Musician Anohni will walk embark on a 180km walk across Western Australian desert today joining the Martu people from Parnngurr in a protest over the decision to open a Uranium mine on their traditional lands and within the Karlamilyi National Park.

The acclaimed musician, who previously performed as the lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, has had a long friendship with people from the remote communities in the North West of the state.

“I am joining my Martu friends Nola and Curtis Taylor and over 100 other people from Parnngurr and neighboring communities in the Western Australian Desert on an 8 day, 180 Km protest walk from their remote community to the site of Mitsubishi and Cameco’s proposed open cart uranium mine.” Anohmi posted to her Facebook page.

“The proposed Kintyre mine is on their traditional lands and a threat to their well-being, as well as being gouged out of Karlamilyi National Park.”

Around 100 people are expected to walk with the traditional owners of the land on a walk which will take a week to complete.

Local man Curtis Taylor told National Indigenous Television that the journey would see people sharing their stories and visiting special places.

A land deal allowing the Uranium mine to progress was signed by some community members back in 2012 but many local people have argued that the wider community was not involved in the process.

Anohni has just released her first record using her new name. ‘Hopelessness’ is her first new recordings in over five years and sees her collaborate with Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never. 

OIP Staff