Recognising Fishing Rights of the Djukun

8th March 2024 

To the Broome Advertiser Editor,

I write in response to the recent article titled “Recognising Fishing Rights of the Yawuru” in the Broome Advertiser. As a representative of the Djukun Nation, the traditional custodians of Broome, also known as Djukun Country, it is imperative to address several critical oversights and failures presented in the discourse surrounding fishing rights and native title.

Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge that Broome is Djukun Country, and as such, any discussions or decisions regarding the land and sea rights within this area must involve the Djukun Nation. The Western Australian State Government’s failure to recognize the Djukun Nation’s fishing rights is not only a grave oversight but also a dismissal of our deep-rooted connection to our lands and waters. Native title rights, as currently recognized, do not encompass beaches or the sea, a point that significantly impacts our community.

The article’s focus on the Yawuru’s fishing rights, without mentioning the lack of consultation with the Djukun Nation, is alarming. Granting exclusive fishing rights to the Yawuru on Djukun Country not only undermines our sovereignty but also highlights a glaring lack of respect for Djukun First Nations’ land and country. Such actions are indicative of broader systemic issues that fail to acknowledge the importance of protecting Djukun traditional and customary cultural practices.

This is not merely a matter of fishing rights but of acknowledging, respecting, and protecting the rights of the Djukun Nation to maintain our cultural practices, which have been passed down through generations and are intrinsically linked to the lands and waters of Broome. The recognition of fishing rights for one group at the expense of another without proper consultation and respect for traditional custodianship is a step backward in our collective journey towards reconciliation and understanding.

We strongly object to the portrayal and decisions that disregard the Djukun Nation’s rights and call for an immediate rectification. This includes a respectful and inclusive consultation process that acknowledges the Djukun Nation as the traditional custodians of Broome and ensures our rights and cultural practices are protected and respected.

The path forward must be paved with respect, dialogue, and mutual recognition of rights and custodianship. It is only through such processes that we can hope to achieve a fair and just recognition of the rights of all First Nations peoples in Australia.

Sincerely,

Jaala Ozies 

CEO of the Djukun Nation