One of the largest Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory has described comments by opposition spokesperson for Indigenous Australians Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as "disgraceful".
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Senator Nampijinpa Price is leading the campaign against a First Nations voice to parliament for the referendum, due to be held on October 14.
She detailed her reasons against having an advisory body enshrined in the constitution in an address to the National Press Club last Thursday, which included that it would divide the nation, and that there are 11 Indigenous parliamentarians.
Following her speech, Senator Price was asked whether colonisation continues to have an effect on some Indigenous Australians.
"Very honestly, no, I don't think so," she said.
"A positive impact, absolutely, I mean, now we've got running water, we've got readily available food."
The Central Land Council represents about 24,000 Aboriginal people of the southern part of the NT and is made up of 90 elected representatives to help fight for their rights, reclaim and manage their land and realise the opportunities that come with the recognition of property rights.
Its main funding source comes from the Aboriginals Benefit Account, which manages mining royalty equivalents from the NT.
In a statement on Wednesday, following a meeting in Alice Springs, the CLC executive said Senator Price's comments were hurting members of their community.
"The senator's denial of history and its ongoing impacts is disgraceful," they said.
"Her remarks are hurting the families of the Stolen Generation, those who lost their land, their wages and their opportunities."
The CLC said Senator Price's comments were hurting the descendants of survivors of colonial frontier massacres, which are documented on a map by the Australian Museum, including at Coniston where hundreds of Warlpiri, Kaytetye and Anmatyerr families were terrorised and murdered in 1928.
"What is not on the map is the administrative violence, pastoral violence, and wholescale theft of our land and waters," they said.
"There is a direct link between these historical truths and the gaps we want to close.
"Our families still do not all have access to affordable healthy food, drinkable water and sustainable water supplies, many of our communities live with water stress, food insecurity, exorbitant costs and living conditions that would not be tolerated by any other Australians."
Senator Price has been contacted for comment.
Australian Associated Press
