Trip to Argyle Diamond Mine

Earlier this month we took the high school students out to the Argyle Diamond Mine. I was met with very mixed emotions on the journey. The mine is actually on a traditional women's Dreaming spot. The story of the Barramundi Dreaming is about these hills that they are tearing apart... The women were the custodians of the land. The mining company came in and found a small group of Aboriginal men, not even from the community and got them to sign papers giving them permission to mine the sight. The women of Warmun are the custodians of that land it was a big blow to them.

A small group of the Warmun women fought for the rights from the land as a result, the community receives a small 'kickback' (to use the popular term). So here I am torn. I am being told that most of my students will end up working at the mine... but, it is so completely against their culture that we are trying so hard to preserve! As I talk more and more to the community members out here and listen to their stories about the land, my once a month excursion becomes harder and harder to face...

Above is a picture of three of my students, with a backdrop of the mine. The picture is taken from the top of the mine at the viewing platform. The tyre is from one of the trucks that move around the slopes, huge! The distinct steps are visible for miles as you pass the area in the Kimberley.