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Langton slammed for failure to disclose mining funding By Callum Clayton-Dixon Nganyaywana First Nations leaders have lashed out at academic Marcia Langton after discovering her 2012 ABC Boyer lectures, in which she commended Australia’s mining industry for its role in the emergence of an Aboriginal middle-class, drew on research partly funded by several resource giants. Woodside ($30 000), Santos ($45 000) and Rio Tinto (unknown amount) contributed to a four-year project led by Professor Langton examining economic empowerment in First Nations communities. The federal government’s department for Indigenous affairs (FAHCSIA) also poured $300 000 into the $480 000 project.
Veteran Black activist Wayne ‘Coco’ Wharton says Langton’s talk of an Aboriginal middleclass “shows how narrow minded and how far away from being part of the Aboriginal community she actually is”. IMAGE: Brendon Qu
Indigenous Studies at the University of Professor Langton’s failure to Melbourne since February 2000. disclose this information was “an Her failure to disclose mining absolute crime against her people” according to Tent Embassy co- company funding was “typical” said founder and Euahlayi man Michael Mr Wharton, a Kooma man. Anderson. “It’s totally dishonest and totally unethical, but it’s not unusual. She “She’s being paid big money by the mining companies for research doesn’t seek permission to make papers that go against her own comment on certain issues on behalf of our communities. She gives people,” said Anderson. justification for anything that the white “It’s treason. She’s betraying her people want to do.” people in a big way. We need to call Professor Langton snapped back it what it is.” at critics on Twitter saying “disclosure Questioning Langton’s talk of an of research support not necessary ‘Aboriginal middleclass’, Mr Anderson because Boyer Lectures were a private claimed it would “create a situation in undertaking and my opinion” and “no Aboriginal society where you’re going white Boyer Lecturer has ever been to have the haves and have nots”. asked to list all research grants in a Veteran black activist Wayne lecture”. Wharton believes the academic’s Mr Wharton called Langton’s words “go back to using terms like justification “a load of crap”. half-caste, which just shows how “She had a responsibility to the narrow minded and how far away from being part of the Aboriginal integrity of every black person. She puts Aboriginal people up as her community she actually is.” Marcia Langton has held the personal study subjects.” Foundation
Chair
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advocate for First Nations health Gracelyn Smallwood suggested Langton’s praise of the mining industry was a case of “not burning the hand that feeds her”. “No wonder she’s on their [mining companies] side,” said Professor Smallwood, a Townsville based activist and James Cook University academic. “The rainbow serpent is finally bringing the chickens home to roost.” Mr Anderson said First Nations people, like everybody else, have to be accountable. “If you’re going to put yourself out there as a spokesperson for Aboriginal affairs, then you’ve got to be ready for public scrutiny, especially if you’re being paid to say things.” He also questioned her right to speak as an authority on First Nations affairs.
“Marcia Langton has no grass roots constituency association whatsoever, so how does she have Birrigubba Elder and long-time the right to get up and say...
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ANDERSON: She’s betraying her people in a big way ...she knows what she’s talking about.” Mr Anderson urges other First Nations people to “take ownership of our affairs in our own communities”.
Langton’s failure to disclose this information was “an absolute crime against her people” according to Tent Embassy co-founder Michael Anderson. IMAGE: Callum Clayton-Dixon
“We have to be the ones making decisions about where we go, make decisions about our culture, about how we use our land and resources.”
SMALLWOOD: No wonder she’s on the mining companies’ side
Birrigubba Elder and long-time advocate for First Nations health Gracelyn Smallwood suggested Langton’s praise of the mining industry was a case of “not burning the hand that feeds her”. IMAGE: Callum Clayton-Dixon