In a major development in the dispute surrounding the former site of Sister Kate's home for children, a group of Indigenous people have cut the chain from the gate, leading the people occupying the site, who are also Indigenous, to call the police – who subsequently ordered them, the occupants, out.

Earlier in the day more than 40 Indigenous people, mostly Noongar people and including a number of former Sister Kate's residents, gathered for a picnic at a park down the street from Sister Kate's to discuss the future of the site.

After the event, a number of people walked down to the Sister Kate's site and one used an angle grinder to cut the chain from the gate.

It is understood the group occupying the site, some of whom are affiliated with the former board of the Beananging Kwuurt Institute (BKI), called the police once the chain was cut from the gate - who subsequently ordered them to leave the site.

The group also said one of the women amongst the occupants at the site, Aunty Dorothy Ann Winmar Riley Hansen, had a medical episode after the incident and an ambulance was called. She remained on site after the arrival of the police. It is understood that later in the day some supporters of the group were let in to see Aunty Dot.

Sister Kate's in Queen's Park, Boorloo, operated for decades as a home for Aboriginal children removed from their families under the policies that created the Stolen Generations.

The property is owned by the BKI, an agency of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) - which is affiliated to the Uniting Church.

There has been a long-running dispute between Congress and the now former BKI board, who were asked to leave the site, from which they delivered community services, in December. Since then some of the former board members, and some Indigenous women who had accessed services at the site, known as the Return Sister Kate's yorgas, have occupied it, alongside other supporters.

The new BKI board recently signed a memorandum with Yokai: Healing Our Spirit (the WA Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation), in which Yokai has signed a one-year commercial lease of the site for the cost of one dollar.

The Return Sister Kate's yorgas group and their supporters say the Sister Kate's site was a sacred Noongar birthing site, and also allege financial mismanagement of BKI by the original BKI board and Congress.

Yokai chair Jim Morrison said the 12 month-lease period would be used for community consultation and engagement on what was most needed for Stolen Generations on the site, with a view to establishing truth, healing and referral services there.

Video shared on social media by the occupants on the site shows Dr Morrison holding back the arm of Noongar protestor Kurtis Makuru, who had reached through the gate in an apparent attempt to stop the chain on the gate being cut. The 'Land back for Stolen Generations' account which shared the video said Kurtis, a Stolen Generations descendant, "will be pressing charges for alleged assault".

The group's spokesperson, Noongar woman Janet Garlett, said the action was "culturally inappropriate behaviour from a Noongar leader of a service that's meant to be about supporting Stolen Generation survivors, but is instead harming them".

Former Sister Kate's resident, Beverley Councillor, was among the speakers at the event earlier in the day which supported the new management for the site.

"My sisters and I were brought here, my brothers were sent to the farm that provided food to Sister Kate's. My youngest brother was too young to work, he was only three, so he came to Sister Kate's. Our mother got us out, and we OK after a few years, but we still feel the effects of being traumatised by that place," she said.

"I know the impacts today, on raising my children and on my children raising my grandchildren. It's not just about me.

"I had reservations at first because I didn't know how I felt about it (plans for establishing a truth and healing centre at the site). I am glad I came today, listening to everyone and moving forward. We are behind you."

Another former Sister Kate's resident, John Keane, told the gathering he was taken to the home when he was just 10 weeks old, and left when he was 17 years old.

"In the nearly 60 years since I left that place I have been back five times, twice in the past week. Thank you for the genuine love that you have for us and each other. Thank you," he said.

Tina Hayden, one of three Noongar sisters to speak at the gathering, thanked all who attended in support of "reclaiming" the site.

"I can not think of a better time to bring everyone together than right here and now, for the right reasons. For our Stolen Generations, Elders, youth, men, women and children," she said.

"Thank you for listening to us, we will be standing strong and I hope you will be standing strong beside us."

This article was updated on 25 March, 2025.