Indigenous communities face damages to their heritage

This article was first published by The Canberra Times.

The Indigenous community in Menindee in New South Wales (NSW) in Australia’s far west fears the rising floodwater could wash away remnants of their ancestors around Cawndilla Lake.

Speaking on behalf of the Baarkindji community in Menindee, Michelle Kelly said they have urgently informed officials of Water NSW and the NSW Department of Environment to help protect the sacred sites, mainly burial sites and artefacts, representing a part of their heritage in the far west.

A map of identified burial sites, hearths, location of scarred trees, shell deposits, smoking ceremony sites, dreaming sites, and stone arrangements around Cawndilla Lake, one of the 12 smaller lakes comprising Menindee Lakes’ dam area has been shown to ACM by the elders.