An anonymous letter accusing Indigenous elders of failing a lost younger generation of Noongars has triggered outrage in the small Great Southern WA town of Kojonup.

Key points: The letter was published by the Kojonup Times, a free local newspaper

The letter was published by the Kojonup Times, a free local newspaper The paper's editor apologised in the next issue for causing offence

The paper's editor apologised in the next issue for causing offence Locals were shocked by the letter's tone, and have called for unity

Published by the community-run newspaper Kojonup News, the unnamed writer asks "Are you really a Noongar Elder?" and "Are you a role model for the Noongars in town?", referring to the main Indigenous group in WA's South West.

The letter finishes with the words:

"Step up and be the leaders for our young Noongars —because you are failing them."

Letter linked to drug problems

Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members have reacted angrily towards the author for singling out one minority group for problems connected to the ice epidemic, which has hit regional towns hard in recent years.

Indigenous leaders were "shocked" that the anonymous letter was printed. ( ABC News: Mark Bennett )

In the short letter, the author asks: "Do you hunt with a rifle or a spear? Could you make a spear?" and "So many of our young Noongars have spent time in corrections facilities over the last few years and how many Noongars did you visit?"

The letter challenges the local Indigenous community to number how many elders there are in service groups or on sporting committees, asking why clubs and groups are regularly asked for cash donations to help with what the writer calls the Noongar community "crisis".

Letter prompts apology

Readers have questioned why the Kojonup News editor chose to run the letter without identifying the author.

The letter was published last month in the fortnightly paper, which is distributed free to all households in the shire.

The subsequent edition ran three pages of letters critical of the racist tone implied in the unsigned letter, as well as an apology from the publisher.

The Kojonup News has been under fire since running the anonymous letter. ( ABC News: Mark Bennett )

In a statement, Kojonup News editor Frankie Trouchet, said:

"The volunteers of the Kojonup News apologise that a recent letter that was printed has caused such heartache."

In the same edition the newspaper editor, herself a volunteer, defended the right to freedom of expression.

But Ms Trouchet acknowledged that the letter had caused distress, anger and fear in the Kojonup community.

"It was not our intent to cause harm or to offend," her statement said.

"We will try to do better."

Elders 'shocked' letter was printed

Chair of the Kojonup Aboriginal Corporation, Craig McVee, said he was 'bewildered' by the letter.

"There's a lot of hidden agendas in the background that maybe this person has had the courage to put it in writing, but unfortunately not to put their name behind the letter," Mr McVee said.

Kojonup Aboriginal Corporation chairman Craig McVee says the newspaper did not consider the impact of printing the letter. ( ABC News: Mark Bennett )

"We were shocked that it was allowed to go to print.

"All our forebears fought for the freedom of speech, but I think when you are in control of a small rural newspaper that goes around the district, how could [the editor] not understand the impact that article would have on a small minority group?

"It feels like before 1967 to be honest when we were still treated and governed as part of the Native Welfare Act, counted with the marsupials and the plants. That's the way we are feeling at the moment, that's how far back we feel we've gone."

Kojonup, 256 kilometres south-east of Perth, is one of many regional towns hit hard by the drug ice. ( ABC News: Mark Bennett )

Call for a 'united voice'

There are less than 100 Noongar people within the Kojonup district's 1800-strong population.

Noongar leaders believe the ice epidemic has decimated the younger generation of Noongars, along with non-Indigenous youth addicted to the drug.

But Mr McVee said the letter writer unfairly focused attention on the Noongar youth and incorrectly accused the elders of failing to respond.

"When someone does something wrong in the white community, it's a person," he said.

"But when someone does something wrong in a minority group, it's judged as them … which is unfortunate because we are all people, we are individual people. So let's try and judge each other as individuals and try and be a united voice and try and make this country what it should be — equal for everyone."

Former Kojonup shire president Robert Sexton says the letter was "unhelpful". ( ABC News: Mark Bennett )

Former Shire President and local historian Robert Sexton said the letter was offensive to the community generally.

"It's very offensive both to the white people and the Noongar people, Wadjelars and Noongars, from the point of view that both of them have worked very, very hard to make one community here," he said.

"And to try and throw a wedge in there, which looks like it is, then that's extremely unhelpful.

"I don't believe the racial prejudice is very deep. I think it's more ignorance than anything else.

"And out of that you'd have to hope that each time these things happen we take another step forward rather than a step backwards or sideways."

The letter comes as Kojonup and other rural towns struggle with the scourge of ice addiction. ( ABC News Breakfast )

But Mr Sexton said some good could come from the letter controversy if it prompted the discussion of difficult issues.

"I would see this as a step forward and the writer, or writers, and even the editors, if they start having conversations with the Noongar people and in the context of being Noongar and what that means to them historically, then we will go somewhere," he said.

"There's a very old adage that says when you point at somebody, remember, three of those fingers on the same hand are pointing at you."