Aboriginal Sovereignty Never Ceded…what does it mean?
It means Aboriginal people of Australia have not ever willingly or freely acknowledge or given the right for a foreign power to occupy our country and impose its laws and political systems on a free willed and peaceful people.
It means that Aboriginal people have not freely or willingly given up the right to self-determination or self rule.
It means that Aboriginal people have not given up the right to own our lands, waters and natural resources.
It means that Aboriginal people have not given up the right to live and exist as free people in our own country.
It means that Aboriginal people be afforded a basic human right of speaking and teaching our own languages.
It means that Aboriginal people have not freely or willingly given up the right to practice our own religion.
It means that Aboriginal people have not given up the right to practice our own culture.
It means that Aboriginal people may one day be free from this constant and relentless fixation Australian politicians have in wanting to steal our children.
It means that Aboriginal people have not been free and willing participants in Australian political systems and their uniquely Australian idiosyncratic forms of Aboriginal engineering.
It means that Aboriginal people have not given up the right to support and sustain our way of life as a free and independent people.
It means that Aboriginal people are not free and willing participants in the occupation of our country by a ruthless and merciless foreign power.
Aboriginal Sovereignty raises a legal and political discourse that I will talk about next time.
Les Coe
Aboriginal Embassy
TW: talks on genocide, racism, privilege denial, Australians who don’t know history
Namely those who are quite upset by the PM losing her shoe and have now resorted to engaging in hateful rhetoric directed at the Australian Indigenous communities.
I’ve noticed a few trends going on in the racist, ignorant and possibly written-in-an-inebriated-state, rage posts. And it’s only fair to address these things.
1. There is this misunderstanding that the genocide and ill treatment of Indigenous Australians “happened” 200 years ago. Allow me to correct you (Aussie to Aussie of course, because some of you seem rather flustered when a non Aussie attempts to address your racist disposition)- The Genocide and ill treatment of Indigenous Australians STARTED roughly 200 years ago.
The effects of the genocide, the negligence and abuse by the government, the ongoing institutional oppression of them is still happening today. Whilst you were mourning over the PM’s lost shoe, the NTER was (and is) still running. Police brutality against Indigenous Australians is still happening. The rates of infant mortality, sexual abuse and assault are still disproportionately higher in comparison to the general population. If it comforts you in the slightest- the PM will get another pair of shoes. However, these issues will not experience such an instant fix.
2. Many of you seem quite upset by the fact that Indigenous Australians can access a free education. Now this surprises me because we do have government schools where education is free (and if there are certain payments to be made, government subsidies can still be applied for) which is available to all Australians. And even up to a tertiary level (though the HECS is far from perfect) there are still ways of lessening the financial burden- provided by private and public institutions which all Australians can access.
3. Since we’re talking about university, I’ve also observed a lot of anger due to the fact that apparently Indigenous Australians can get a “free ride” into university because they apparently “swim in” scholarships.
Again- if you actually took the time to research our nation’s Universities, you’d notice that despite there being 2-3 max Indigenous focus scholarships per uni, there are plenty more scholarships on top of that which any Australian and apply for if you meet a set of requirements (and fun fact, even the Indigenous focused scholarships have a set of requirements to meet as well). Also, another point to be made- Indigenous Australians are not exempt from HECS.
4. Many of you seem quite bitter about how Indigenous Australians apparently get free-to-access dole. And the fact that you cannot access such magic dole which you seem to blame Indigenous Australians for. In the time that it took for you to write your hate post, if you had done some research- you would have learnt that applications for the dole are open to all. It doesn’t mean that you will get the dole (because you have to meet certain requirements to qualify for it) but the same way your application will go through a process of assessment- so will an Indigenous Australian’s ( and they must meet a set of requirements as well). And where there will be some application that will be accepted, there will be those which will be rejected- the same applies to Indigenous applicants as well.
I would go into further detail on the numerous ways the Indigenous community here has been abused by the government institutionally and individual wise, or the 5 acts of genocide this community has experienced- but the Prime Minister losing her shoe, or a flag being burnt (because those who wrapped themselves in the flag as they participated in the Cronulla Riots are not offensive at all.), or you not knowing that you can access a lot of these things which you accuse Indigenous Australians for- is clearly more important than all that.
Reblogging again because there is a hate post on how Indigenous Australians Are The Worst because they can get cheap milk in Western Australia.
Fun fact: EVERYONE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA CAN GET CHEAP MILK
$2.00 FOR 2 LITRES WHAT A BARGAIN YOU PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF EXCUSES GO TO FUCKING COLES BEFORE POSTING THIS SHIT
TW: talks on genocide, racism, privilege denial, Australians who don’t know history
Namely those who are quite upset by the PM losing her shoe and have now resorted to engaging in hateful rhetoric directed at the Australian Indigenous communities.
I’ve noticed a few trends going on in the racist, ignorant and possibly written-in-an-inebriated-state, rage posts. And it’s only fair to address these things.
1. There is this misunderstanding that the genocide and ill treatment of Indigenous Australians “happened” 200 years ago. Allow me to correct you (Aussie to Aussie of course, because some of you seem rather flustered when a non Aussie attempts to address your racist disposition)- The Genocide and ill treatment of Indigenous Australians STARTED roughly 200 years ago.
The effects of the genocide, the negligence and abuse by the government, the ongoing institutional oppression of them is still happening today. Whilst you were mourning over the PM’s lost shoe, the NTER was (and is) still running. Police brutality against Indigenous Australians is still happening. The rates of infant mortality, sexual abuse and assault are still disproportionately higher in comparison to the general population. If it comforts you in the slightest- the PM will get another pair of shoes. However, these issues will not experience such an instant fix.
2. Many of you seem quite upset by the fact that Indigenous Australians can access a free education. Now this surprises me because we do have government schools where education is free (and if there are certain payments to be made, government subsidies can still be applied for) which is available to all Australians. And even up to a tertiary level (though the HECS is far from perfect) there are still ways of lessening the financial burden- provided by private and public institutions which all Australians can access.
3. Since we’re talking about university, I’ve also observed a lot of anger due to the fact that apparently Indigenous Australians can get a “free ride” into university because they apparently “swim in” scholarships.
Again- if you actually took the time to research our nation’s Universities, you’d notice that despite there being 2-3 max Indigenous focus scholarships per uni, there are plenty more scholarships on top of that which any Australian and apply for if you meet a set of requirements (and fun fact, even the Indigenous focused scholarships have a set of requirements to meet as well). Also, another point to be made- Indigenous Australians are not exempt from HECS.
4. Many of you seem quite bitter about how Indigenous Australians apparently get free-to-access dole. And the fact that you cannot access such magic dole which you seem to blame Indigenous Australians for. In the time that it took for you to write your hate post, if you had done some research- you would have learnt that applications for the dole are open to all. It doesn’t mean that you will get the dole (because you have to meet certain requirements to qualify for it) but the same way your application will go through a process of assessment- so will an Indigenous Australian’s ( and they must meet a set of requirements as well). And where there will be some application that will be accepted, there will be those which will be rejected- the same applies to Indigenous applicants as well.
I would go into further detail on the numerous ways the Indigenous community here has been abused by the government institutionally and individual wise, or the 5 acts of genocide this community has experienced- but the Prime Minister losing her shoe, or a flag being burnt (because those who wrapped themselves in the flag as they participated in the Cronulla Riots are not offensive at all.), or you not knowing that you can access a lot of these things which you accuse Indigenous Australians for- is clearly more important than all that.
Scenes From A Protest of the Day: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott had to be rushed out of a restaurant in Canberra today by Australian Federal Police officers after a throng of angry protesters threatened to harm them both.
The pair were attending an Australia Day ceremony at The Lobby restaurant, when protesters from the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy descended on the establishment to demonstrate their displeasure at Abbott’s remark that it was time for the 40-year-old tent city to “move on.”
Abbott’s comments inflamed tensions already heightened by “Invasion Day” protests organized by
indigenousIndigenous leaders throughout the country.In the midst of the violence, however, another remarkable scene, as PM Gillard is caught on tape inquiring as to the whereabouts and safety of her political rival. “What about Mr Abbott?” Gillard is heard saying. “Where have you got him? We’d better help him through, hadn’t we?”
The commotion quieted down shortly after Gillard and Abbott cleared out. Protesters are now looking into the possibility of suing Abbott for inciting a riot.
Pro-tip: always capitalise the I in Indigenous.
Also- Tony Abbott should be sued for existing tbh. He is a vile human being who has also made comments about how Indigenous Australians should only be left to pick up trash if they “truly want to be seen as Australians”
In all honesty- I look forward to more these protests- because it looks like none of our leaders will ever open up on this matter until someone knocks them one.
This made my Invasion Day.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard dragged away from a restaurant by security after protestors from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy gathered and banged on the glass walls, yelling “shame” and “racist”. This was in response to comments by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that the Tent Embassy should close. He actually said, “I think a lot has changed for the better since then…I think it probably is time to move on from that.”
This year is the 40th Anniversary of the Tent Embassy. Another “Australia Day” passes without acknowledgement of invasion, colonialism, genocide, massacres or frontier wars. A government that upholds systems of apartheid in jails and income quarantining and the Northern Territory Intervention; and deaths in custody; and forcing people to move off their homelands; and education and health inequalities, and dying languages and schools where children learn only english; and mining companies stealing and raping land and telling traditional owners they should work on their stolen land to end a so called “welfare mentality”. Happy fucking Australia Day. We still don’t have a treaty and Indigenous peoples never ceded sovereignty. We are not a post-colonial country.
EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER WANTED TO SAY
Updated
The coming week marks the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, one of the most significant and sustaining political protests in the history of Australia.
A series of events on the lawns of the Old Parliament House in Canberra will pay tribute to the Aboriginal rights agenda that acted as a rallying call for communities throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s.
The commemoration and celebration will highlight current debates around sovereignty and self-determination, but will also act as a showcase for political performance.
The original tent embassy set up on the eve of Australia Day in 1972 was as much about theatre as it was about land rights.
Four activists from Sydney wanted to draw attention to injustices perpetrated against Indigenous Australians by not allowing Aboriginal title to land based on traditional association.
Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams and Tony Coorey travelled to Canberra from Sydney to campaign where the politicians lived and to hopefully get their photos taken holding political placards.
As they made their way from Redfern one of the four decided they were heading to the city of embassies so they would demonstrate how they were treated like foreigners in their own land by erecting an ‘Aboriginal Embassy’.
The turning point came when they realised they were legally entitled to camp on Commonwealth land in front of the Parliament.
The police couldn’t move them, so they settled in and put up more tents.
Veteran activist, the late Chicka Dixon recalled the Member for Canberra Keppel Enderby identified the legal loophole:
“He said you found a gap in their law, they can’t move ya unless they introduce legislation. So we put up eight tents then. I became the ‘Minister for Defence’ and we gave ourselves portfolios. We painted the gutter No Parking Aboriginal Staff Only and then we introduced the (Aboriginal) flag”.
The ongoing status of the tent embassy helped bring media attention to work already underway by groups such as the Black Caucus in Sydney and the Australian Black Panther Party.
They sought to highlight achievements from the previous decade.
The push for Aboriginal title started in the Northern Territory with the cattle musterers’ campaign at Wave Hill station and the legal challenge to a foreign owned bauxite mine at Gove Peninsula.
In Redfern the self-help philosophy resulted in legal and health services for Aboriginal people as well as black theatre and housing services.
Once the Tent Embassy campaign gained a foothold in Canberra the stage was set to take the campaign to the next level.
Michael Anderson released a five-point plan for land rights in February that included a $6 billion down payment for stolen lands plus an annual royalty calculated as a percentage of GDP.
A visit by a delegation of Labor MPs lead by then-opposition leader Gough Whitlam helped to further cement the land rights agenda, with Whitlam offering tentative support.
The McMahon Government continued to dismiss the activists as an unrepresentative minority as it worked to draw up a new ordinance to allow removal of the tents.
Without warning on July 20 the new ordinance was delivered and police dispatched.
Sixty to 100 protestors stood firm, linking arms in an effort to prevent access.
But the police prevailed and removed the tents and their contents in a short but violent conflict resulting in eight arrests and eight injured police officers.
“It was a jolly good stoush but a fairly disorganised one”, recalls Jack Waterford from The Canberra Times.
The second clash three days later when activists returned to re-erect the tents was bigger, involving up to 200 protestors with equal numbers of police.
Chicka Dixon likened it to storm troopers marching into battle, while Pat Eatock says she was thrown the ground and crushed.
“I couldn’t move and I was thinking to myself this is what it’s like to be trampled to death,” she said.
The battle captured radio, TV and newspaper headlines around the country and appears in a historic documentary of the struggle, Ningla-A-Na.
The third and final confrontation a week later carried all the hallmarks of a potential Sharpeville riot.
Around a thousand people including Aborigines, students, trade unionists and increasingly sympathetic members of the general public marched from the Australian National University to re-erect the embassy.
Chicka Dixon recalls: “We decided to fight the coppers, so we armed ourselves with little sticks”.
Jack Waterford was concerned by the fatalistic attitude displayed by some.
“There were people there prepared to die”, he said.
“Aboriginal people in particular believed this was the turning point”.
The day took on a further ominous tone with actors from the Black Theatre symbolically carrying people coffin-like over their heads during a public performance.
But the police didn’t intervene so a succession of speeches followed and the protestors momentarily had their way.
At the end of the day as the crowds dispersed a small number of police were allowed in to remove the Embassy tent.
Violence was avoided, mainly for sake of the young and elderly in attendance.
Even ASIO officers secretly watching events unfold expected violence to occur, as a later report confirms:
“It appeared that a further violent confrontation would be likely to occur during the third demonstration. However, despite harsh ‘political abuse’, calls to violence and other extremist action were not suggested and it appears likely the demonstrators considered they had achieved some sort of victory when police did not intervene during the re-creation of the ‘Embassy’ tent”.
Peaceful symbolic action had won the day.
An important and overlooked historical footnote was the fully expenses-paid trip to China by an Aboriginal delegation at the invitation of the Chinese government.
The trip was negotiated earlier in the year while the embassy still stood, then went ahead in October and November with nine representatives led by Chicka Dixon.
Billy McMahon tried to stop it by ordering the government-owned carrier Qantas not to carry the group.
They flew with Air New Zealand instead.
Chicka Dixon’s philosophy was simple: “I went to China to unload. You’ve got to aim for international embarrassment”.
Aboriginal historian and embassy co-founder Gary Foley believes the embassy activism at home and abroad undermined the government’s credibility.
“These events directly contributed to the rapid demise of the McMahon administration”, he says.
The Coalition suffered a humiliating defeat in the December election ending 23 years of conservative government.
The new prime minister Gough Whitlam quickly established an inquiry resulting in the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, which transferred almost half the land of the Northern Territory to collective Indigenous ownership.
He also introduced the first national elected Indigenous representative body and a separate Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
The Tent Embassy offered a blueprint for future activism, with ‘embassies’ erected again in Canberra, but also Sydney and other locations in response to key events.
The Canberra Embassy became a permanent fixture in 1992 and in 1995 was added to the Australian Register of the National Estate.
This year as the tent embassy encampment returns again it carries the added significance of 40 years of cultural struggle.
To mark the occasion the new national Indigenous representative body set up under the Gillard Government, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, will stage a two-day forum.
And central to their debate will be the very same issues a group of defiant activists from Redfern dared to raise all those years ago.
Nick has worked in the ABC Illawarra newsroom since 1998. He became the Journalist-in-Charge in 2010. View his full profile here.
