Connect and Engage
Being a Voice For Our Community
As custodians of this beautiful Country, Aboriginal people have an important responsibility to be a voice on the issues that affect our communities, culture, and future.
At MTWAC, we endeavour to keep our community members informed and engaged on the matters that matter most to our people, fostering awareness, understanding, and opportunities for meaningful participation and advocacy.
Current Issues
Read about current issues and how to support our advocacy work
Boobyalla Sand Mine
Speak out now before irreversible damage is done
Repatriation
Learn how you can support the return of significant cultural items to Aboriginal communities
Dual Naming
Recognise and celebrate the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country
Boobyalla Sand Mine
Speak Out Before It's Too Late
We are calling on the Dorset Council to reject a development application which would see 770ha of North-East Tasmanian coastline mined over the next 40 years.
“This area is not only rich in cultural heritage, but a mining operation of this scale has the potential to materially alter the landscape beyond repair,” Mr Harriss said. “The proponents want to extract vast amounts of sand, ship it off for processing via a 700m wharf facility, and then turn the hole they leave behind into a man-made lake. This is being driven by economics and politics, with limited defined means of rehabilitation at this stage. The reality is, once sand dunes have been extracted and removed, nothing can rehabilitate that sort of damage to a dune system.
"The dunes slated for mining are a tapestry of ecological brilliance that have taken tens of thousands of years to create and are an ongoing living landscape. To destroy these inside 40 years, then flood the area and walk away is simply not acceptable and not in the community’s interest.”
Mr Harriss said Aboriginal communities had not been adequately consulted about the project and its potential impacts. “This area is significant to Aboriginal people beyond modern concepts of being. It not only contains our lived history and our stories and lore, but it will almost certainly contain the ancestral remains of our families.
Assessing a site for Aboriginal heritage is an imperative but it should not be mistaken as a substitute for meaningful, deliberate and comprehensive engagement with Aboriginal people who have a lasting, strong and unbreakable connection with this country. “Proper engagement must be given a chance to occur. Aboriginal people need to be embedded as key stakeholders before critical decisions are made – not as a tick-box exercise once the sand is already extracted, loaded and heading for an overseas interested party.
Mr Harriss said MTWAC and other members of the Tasmanian Regional Communities Alliance (TRACA) are hopeful the Dorset Council will put a pause on the mining proposal and an associated wharf development to allow proper consultation and scrutiny to occur. “To ensure the integrity of the process, all regulatory steps regarding the proposed Boobyalla silica mine must be halted until a framework of genuine consultation is established that respects the Tasmanian Aboriginal people’s right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), a core collective right enshrined in international law under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).” “People need to be given a chance to understand the true size, complexity and impact of what’s being proposed. It must be a transparent and honest conversation with everyone involved – particularly those who have a strong connection to this place.”
THIS IS COUNTRY, NOT EMPTY SAND.
Take Action
MTWAC will be reaching out to Aboriginal organisations, environmental groups, community organisations, industry, government and Tasmanians across the state to stand with us in protecting this Country.
To understand the impact of the proposal, and how to support and stand with us, please read our full statement below:
Repatriation
Caring For Cultural Heritage and Returning Belongings to Country
MTWAC recognises the cultural significance of Tasmanian Aboriginal artefacts and supports the respectful return of these items to Aboriginal communities and Country. As Traditional Owners of the North and North East Coastal Plains Nation and the Oyster Bay Nation, MTWAC provides a pathway for individuals, families, organisations, businesses and community groups who may be in possession of Tasmanian Aboriginal artefacts and wish to return them appropriately.
Tasmanian Aboriginal artefacts are an important part of Aboriginal cultural heritage and remain connected to the people, stories and Countries from which they originate. Returning artefacts helps preserve cultural knowledge, honours ancestral connections and contributes to the protection of Tasmania's Aboriginal heritage for future generations.
How MTWAC Can Assist
MTWAC can provide advice and assistance to ensure artefacts are returned respectfully and in accordance with cultural and legal requirements. Where the original location or cultural keeping place of an artefact is known, MTWAC will work to facilitate its return to the appropriate Country, community or custodial group. Where the original provenance of an artefact cannot be determined, MTWAC maintains a culturally appropriate keeping place to ensure artefacts are cared for respectfully until further information becomes available.
We can assist with:
- Advice regarding the identification of Tasmanian Aboriginal artefacts.
- Guidance on culturally appropriate return processes.
- Assistance with the return of artefacts to Traditional Owners and Country.
- Cultural heritage advice and consultation.
- Provision of a secure cultural keeping place where an artefact's original location is unknown.
- Liaison with relevant Aboriginal heritage organisations and authorities.
Important Information
Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 (Tasmania), it is unlawful to damage, disturb, destroy, deface, conceal or remove Aboriginal relics without appropriate authority. Anyone who discovers, possesses or has concerns regarding Tasmanian Aboriginal artefacts should seek advice before taking any action.
MTWAC encourages individuals and organisations to contact MTWAC or Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania (AHT) for guidance regarding the identification, protection and return of Aboriginal artefacts.
If you believe you may have a Tasmanian Aboriginal artefact in your possession, please contact MTWAC to discuss culturally appropriate options for its return and ongoing care.
Dual Naming
Supporting the Recognition of Aboriginal Place Names and Cultural Heritage
MTWAC is committed to supporting the recognition, preservation and restoration of Tasmanian Aboriginal place names through participation in Tasmania's dual naming processes. Dual naming acknowledges both the traditional Aboriginal name and the contemporary geographic name of significant places, helping to recognise the enduring connection of Aboriginal people to Country and the cultural histories associated with those landscapes.
MTWAC undertakes research and consultation to identify and document potential dual names for significant geographical features, including rivers, mountains, coastal areas, landmarks and places of cultural importance. This work involves historical research, cultural knowledge gathering, language revitalisation activities and collaboration with Aboriginal community members, Elders and cultural knowledge holders.
Dual Naming Services
- Research into potential Aboriginal place names and their cultural significance.
- Identification of suitable geographic features for dual naming consideration.
- Historical, cultural and language research to support naming proposals.
- Consultation with stakeholders, including landowners, businesses, industry groups, recreational users, commercial and recreational fishers, local councils and government agencies.
- Community engagement and information sharing activities.
- Preparation of submissions and supporting documentation for consideration by the Tasmanian Dual Naming Reference Group and relevant government authorities.
- Advice regarding dual naming processes, cultural protocols and policy requirements.
MTWAC works collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure proposals are informed, respectful and aligned with the principles and requirements of the Tasmanian Dual Naming Policy. Through this process, we seek to promote greater recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage, strengthen community understanding of traditional place names and support the preservation of Aboriginal language and cultural knowledge for future generations.
Work With Us
Dual naming is more than the naming of a place. It is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country, acknowledge cultural history and contribute to a shared understanding of Tasmania's rich cultural landscape.
If you are considering a dual naming project, researching an Aboriginal place name, or seeking advice on dual naming processes and cultural protocols, contact MTWAC to discuss how we can work with you.