Mining Company Destroys Sacred Indigenous Site, Settlement Protects It

0:00In Adelaide today, March 1st, a mining company in Western Australia's East Kimberly region damaged a sacred indigenous site called Darajayan on Springvale Station. Between 2019 and 2020, Kimberly granted holdings, moved nearly 9,000 tons of material during exploration, destroying parts tied to serpent and moon-dreaming stories for the Milan-Glam people. Ancestors' remains were disturbed, shattering cultural heritage, central to their traditions. Traditional owners learned of the destruction later and pushed the state government to prosecute the company, but no charges were filed. The site holds deep significance with family members recalling childhood bans on visiting it, yet miners accessed the area freely. Community members expressed deep pain over the loss, describing how dreaming stories were erased and remained scattered without clean-up or apology. The dam is left many avoiding the site, feeling their connection to country-broken. In 2021, the Maleran-Goom Aboriginal Corporation

1:02sued the state for granting the exploration license, leading to a settlement in January 2025. As part of the deal, a new 116 km2 protected area was declared over Darajayan, the first in more than 30 years, offering the highest level of heritage protection. Officials say this prevents future mining threats and sets a benchmark for native title groups. While bittersweet after years of legal fights, it's a milestone allowing families to share the story of their victory with future generations. This story is made possible by our sponsor. See the episode description. Some travel miles to find peace. I just climb into bed and listen, SOLI,