Audio: Pastor Geoffrey Stokes on homelessness and Mining

Oct 30, 2014, 09:09 AM

Archives: National Indigenous Radio - "Now people are just going back into the corrugated irons that they came out of in the '50s and '60s. Concerning their policies, we're going backwards."

Pastor Stokes from the Kalgoorlie region in Western Australia, is also calling for unity amongst Indigenous people to improve their standing in Australian society.

He has lashed out at Australian governments for ignoring Aboriginal people and culture when formulating crucial policies in housing and land rights.

Pastor Stokes says Indigenous Australians who are often portrayed as 'leaders' by the media have vested political and economic interests and don't represent the majority of their people.

He says Indigenous people have been the victims of 'divide and conquer' policies by governments.

"The biggest weapon we have is us and unity and if we haven't got unity amongst ourselves, well the Government can do whatever they want.

"Our people were able to live for thousands of years in such harsh conditions because of family, their culture and their way of life and we can still do that today only if we live in peace with one another."