Pilbara mourns death of Aboriginal champion

A highly respected Indigenous elder, who built bridges between some of the world’s largest miners and traditional owners, has died.

Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation revealed on Monday the passing of Mr M Parker, a former chairman and cultural champion who wielded immense sway in community, industry and government circles.

“We … extend our deepest condolences to the family and those touched by Mr Parker’s remarkable contribution to Banjima, his unwavering passion and dedication to his people, community, culture, and country,” BNTAC said.

Mr Parker was critical to building relationships between Banjima people and the iron ore giants – Rio Tinto and BHP – which mine on Banjima Ngurra (country).

He was among a host of traditional owners who fought for 15 years to gain native title over Banjima Ngurra in 2014 as iron ore mining expanded through the striking mesas that rise across the inland Pilbara landscape.

Gumala Aboriginal Corporation executive officer Justin Dhu on Tuesday said Mr Parker’s work for country, culture and people would be felt for years to come.

“This elder fought significantly for recognition of Banjima land, protection of country, language and culture and ultimately, the self-determination of Banjima people,” he said.

“He, along with many of our elders who have gone before him, depart as an enormous loss to Gumala, Banjima people and the region.”

Mr Parker was well-known for going toe to toe with the major miners on issues such as gag clauses, royalties, and heritage destruction, but also for extending his hand to work with those same companies to improve their practices.

Most recently that mindset led him to criticise BHP when it revealed significant sites would be destroyed during expansion of South Flank, before congratulating the miner for forming a heritage advisory council in response to those concerns.

“A major global mining corporation negotiating with traditional owner groups is not usually conducive to an agreement in which Aboriginal culture and heritage are protected consistent with cultural obligations,” Mr Parker said in 2020.

“In the past, traditional owners negotiating these contracts had no real choice but to take the deals that were offered or take nothing.

“We are working together in what we hope continues to be the spirit of a true partnership.”

In 2015, Mr Parker was central to a landmark deal that ensured royalties and job opportunities would flow from BHP mines to Banjima traditional owners over the life of the projects.

The industry held Mr Parker in high regard, often inviting him to be front-and-centre at major events such as the 2023 opening of Rio Tinto’s Gudai-Darri mine and seeking him out for advice.

Mr Parker was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2016 due to his exposure to asbestos at Wittenoom.

The aggressive cancer usually kills patients within two years, but Mr Parker said his determination to fight for country had kept him alive.

He was fiercely critical of industry and government’s failure to clean up Wittenoom, accusing those responsible for “imposing a death sentence” on traditional owners who visited the condemned site to connect with country.

“My people will still go there, because they have to, we have a purpose that we keep the country alive, and the country will help us and look after us,” he told the Guardian Australia in 2022.

“The only thing the government has done is clean up the houses, but they should put their hand in their pocket and start doing something about the rest of it.”

His fight to remediate Wittenoom so it was safe for traditional owners to visit endured until his passing.

Outside of his business and community advocacy, Mr Parker was a noted cultural champion and openly shared his knowledge of traditional song and dance with the public at the annual Karijini Experience.

His first name has been omitted from this story for cultural reasons.