Fury as Oscars goodie bags give away indigenous Australians’ land
WHEN Cate Blanchett and Colin Farrell, among others, dip into their Oscars goodie bags tomorrow they will become proud owners of a parcel of Australian land and with it a “spiritual connection” to the outback.
The Aussie Mate Conservation Packs contain “ownership papers” to a 10sq ft plot in Queensland, to offer the 26 acting and directing nominees “a perspective from the Indigenous Australians”. But the scheme appears to have backfired after indigenous groups said they had not been consulted about the gifts of territory.
One group that is referenced in the handbook said they have “no connection whatsoever” to the company selling the packs and would now be seeking legal advice.
Pieces of Australia, which supplies certificates to the territory, said the
Oscars gift was supposed to be a “symbolic” gesture inspired by last year’s Oscars goodie bags that gave plots of Scottish land from highland titles. Niels Chaneliere, the owner of the company, told The Daily Telegraph: “I want to continue to deepen that relationship because the tone deaf approach is not at all what I am going for.”
Celebrities with a goodie bag will be given a “licence” certificate and a “membership” book containing education from “a perspective from the Indigenous Australians” including land management practices, “spiritual connections” and “teachings”.
The handbook supplied at the Oscars mentions the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN), an “indigenousowned” conservation group. “We also contribute and partner with Indigenous organisations to promote the practice of traditional land management,” it adds.
However,the Telegraph has confirmed no First Nations organisations were partnering with the business. But the group told this newspaper: “The ICIN has not been approached in any way in regards to the Academy Awards. ICIN is seeking legal advice regarding this matter.”
It added that the Oscars scheme did not have permission to use its pictures.
Some 26 celebrities will receive gift bags that will contain a “certificate of licence” to the land in Queensland, as well as about £106,000 worth of free trips, products and services, but the actors will not be invited to visit the Australian land.
Mr Chaneliere, 29, said the certificates were a symbolic gesture to enable recipients to responsibly engage with the Australian bush. He is considering installing cameras and sound equipment on the remote property so people can tune in to the sounds of Australian birds from anywhere in the world.