I just wanted to leave a couple of things with you mob today. I've come from Anangu country in the desert, not far from where Chansey [Paech] is, it is in fact in his electorate of Namatjira, and spent some time with the rangers there at Uluru. I think what's going on at Uluru in terms of the decision by the Anangu people and the Parks Board at Uluru Kata Tjuta to ensure the climb to Uluru closes on October 26 is a deeply significant decision that our country is sending to the rest of the world that we value sacred sites, we value our First Nations people and we value, in particular, in this instance, the Anangu people of that beautiful country there.

But what the rangers have told me and what the Anangu have told me is the stress, the enormous stress that they're under because of that decision, and I just said to them: You mob stay strong because your strength keeps the rest of us as First Nations people who work as rangers across Australia, caring for country, looking after sites, and protecting and preserving what we know is important to protect and preserve. The message that you're sending, I said to the mob there, is that the rest of our mob across the country can see that your strength is our strength.

I come from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and I'm a Yanyuwa Garawa woman, and I'm enormously proud of the Li-Anthawirriyarra and Waanyi-Garawa Rangers for the strength they show in looking after country and as I travel across the Northern Territory as Senator for the Northern Territory, and work with each of the different ranger groups, again that strength and that support and care is important. But there is also a deeper layer, and that deeper layer is this: that each and every one of you I'm sure have your stories of struggle on a day-to-day basis, you have your stories of struggle with your families, you have your stories of struggles in your communities, and you have the internal politics you have to deal with. Sometimes the politics might be the bigger government-level politics or it might be just a simple day-to-day clan politics that you have to navigate. It's always the rangers, it always seems to fall on your shoulders and I just want to say thank you. Thank you, each and every one of you because you carry that politics, not just on your shoulders, but you carry it here [gestures to heart] in your heart.

Its your love for your country, your culture and your people and I know that stress you carry, the same stress that the Anangu are talking about, I know that stress that you carry. So this week, and I want to commend the Northern Land Council and all of the organisers for bringing you together. I understand you do this on an annual basis and I think if one of the key things you take away from this is the nourishment of your spirit and your strength together and a group of rangers who care for our country, Australia.

So thank you for having us here and I look forward to catching up with some of you.

Yo Bauji Barra.

SPEECH - NORTHERN LAND COUNCIL NORTH AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS RANGER FORUM - Tuesday 27 August 2019