Ann: Notice of General Meeting/Proxy Form , page-35

Jaeb

I certainly anticipated a response something along those lines, and I'm not surprised, given the grey matter you seem to apply to this whole issue, that it comes from you.

The TO's don't need a relationship with GOT, but GOT need a relationship with the TO's. You might feel that the wild west approach, of ignoring the sensibilities of the TO's and pushing ahead on the ses bed without their cooperation, is the way to go, but I'd imagine that the GOT board would be thinking seriously about a more diplomatic approach...

Putting aside the environmental impediments, here's but a brief summary of the complexities they face in the NW Gulf in pursuing their land and sea based ambitions. And just to remind you GOT are eyeing off Winchelsea, Connection (and crucially if they think they can pull this off by mining the sea bed) Maria Islands.

Given that GOT, in one way or another, have their eyes on elements of the land and seascape stretching from Blue Mud Bay in the north, across to the Groote Archipelego in the east and south to Maria Island they bring into play:

In the first instance the Anindilyakwa Land Council and the Northern Land Council.

Then in the geography under question itself five different language groups, or Cultures, are represented (two sub groups of the Gumatj Culture, the Anindilyakwan, the Nunggubbuyu and the Marra). All of these Cultures are Ceremonial Cultures living their lives under the umbrella of Ceremonial Law emanating from two Ceremonies in which they all participate- the Mardian and Gunapipi. Additionally, all of those Cultures are "salt water people", their connections to the sea are profound.

And they also have some inter-marriage between all groups.
Most commonly between the Groote Eylandters and the Nunngubbuyu, and the Nunngubuyu and the Roper mob, but still, in many cases, right across the board.

Given that "consensus" is the ideal, and practice, in decision making in this neck of the woods (i.e. even if a substantial majority agree- as in the Mainstream, although with us a simple majority will suffice- the minority carry the day)GOT have quite a task ahead of them in satisfying their grandiouse ambitions.

At this point in time the Anindilyakwan, the Nunngubuyu and the two Gumatj cultures (all involved in Blue Mud Bay) have achieved concensus in their opposition to GR. The Murra to the south, connected with Maria Island, though some Nunngubuyu are involved there as well, are not yet fully into play...although there is a growing awareness of GOT's ambitions re Maria Island, where Native Title exists on the inter-tidal zone, by the Booroloola/Roper mob (the Murra). And what's the sense of seabed mining without a land base?

Given that on Groote itself, Territory Trepang Traders, which includes as a full partner the Jaragba family, have taken almost fifteen years to gain assent for their Project, garnering cooperation from the sisxty or seventy families now stake holders in GOT's ambitions, the road to securing cooperation or assent in terms of their so called Groote Project is a veritable pandora's box, if not a minefield, of inexplicable proportions.

Given that "offence" to one group will be taken as an "offence" to all I'd suggest that the wise course for GOT is to attempt to make a "new start" with the Groote Eylandters. Which, I am led to believe, they desire very much. Hotheads on this forum of course would suggest just steamrolling through the sea based issues....in taking such approach GOT could then kiss goodbye any Land Based ambitions, crucial to their so called Groote Project, re Winchelsea, Connection and Maria Islands.

In anticipation of the argument that the Nunggubuyu and Booroloola/Roper peoples may be hived off from the GE's by the "beads and trinkets" approach because those two Cultures don't benefit at this point in time from the economic benefits of mining...the latter are in the process of stitching up a deal to have iron ore mined and a port facility built on their country, while Gemco are in the process of stitching up deal with the Nunngubuyu to explore for mn just north of Numbulwar where the prospects for mn are, apparently, excellent.

Slow, slow, quick (if there ever is a quick for GOT), in my opinion, must be GOT's approach. Hence again, in my opinion, they should as a matter of the utmost urgency seek cross-cultural awareness training, and attempt somehow or another to begin the process of attempting to build connectedness in the region. But, as in my opinion, their reputation preceeds them, they are facing avery difficult task indeed.

I think it was Aussie Bob in a post a while back who stated that as a result of spending considerable time on Groote that doing business with the TO's here is like doing business in a foreign country...and, in my opinion, that can be exrtapolated to anywhere where Ceremonial Cultures exist. The very, very heartland of Ceremony in fact, around here,resides in that Numbulwar/Roper region. They are as equally fanatical about cultural maintenance as the GE's, and just like them they're salt water people.

And if GOT board members do indeed monitor these posts they've been getting quite a cross-cultural education and insight, even though it is often demeaned and ridiculed by some posters here, and they don't even have to pay a couple of grand a day for the privilege.

But all up, the message is, in my opinion, none of this will be settled quickly.