Overview of Mutant Campaign by the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia

In 1990, Marlo Morgan published a book, "Mutant Message Down Under", which chronicles the journey of a middle-age, white American woman with a group of 62 desert Aborigines, the "Real People", across the continent of Australia. The book was written after the fact inspired by actual experience. "Mutant Message Down Under" quickly attained popularity with the new age
movement in the United States and consequently the book was picked by giant publishing firm Harper Collins. To date over half a million copies of the Harper Collins version have been sold in the United States and Europe. In her lectures, Ms Morgan speaks of her actual experience with the "real people" and States that she is an Aborigine. A survey of Aboriginal groups in Central and Western Australia failed to uncover any indication of Ms Morgan's presence in the area, or of the existence of the "real people" tribe. Aboriginal groups believe Ms Morgan's desert journey to be utterly fabricated and that her book and teaching's lack any credibility whatsoever. It is deeply offensive to Aboriginal People for a white woman to be misrepresenting Aboriginal culture for self-promotion and profit. Aboriginal people are appalled that Ms Morgan's false Message is being accepted as fact by a naïve American and European marker and are extremely concerned about the resulting long term implications for their culture. This report details the process undertaken by Aboriginal groups and initiated by their response to "Mutant Message Down Under", which has lead to a unified voice of opposition to the exploitation of indigenous cultures throughout the world.

Profile of Robert Eggington.

Robert Eggington is a Noongah man form the southwest of Western Australia. The traditional heritage of his people is embedded in the south west forest regions.   As the coordinator of the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Mr Robert Eggington organises strategies to oppose cultural appropration and exploitation. Before compiling the present and the previous reports, he has travelled extensively through outback regions, consulting with Aboriginal people about their response to the Book "Mutant Message Downunder". In early 1996 Mr Eggington led a delegation of elder respresentatives to the United States, to formally protest the content and implication of "Mutant Message Downunder". The contingent of Aboriginal elders represent the Voice of all Aboriginal people regarding cultural exploitation and appropriation.

Profile of Paul Sampi.

Paul Sampi is an elder from one arm point, in the north west Kimberley region of Western Australia. He is of the Bardi people and is the Vice Chairperson of the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre. Paul is also involved in the running of traditional ceremonies (singing and dancing). The Bardi people are of the sea, and some dreaming tracks of the Bardi people extend out to sea with ancestral beings embodied in the reefs and sandbanks.

Profile of Peggy Patrick.
Peggy Patrick is from the Warmun Community situated at Turkey Creek in the north west of Western Australia. Peggy is a senior Aboriginal Law Woman, who is responsible for woman's law in her area. Peggy represents her people's cultural issues as a member of the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre. Peggy is an extremely well respected Law Woman.

Profile of Robert Bropho

Robert Bropho is a Noongah elder of the Swan River Valley in Western Australia. Mr Bropho is the spokesperson for the Swan Valley Noongah Community, which is comprised of the last of the river people living on the Swan River and coastal plains. The Noongah people respect and believe in their religion and their culture, the belief of the indigenous people of Australia. Mr Bropho has led many previous land rights stands at the Old Swan Brewery site.

Profile of Joan Winch

Joan Winch is and elder from the South West of Western Australia. Joan is the founding member of the Marr Mooditj Aboriginal Health Workers’ Training Program situated at the Clontarf College in Perth WA. Joan is worthy recipient of the World's Health Organisation’s Sassakawa award. She retired from Marr Mooditj in 1994 and is renowned for her health work in the Aboriginal
community.

Profile of Glen Taylor of Dumbartung, Mr Taylor has been involved in the campaign of opposition to "Mutant Message Downunder" since its inception.

Profile of Rex Japangunka

Rex Japangunka is the chairperson of Central Lands Council in the Yuenogmu Community and is involved in ceremonial activity in that area.

Glen Taylor is a Noongah man from the Katanning District. He is the executive officer of Abmusic, an Aboriginal community based cultural arts organisation which advocates the abolition of all form of cultural exploitation.
 

"I Burnum Burnum, hereby sever all ties with the Author Marlo Morgan and the book entitled 'Mutant Message Down Under'. My reaction to the book was an innocent response to what I considered an account of an inner journey, which uplifted Aboriginal Australians in the eyes of the world. In my innocence, I did not understand the tribal ramifications of my support for the Author. I am a non-initiated, non-traditional, urbanised, Aboriginal from the East Coast of Australia".
Yours Sincerely,
BURNUM BURNUM

    The Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation Respectfully sympathises with the passing away of Burnum Burnum during August, 1997.