"Traditional owners from Numbulwar on the Gulf of Carpentaria say the actions of five Federal Government workers have caused lasting damage to the Indigenous intervention.

A gang of five intervention workers arrived in the area, nearly 600 kilometres south-east of Darwin, late last month, and were told by council staff to use toilet and shower facilities at a nearby training centre.

Instead the group dug a long-drop toilet in the middle of the most important ceremonial ground in the region.

Traditional owner Billy Gumana has told the 7.30 Report that he is furious.

"They think our culture is a toy culture, they think it's not real, but to us it is real, because we belong to this ground," he said.

The head of the Federal Intervention Taskforce, Major General David Chalmers, says he is appalled and the incident is being investigated."

Labels: Federal Government, John Howard, racism