Kangkushot - Pilbara Indigenous strike leader farewelled (1920-2006) : Melbourne Indymedia

At his death Peter Coppin (Kangkushot) was the most senior elder, the top lawman' for the Nyamal people in the Pilbara, and was widely reverred as an Aboriginal leader, and an activist for Aboriginal rights and social justice.

A book on the life of Peter Coppin recieved a WA Premiers award in 1999 - 'Kangkushot The Life of Nyamal Lawman Peter Coppin' by Jolly Read and Peter Coppin, which uses third person narrative with Peter Coppin's own voice to tell a life story centred on a movement for social justice and social awareness encompassing the first strike of Aboriginal workers in Australia's history in 1946.

In Peter's own words from the ABC Messagestick website he describes how he got his name and his birth at Yarrie Station, 80km north-east of Marble Bar in 1920:
"Kangu mean it’s a knee, an Nymal word. Knee, right in the kneecap. Kangu. We call that kangu. And the bloke put the name up, said “Kangushot” you know. I got the bullet in my kangu. Ah, a bloke was messing around with a rifle. It was only an accident. Bullet went right in my knee. Right through the kneecap, you know. I was laid in the bed for about 6 weeks I think, and then they let me go. So when I went back straight into the horse, jump on the horse. Great fun, you know. I’ve never taken notice about what has happened. Everybody call me Kangu then."

"Well I was born in Yari (station) that’s all I know. What the old people told me. But some there can’t get the right day, you know? No day, all that sort of thing. Nothing at all cause we never learnt to read and write at all, all the old people never learnt to read or write, nothing at all. When I grew up a bit, big enough to walk round, all that sort of thing, my sister took me to Waralong (station). Took me away from Yari and I was in Waralong then, I grew up there. I grew up until I get a man properly… a proper man, I get through the blackfella law and everything."

He was one of the leaders in the strike in 1946 by Aboriginal pastoral workers in the Pilbara which lasted until 1949. Other leaders included Clancy McKenna, Dooley Bin Bin, Jacob Oberdoo, Snowy Judmai and Don McLeod. The strike was documented by Don McLeod in his 1984 self-published book: 'How the West was lost: the native question in the development of Western Australia'. The strike led to the establishment of Strelley School, the oldest Independent Aboriginal Community School operating in Australia - which set up a language education program in Nyangumarta.

In the 60s and 70s, he worked as a miner in the Marble Bar area. Later, he ran the Yandeyarra Aboriginal community, 130km south-east of Port Hedland. His hard work turned the station from a struggling pastoral station into a successful community with about 350 residents. According to his son “He epitomised political activism,” Mr Taylor said. “Tall and handsome, his passion for Aboriginal law and culture set him apart.”

In 1972, Mr Coppin was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for meritorious services to the Pilbara Aboriginal community. He was made a Freeman of the Town of Port Hedland and was the joint recipient of the 2002 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Elder of the Year award.

He retired in 1991 to a parcel of land (Jinparinya) just outside Port Hedland. Even in retirement Peter was still active in native rights capmpaigns, with son Barry Taylor describing him in 2004: “I sometimes wish Dad would slow down,” he said. “My father has walked the walk to achieve rights for his people. Once he did that, he had to get the runs on the board — he still attends law ceremonies.”

In the Western Australian Legislative Assembly on 12 September 2006, parliament held a minutes silence in remembrance of three public personalities: Steve Irwin, Peter Brock and Peter Coppin.

Sheila McHale (WA Minister for Indigenous Affairs) addressed parliament describing Peter Coppin:
"He not only was a most senior elder and top lawman for the Nyamal people in the Pilbara region, but also was well known in the wider Australian society for his leadership and involvement in the Aboriginal pastoral strike of 1946. Lasting until August 1949, it was one of Australia’s longest-running industrial strikes."

"He actively tried to improve the lives, conditions and opportunities of the Nyamal and other Aboriginal peoples in the Pilbara. During the 1990s he was appointed chairperson of the Pilbara Commission of Elders. He fought strongly throughout his life to maintain Aboriginal culture and language, and he gained the respect of many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. He was instrumental in turning the abandoned station of Yandeyarra into a thriving community, which he successfully managed for 25 years until his retirement in the mid-1990s."

At the funeral Sheila McHale said in tribute "He fought strongly for his culture and language, gaining the respect of both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community," Jon Ford, Minister for the Pilbara, said WA had lost a man of great knowledge and wisdom. Former Western Australian premier Peter Dowding, who was a friend of the Indigenous leader, said the country had lost one of its heroes. "Many people across the whole of Australia and indeed internationally will recognise the loss of such a great man," Mr Dowding said.

Peter Coppin is survived by his wife Winnie and five children.

Sources:
1. Aboriginal leader farewelled - September 29, 2006
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20497847-1702,00.html
2. Western Australian Premier's Book Awards - 1999 Judges' Report
http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/pbk99rep.html
3. ABC TV - Messagestick - Friday 1 April 2005
http://www.abc.net.au/message/tv/ms/s1335203.htm
4. Bits and obits Blog by Jane Simpson 12 September 2006
http://blogs.usyd.edu.au/elac/2006/09/bits_and_obits_1.html
5. The West Australian - The Pibara Region supplement - Wednesday August 18, 2004
http://www.pdc.wa.gov.au/pdf/Pilbara%20pages%201-11.pdf
6. Legislative Assembly of Western Australia Hansard for 09/12/2006
http://tinyurl.com/pro9q
7. Wikipedia: 1946 Pilbara strike - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Pilbara_strike
8. Original Indigenous strike leader dies in Pilbara - 12 September 2006
http://abc.net.au/message/news/stories/ms_news_1738758.htm