Maitland's Story: A Legacy Remembered
In an intimate, award-winning film, respected Banjima Elder Maitland Parker co-created feature documentary YURLU | COUNTRY about his fight to preserve his culture and heal his homelands.
This powerful film lays bare the devastating impact of Wittenoom’s toxic legacy while honoring the resilience of Banjima people striving to reclaim and heal their land. It charts the struggle for remediation, the challenges of dispossession, and the enduring strength of those working to restore Country, culture, and justice.
Parker called Ngambigunha ‘Poison Country’ – a haunting truth etched into his body. He passed away in January 2024 from mesothelioma which he developed because of exposure to the deadly asbestos fibres from his contaminated ‘Yurlu’ (Country).
Parker was diagnosed with mesothelioma despite having never worked in the Wittenoom mines. A Karijini National Park ranger who lived at Ranger Headquarters for more than 40 years, he led a long campaign calling for a clean-up.
His dying wish was for a clean-up so the next generation could access Country safely again.
Mere months prior to his passing, Parker was interviewed by Dr Marcos Orellana, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights during a country visit for his Australia report in 2023 and stated, “I have a role to play here to make sure that I advocate for my people.”
“That is my will and my push to get Government to do something about it.’
“My generation of people... are being affected by it and a lot of them have it and will continue to get it... and eventually, I guess, pass away and die from it,” Parker said.
Parker told his story in the Yurlu | Country documentary because he wanted this sickness to stop with him. He broke with tradition to allow his name, voice and image to be used after his passing so that Banjima and future generations could benefit from his story being used to advocate for the healing of Country.
Amplify our story and learn more about where to watch the film, or Host a Screening on the Yurlu | Country website.