INTRODUCTION
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It’s the 21st
of the 4th month
of the year
1992

It’s 7 o’clock Perth time
Western Australia

My name’s Robert Bropho
I’m the spokesperson for the Fringedwellers of the Swan Valley

We come from the Nyungah tribe
Which has been in the Swan Valley since the beginning of time
through our Ancestral Grandfathers and Grandmothers
and will continue
on to be the roots of these people

Our lifestyle is
we live on the Dreaming Track of the Rainbow Serpent

The Rainbow Serpent
to us the Aboriginal people
is the creator of all waterways
which means all rivers and creeks
and all lakes
that exist today
Australia-wide

We stand for saving the Sacred Sites
and protecting them to the best of our ability

We’ve been on protest
after protest

Protests round church grounds
on Heirisson Island
this is in the metropolitan area
Western Australia

We’ve taken our protest to a place called Yakabindie
This is a sacred hall
or the sacred valley
of the Carpet Snakes

The Songlines run from there right across to Ayers Rock
and it goes in all directions
following the underground streams
to all Aboriginal communities

Our Home is in the Swan Valley
Beyond the west side of Bennett Brook
which is near the Grogans swamp

This Brook runs through Grogans swamp
and the whole of the area is full
of Aboriginal existence

Right through the past up until now

The Sacred Things
that’s in that Valley
known to us
will always be there

© Copyright Swan Valley Nyungah Community 1992, 2007

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