Voice advocate and ‘Aboriginal elder’ hits back at accusations he is faking his Indigenous heritage

A Voice to Parliament advocate has been embroiled in a bitter dispute over whether he actually has Indigenous ancestry after a Land Council leader labeled his claims as ‘offensive’.

Neil Evers, 81, who hails from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, claims to be of Aboriginal descent and a distant relative of the colonial-era historical figure ‘King Bungaree’.

He was a panellist at an official Yes23 community forum meeting at the Manly Leagues Club in northern Sydney on Wednesday evening, along with Voice architect Thomas Mayo, Teals MP Zali Steggall and novelist Thomas Keneally.

Mr Evers was promoted to ‘Guringai elder’ on the forum.

Metropolitan Land Council chief executive Neil Moran told Sydney 2GB radio host Mark Levy on Wednesday that it was “offensive” that Evers spoke “as Aboriginal” at the event.

“He wasn’t Aboriginal born,” Mr Moran said.

He has no life experience. He has inherited no knowledge, no customs or traditions handed down… dare we say the trauma and realization of what our people have been through.”

The claims of Aboriginal ancestry made by Mr Evers were rejected by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council – the elected Aboriginal representative body for the Northern Beaches area since 1983.

Mr Moran said councilors rejected Mr Ever’s 2011 application to be recognized as a traditional owner because there is no evidence that he is a descendant of King Bungaree.

“Self-identification in finding an ancestor…in this case finding a photograph in a box or archive…that does not qualify someone as Aboriginal,” Mr Moran said.

Under Australia’s three-part test for those claiming to be Indigenous, the person must identify as Aboriginal, the Aboriginal community must recognize the person as Aboriginal, and the person must demonstrate Aboriginal ancestry.

However, Mr Evers claimed that Mr Moran had previously accepted his claims.

Nathan Moran, CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, says his organization has rejected Evers’ claim that he is Indigenous

“I went there almost 20 years ago to register with the Land Council and it was Nathan Moran who actually accepted my three levels,” he said. the Daily Telegraph.

“And then I was told because I’m from Guringai, there’s no such thing as a Guringai, so they wouldn’t register me.”

Mr Evers made an Aboriginal claim at the age of 67 after his late cousin Bob Waterers found a photograph he believed to be Aboriginal that had been included in a family history book.

Mr. Waterers identified an ancestor named Sarah Wallace and wrote: ‘It has been suggested that Sarah may have been the daughter of his (Bungaree’s) first wife Matora.’

Mr Evers said Mr Waterers had found other evidence, including a box containing all births, deaths and certificates dating back to 1772, proving his entire lineage.

He says his grandmother was Aboriginal and part of the Stolen Generation.

“At the time we thought she had gotten a nice tan,” he said.

‘We are descendants of Bungaree, we can certainly trace it back to him.

“It’s crazy stuff, Nathan Moran just wants to demote us.”

Mr Moran said a website run by the descendants of Bungaree, who helped colonial settlers map Sydney, has rejected claims that Mr Evers is an ancestor.

Prominent Voice lawyer Thomas Mayo shared the stage with Mr Evers at Wednesday’s Yes23 event on Sydney’s North Shore

Despite being promoted to ‘Guringai elder’ for the Voice23 event, Mr Evers denied this was the case.

“I never called myself an elder,” he said the Daily Telegraph He expressed surprise that he had been promoted as such.

Mr Moran and Mr Evers are at odds over a plan by the Metropolitan Land Council to build hundreds of homes on land they own on Lizard Rock in the northern Sydney suburb of Belrose.

Local resident Mr Evers has been a leading opponent of the proposal and has appeared at protests alongside local federal MP Sophie Scamps.

NSW has recognized the Metropolitan Land Council as the traditional authority for Sydney’s northern beach area since 1983, while Mr Moran said Mr Evers was unable to specify where his aboriginal ancestors came from.

“Identifying is one thing, but then claiming that he speaks as a cultural person connected to that country is a fallacy,” Moran said.

‘There is no factual evidence that Mr Evers or his extended family has any cultural ties to Belrose, Oxford Falls, the Northern Beaches.

Mr Evers said if Mr Moran continues to question his Aboriginality he may have to consider defamation.

“He detracts from the Voice – I’m here to advocate for the Voice,” Evers said.