Warlpiri Elder Uncle Ned Hargraves travelled from the Red Centre to Garma Festival with a message forged in grief, anger, and a relentless pursuit of justice.
But his wish to deliver that message personally to Anthony Albanese was frustrated by the prime minister's premature departure from the festival due to illness.
Uncle Ned delivered his speech to media instead, which included demands for urgent action on youth justice, systemic racism, and the deaths in custody of two of his jaja (grandsons): Kumanjayi Walker and, more recently, Kumanjayi White.
“This is the second member of my family killed by law enforcement,” said Uncle Ned of Kumanjayi White.
The Warlpiri Elder said it's his second attempt to address the prime minister directly, having written to the him in June, but that he’s still waiting for a response.
The pain of silence, he says, is part of a much bigger problem.
A voice for justice
The speech directly challenges federal and Northern Territory governments on police violence, incarceration rates, and the dismantling of community-led governance since the 2007 NT Intervention - a policy first introduced by the Howard Government and supported at the time by Labor.
Uncle Ned described the impact as the “open apartheid era in Yuendumu,” where youth remain unemployed and councils were replaced with government managers.
He accuses both NT and federal governments of overseeing “an illegal occupation” and ignoring the cultural authority of First Nations law.
He also condemned recent amendments to the NT Sacred Sites Act, which have been criticised as watering down the legislation protecting such sites.
“This is a cultural violation,” he said.
“The NT Liberal government is acting from a criminal mindset - like an illegal occupying foreign power.”
A system that punishes, not protects
The Elder’s speech focuses heavily on the failures of the NT justice system, especially youth detention, where close to 100 per cent of detainees are Aboriginal children.
He called the system a “reflection of apartheid,” one where children are denied bail and held in overcrowded conditions that advocates say breach international human rights norms.
He also called out NT Police and Acting Commissioner Martin Dole over the death of Kumanjayi White, questioning why the officers involved have not been stood down and why crucial CCTV footage has not been shared with the family's legal team.
“Police were created to cover up crimes against the Crown - including the genocide of First Nations people,” his speech says.
"We do not trust the NT Police. Their foundation is criminal intent.”
The NT government has been contacted for comment.
Government responds
In response to questions from NITV News, a spokesperson for the Australian government acknowledged the deep pain felt by Mr Hargraves and the Yuendumu community following Kumanjayi White’s death in custody, as well as the recently released coronial report into the 2019 death of Kumanjayi Walker.
“On behalf of the Australian Government, the Minister for Indigenous Australians has spoken to Mr Hargraves and extended condolences to him and his family,” the statement read.
The spokesperson reiterated that states and territories are responsible for the operation of the justice system, but confirmed Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy has requested a meeting with the Northern Territory Chief Minister to raise concerns about recent legislation and its impacts on Aboriginal communities.
'Make history'
Despite being denied a chance to speak to the prime minister personally, Uncle Ned’s message is now reaching far beyond the festival grounds.
He is calling for an independent First Nations-led body to investigate all Aboriginal deaths in custody - and an end to what he calls the “subtle genocide” of his people.
“If Australia is serious about reconciliation with the only lawful sovereigns of this country,” he wrote, “prove it. Take action now. Make history.”
