Johnny Balaiya, Long Grass Legend.wmv

"I am a Black man, I can stay here", Johnny Balaiya tells Cassandra Goldie, Stella Simmering and Bill Day in July 2001. Johnny had been moved on from his camps in the bush around Darwin many times. He walked into Darwin from his country at Maningrida when he was 12 years old, so he believes he has more right to live in Darwin than the white settlers who call him an itinerant 'long grasser' and want to evict him from his camp. "They are only interested in our land for the money", says Johnny. Sadly, Johnny Balaiya passed away in 2008 before his case could be heard in the courts. Now is the time to recognise his contribution to Northern Territory history.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Homeless
• Aboriginal
• people
• Darwin
• Northern
• Territory
• Aborigines
• Johnny
• Balaiya
• Bill
• Day
• Cassandra
• Goldie
• Bob
• Bunba
• Manigrida
• Long
• Grass