Mr Ward facts for kids
Ian Ward (born 1961 – died January 27, 2008) was an important Aboriginal elder from Warburton, Western Australia. He was often called "Mr Ward" in the news. He sadly passed away after being transported in the back of a prison van in the very hot Australian outback.
The Life of Ian Ward
Ian Ward was filmed as a child in the 1960s, living a traditional life with his family. He grew up to be a central and respected figure in his community at Warburton and the surrounding lands. He was known as a "culture man" because he had deep knowledge of his culture, land, and art.
Ward worked hard to build good relationships between his own community and non-Aboriginal communities. This included people in Western Australia, other parts of Australia, and even overseas. For example, he was chosen to represent the Ngaanyatjarra lands on a trip to China.
He also helped many scientists, geologists, paleontologists, and geophysicists who were doing surveys in the outback. Ian Ward worked as an interpreter for important discussions about native title, which deals with the rights of Aboriginal people to their traditional lands.
Ian Ward was involved in Landcare projects, which help protect the environment. He looked after water holes and helped control animals like foxes, dingoes, and wild cats. He was a very skilled hunter. He also helped many non-Indigenous people see native Australian animals like bilbies and rock wallabies. As an elder, he spent many years fighting for the rights of his people in the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve to be recognized.
Ward was also a well-known dancer and speaker. He created beautiful art, including a series of glass artworks called The Seven Seals of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.
The Tragic Death of Ian Ward
On January 26, 2008, Ian Ward was arrested by police in Laverton. He was then driven about 570 kilometers (352 miles) to a courthouse. After being held there, he was driven another 352 kilometers (219 miles) to a prison.
The air conditioning in the prison van was not working that day. The temperature outside was extremely hot, reaching 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit). Ward had a cut on his head from a fall and serious burns on his stomach. These burns happened because he fell and lay on the hot metal floor of the van.
The company transporting the prisoners noticed that Ward was unconscious. However, they did not stop the van to check on him. Ian Ward died shortly after this journey. There had been warnings about the dangers of this type of transport before his death.
See also
- Aboriginal deaths in custody
- Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
