Dog park plans halted over Aboriginal massacre site
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Traditional owners of the Tati Tati people halted construction of a dog park in Robinvale, Victoria, Australia, after identifying the proposed location as a culturally significant site.
Brothers Brendan Kennedy and John Kennedy explained that the area, known as Bumbang, served as a ceremonial site, a location of a massacre, and a place for repatriation for their people.
They shared that the Tati Tati people have long known about the site’s importance, and previously submitted evidence of this to the Swan Hill Rural City Council over fifteen years ago when a different project was proposed. The council stated it was unaware of the site’s history and believed it had followed the correct procedures, including securing a cultural heritage management plan. However, First Peoples.
State Relations, a state cultural body, has paused work at Centenary Park to investigate the claims. The Kennedy brothers also contacted Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams requesting a cultural heritage audit of the existing management plan. The Tati Tati people want the area preserved and restored with native plants, along with cultural information detailing its history. They oppose building a dog park on the site, which they consider a sacred and historically sensitive location.
A decision on the audit is expected in the coming weeks.
