Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Ronaldo Guivarra showcases strength and connection through generations at the Mapoon Paanja Festival. Photo: Supplied.
Resilience and cultural pride shone at the Mapoon Paanja Festival as the community came together in celebration of 50 years since returning to their homeland.
Elders and children remembered a fragmented and traumatic history, honouring those who fought to claim back the land after they were forcibly removed.
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Ronaldo Guivarra said the event from 26-28 September underlined the importance of restoring and strengthening culture.
“It’s all about coming back and refocusing, revival in all that we do, especially the cultural heritage of the place, the history, and being able to promote the true history of the happenings here in Mapoon,” he said.
“People have been able to start understanding more of their own personal cultural heritage, going back to their cultural sites, understanding their totems, and finding their language.
“It’s about personal identity, and we can’t [find] that when we’re out on other people’s land, they’re not speaking our language, and they have different ways and processes.”
A range of activities and entertainment kept the community busy, including the Barra Bash Fishing Competition, competitions in cultural dance and touch football, as well as live music, art exhibitions and fireworks.
Leichhardt MP Matt Smith joined the celebration, reflecting on the history behind the event and the Mapoon mission forcibly closed in 1963-64, during which some houses were burned to the ground to stop the return of community members.
For 10 years, former residents continued to lobby for the reopening of their community. In 1974, several families returned, but it was another 10 years before the Marpuna Community Aboriginal Corporation was established.
Marpuna gradually built up the community at Rugapayn (Red Beach) to help its permanent resettlement; government recognition followed.
“It is really bringing the community together and I congratulate Mayor Ronaldo on what has been put together here on the 50th anniversary of people coming home,” Mr Smith said.
“This is a very important story in Australian history and a very important part of our culture and future.
“The legacy of Mapoon is really one of strength, resilience and beauty.”
