Clinton Pryor was welcomed to Nowra today (Thursday) as a brother and as someone to be admired.
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The Wajuk, Balardung, Kija and Yulparitja man Mr Pryor has dedicated his life to keeping his people’s culture alive and creating positive change.
Mr Pryor, as part of his walk for justice, was guest at a special event at Harry Sawkins Park.
The smoking ceremony (see video) was a wonderful way to welcome this great man to the area.
Distraught by repeated police raids on the Matagarup First Nations Refugee Camp in Perth, Mr Pryor decided to traverse the songlines and highways of Australia’s vast landscape to meet with Governor General Peter Cosgrove, at Parliament House in Canberra.
“I had enough of seeing people’s property being taken away by police,” Mr Pryor said.
The island on the Swan River, near the Perth CBD, also known as Herrison Island, had become a place of peaceful protest against the proposed closures of communities, and had become a place of refuge for many made homeless by government evictions.
About the man
Where were you born? I was born in King Edward Hospital Subiaco
Where did you grow up? When I was a young boy from a new born to 7 years old. I grow up in Carnarvon, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Mulan Community before I moved to Perth. Then after 7 years old I grow up in Perth.
What is your experience with homelessness? The hardest thing when I was homeless not having no money, no home and no one caring for me or asking me how I being. It was like no one cared about me and it feels like I was alone.
What are your experiences with remote Aboriginal communities? Well I know how the community life is. I was growing up in a community with my mother before she passed on. Community life is very in important because it keep my people out of town or out of the city because in town and in the city there drug, alcohol and violence. Community life is very under control by the Elder in the old traditional way by our own law we been living off for 60,000 year and our law keep our people in line.
Why did you decide to go walking in particular? Because some think need to be done and walking across the country for my people home just to speak to the prime minister will create something big and it has never being done before.
Clinton Pryor talks about his walk - Video thanks to The QUO
