The Western Australian Kimberly coastline is home to a virtual freeway of dinosaur footprints. Amongst them lies unique evidence of the 10-metre long carnivorous theropod, the only example of its kind in the region and perhaps the country. Tens of thousands of years before paleontologists made this astounding discovery, local Aboriginal groups connected other dinosaur prints to Dreamtime myths of a giant emu, Marrala, who walked the coast and gave law to his people. Heritage Fight documents the spectacular and triumphant battle to protect the rich cultural, environmental and historical resources of the Kimberly landscape and spotlights the deeply moving personal journey of indigenous activists in the fight for country.
It’s a fists-fully-clenched kind of documentary, as director Eugénie Dumont journeys through the multidimensional disasters that would cascade from the Woodside Petroleum industrial venture. WA Premier Colin Barnett, in full support of industrial development and land exploitation, refuses to be so ‘negligent’ as to walk away from the opportunities this venture would offer Western Australians and specifically indigenous locals. And so the gap widens. A gap between respect and power, between culture and venture. Teresa Roe, Aboriginal matriarch and devout activist on the Kimberly site, is a central figure in the indigenous narrative of determination despite disempowerment that Dumont continues to return to. The vivid colours and textures of the region’s natural beauty are enriched through Roe’s sobering stories, made further impressive by her articulate and impassioned displays of public protest. Beside Roe, a cast of fearless indigenous activists tirelessly battle the discrimination and disrespect that has characterised the indigenous narrative for 100s of years.
The gap in understanding between Woodside and Barnett and the deeply affecting customs, law and tradition of Aboriginal country is unambiguously infuriating, but the dedication of Teresa Roe, of her family, people and supporters, is a celebration of faith in the conservation of our immaculate landscape for 50,000 years or so. But only if we are willing to fight.
