-tah), describing the proposal as offensive, saying it “goes against everything he fought and died for”.
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Campaign Coordinator Nala Mansell said Tukalunginta was a respected Aboriginal leader and fierce freedom fighter who fought and ultimately died resisting the British invasion of his Country and defending the rights of his people.
“To suggest that Tukalunginta’s name should now be used to represent the very colonial political system he resisted—one that, 223 years later, continues to deny Aborigines the same rights he fought and died defending, is offensive and absurd.”
“An Aboriginal nation comprising well-defined boundaries and political and legal systems existed in Lutruwita / Tasmania long before invasion. Using Tukalunginta’s name to represent the colonial boundaries and political system imposed upon Aboriginal people completely misrepresents who he was and what he fought for.”
Adding further insult, the Australian Electoral Commission did not even correctly spell Tukalunginta’s name.
Ms Mansell said the proposal highlighted a broader problem with the way governments and public institutions continue to deal with Aboriginal people.
“This situation was entirely avoidable. Instead of making decisions about Aboriginal people and inviting us to comment afterwards, organisations should involve Aboriginal people from the beginning. Sometimes it can be as simple as picking up the phone.
“Decisions about Aboriginal people must be informed and led by Aboriginal people. If the AEC had bothered to get in touch, we would have corrected his name and suggested better options to consider.”
Ms Mansell said the same approach to the AEC is currently being repeated through Tasmania’s proposed Aboriginal heritage laws.
“Right now, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community is facing many more challenging issues. They include that the Tasmanian Government has drafted Aboriginal heritage laws that continue to deny Aboriginal ownership and control of Aboriginal heritage, and then expect the Aboriginal community to participate in a consultation process. This approach will never work.
“While descendants of European colonisers own and manage the heritage created by their ancestors, Aboriginal people are expected to seek permission from government over ours. That is racial discrimination.
“If governments genuinely want to honour Aboriginal people and our ancestors, they should stop making decisions for us and start recognising the rights Tukalunginta fought and died defending. Tukalunginta deserves to be honoured but there are better ways than this.”
Read more about Tukalunginta – see page 8, “Mumirimina people of the Lower Jordan River Valley“
