PVC- Indigenous Strategy UNSWIS_Final_SIGN OFF_18 October 2018 low res for | Page 22

‘Delegates spoke of the spiritual and cultural things
that have been stolen. Delegates spoke of the
destruction of boundaries because of the forced
movement of people, the loss of First Peoples and
Sovereign First Nations spirituality, and the destruction
of language.’ (Dubbo)
‘The burning of Mapoon in 1963 was remembered:
“Mapoon people have remained strong, we are still
living at Mapoon. Mapoon still exists in western Cape
York but a lot of our grandfathers have died at New
Mapoon. That isn’t where their spirits need to be.”’
(Cairns)
But as we mourn, we can also celebrate those who
have gone before us. In a hostile Australia, with
discrimination and persecution, out of their mourning
they started a movement – the modern movement for
rights, equality and self-determination.
‘We have learnt through the leaders of the Pilbara
Strike, we have learnt from the stories of our big
sisters, our mothers, how to be proud of who we are.’
(Perth)
‘The old men and women were carrying fire…Let’s get
that fire up and running again.’ (Darwin)
ACTIVISM
The movement for political change continued to grow
through the 20th Century. Confronted by discrimination
and the oppressive actions of government, First
Nations showed tenacity, courage and perseverance.
‘Those who came before us marched and died for us
and now it’s time to achieve what we’ve been fighting
for since invasion: self-determination.’ (Adelaide)
‘Torres Strait Islanders have a long history of
self-government. The civic local government was
established in the late 1800s, and in the 1930s after
the maritime strikes, local councils were created, and
in the 1990s, the TSRA. The Torres Strait Islander
peoples also have rights under the Torres Strait
Treaty.’ (Torres Strait)
Our leaders knew that empowerment and positive
change would only come from activism. Right
across Australia, First Nations took their fight to
the government, the people and the international
community. From Yorta Yorta country, Yirrkala and
many other places, people sent petitions urging the
King, the Prime Minister and the Australian Parliament
to heed their calls for justice. There were strikes for
autonomy, equality and land in the Torres Strait, the
Pilbara and Palm Island.
‘The history of petitions reminded people about the
nationally significant Palm Island Strike. So many
20
people from this region had been removed from
Country to the “penal settlement” of Palm Island
since its establishment in 1916. The Strike was
also sparked by a petition, this time from seven
Aboriginal men demanding improved wages, health,
housing and working conditions, being ignored by the
superintendent. We commemorate 60 years of the
Strike in June 2017.’ (Cairns)
Our people fought for and won the 1967 Referendum,
the most successful Yes vote in Australian history. In
front of the world, we set up an embassy on the lawns
of Parliament House and we marched in the streets of
Brisbane during the Commonwealth Games. In the west,
grassroots leaders like the late Rob Riley took the fight
on sacred sites, deaths in custody and justice for the
Stolen Generations to the highest levels of government.
LAND RIGHTS
At the heart of our activism has been the long struggle
for land rights and recognition of native title. This
struggle goes back to the beginning. The taking of
our land without consent represents our fundamental
grievance against the British Crown.
The struggle for land rights has united First Nations
across the country. For example Tent Embassy
activists down south supported Traditional Owners in
the Territory, who fought for decades to retain control
over their country. The Yolngu people’s fight against
mining leases at Yirrkala and the Gurindji walk-off from