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Efforts to re-name Mt Niggerhead draw criticism from Dhudhuroa
Written by EBONY D’ARCY.
PLANS to rename a controversial mountain have outraged a local Aboriginal group, who believes the new name to be as offensive as the original.
Mt Niggerhead will be renamed after more than 30 years of debate over the name’s suitability.
Dhudhuroa traditional owner group co-chair, Gary Murray, said suggestions to rename the mountain the Jaithmathangs was offensive and incorrect.
"We condemn it, we reckon it’s repugnant, offensive and just as bad as Mt Niggerhead," he said.
"The minister and his department run with the Alpine Traditional Owner Group, which is basically dominated by the Gunnai group, and they’ve pushed this name up, Jaithmathang, which is a clan name from another language.
"What this dopey minister has done is put a name from another language group, which is nowhere near Mt Niggerhead, and imposed its name on the Dhudhuroa people, so we’re fighting it."
A letter sent to Mr Murray from the office of Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, said the renaming would go ahead on December 12.
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