Yorta Yorta Elder Details Lifelong Activism

Yorta Yorta Elder Wayne Atkinson chronicles his life of activism and the pursuit of justice in the co-authored book, Beyond the Meeting of the Waters. The book recognizes a long history of Yorta Yorta advocacy for land justice and self-determination, dating back to an 1881 petition. In 1939, Yorta Yorta people protested conditions by walking off the Cummeragunja Mission Station.

Atkinson details his involvement in various campaigns from the 1970s, including efforts for land rights, cultural heritage protection, and native title recognition. He describes his approach to change as incremental, emphasizing the importance of collective effort and acknowledging the contributions of numerous Kooris. The book explores the Yorta Yorta’s decades-long pursuit of native title, including a 1994 claim and the 2002 High Court ruling against them.

Atkinson also details innovations in education, introducing “on Country learning” at the University of Melbourne. He advocates for self-determination, defining it as community control and emphasizing the need for governments to transfer power and resources to First Peoples. The book reflects on the ongoing quest for treaty and truth-telling.