Tuesday 1 November 2022 12:31 AM Aboriginal elder hijacks Welcome to Country, turns on Andrew Forrest: 'When ... trends now
An Aboriginal elder has publicly confronted mining magnate Andrew Forrest, using a Welcome to Country ceremony to tell him indigenous people are 'suffering ... when you going to stop these handouts?'
Nyamai woman Doris Mitchell-Eaton attended Monday's ceremonial opening of the $5.9billion Iron Bridge mine developed by Mr Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) in Western Australia's Pilbara.
After taking to the stage, Ms Mitchell-Eaton began by saying 'Good morning everyone and welcome to this place that's getting destroyed, our country, so beautiful.'
Her speech got more forthright, in front of WA Deputy Premier Roger Cook, Mr Forrest and attending media.
Aboriginal elder Doris Mitchell-Eaton (pictured centre) slammed mining magnate Andrew Forrest after hijacking her own Welcome to Country speech
It was also broadcast live to the Fortescue head office in Perth.
Ms Mitchell-Easton asked Mr Forrest at the event if she could have an opportunity to speak, and the billionaire miner agreed and had to listen to the raw criticism.
The former Aboriginal elder of the year claimed the local Nyamai people agreed to the mine going ahead after they were given assurances locals would be hired to work at the site.
But they have since been denied jobs because they 'didn't have the capability'.
'People think we're illiterate ... (that we) know nothing,' said Ms Mitchell-Easton.
'How can we build our capability? Give us the opportunity to build our capability to mine our own country ...
'It hurts my feelings to see ... people coming in here digging in our country and we haven't got our opportunity,' she said.
She said while traditional owners did not oppose mining, they wanted to have the final say on projects.
Ms Mitchell-Easton finished by saying: 'You take good care of our country, because we are the ones suffering. We don't get rich, we are still on handouts.
Andrew Forrest (pictured) looked taken aback by the ferocity of Ms Mitchell-Eaton's speech, but said he had known her for 40 years
'When you going to stop these handouts? We want to build this capability, that's the word I learned from FMG, Andrew. I'm coming with the capability.'
When Mr Forrest took to the lectern, he said that her speech was warranted and reflected the struggles of Aboriginal people
'I really hope that everyone heard Auntie Doris,' said Mr Forrest, who has known her for 40 years.
'Auntie Doris told me that she wanted to say that little story and I was only too pleased, because that's the raw future of Aboriginal people.
Mr Forrest then spoke about indigenous people being 'held back by even the best intentioned bureaucrats'.
Andrew Forrest (pictured right) embraced Ms Mitchell-Eaton (centre) after her powerful speech
He said the life of Indigenous Australians would not improve 'If we cover people with welfare, with
