Anaconda island competition ‘culturally insensitive’

Retail giant Anaconda has been accused of taking ownership of  Tiwi land in a competition that gives customers the chance to win one of two “epic adventures’ on ‘Anaconda Island’.

“Anaconda Island is Australia’s ultimate adventure, where nature reigns supreme and adventure awaits!” their website says.

But the island is actually Bathurst Island, part of the Tiwi Islands group, north of Darwin.

Twi Land Council chief executive Brendan Ferguson told the ABC they had became aware of the “Anaconda Island” promotion when a community member raised it with them last week.

“We are concerned that a commercial entity would deem it appropriate to apply its own name to Tiwi country,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The promotion disregards Tiwi ownership of country and is culturally insensitive.”

The island retreat where the Anaconda promotion is based, told the ABC they had contacted the land Council cil about the promotion and hoped they could discuss their concerns.