News from Camp Sovereignty |
| by Scoot |
2006-03-17 1:13 PM +0800 |
| On Sunday March 12 2006, the sacred fire was lit at Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain, Melbourne. This is the site of an ancient meeting ground and later Victoria's first concentration camp; more recently the burial ground for 38 Aboriginal people reburied in 1985 after their remains were recovered from the Museum of Victoria. |
Today this hill in the centre of Melbourne is a thriving village with its own kitchen, sleeping area, fire circle, meeting places and art tents. The camp is being used as a base for a series of actions throughout the city to coincide with the 'Stolenwealth Games'. On Wednesday the opening rally saw several hundred people march through the CBD to Carlton Gardens to meet with a larger gathering who had assembled to get in the Queen's ear on her arrival.
The presence of five hundred demonstrators could barely be missed and the Queen was left in no doubt that after two hundred years of occupation, the stench of unfinished business still hangs over this colony.
Between actions, the camp has become a vibrant centre for meetings, business, planning, art and amazing food. As whitefellas we've been made to feel extraordinarily welcome, but there is an edge of tension to everything that goes on here. Whether we like it or not, white Australia is still at war with the Indigenous people represented in this camp. In just a few days we've heard of the ongoing fallout from the most recent death in custody in Palm Island, the horror behind the 'riot' in Redfern, the looming threat of more uranium mining in the Territory, and a hundred stories of disposession and displacement from around the country. Helicopters hover above the camp until late at night and there's a sense that the peace here is fragile and hard won.
Since the camp was established, we've had visits from Aotearoa New Zealand, the UK, Cayman Islands, Kenya, China, Mali and others. Try searching Google news for 'Black GST' and you'll see that the whole planet is watching.
In the colourful occupation of an intersection in town, the assembly chanted 'White Australia has a Black History.' But this is not something our ancestors are responsible for: this is happening right now. If you're within striking distance of Melbourne come to camp and find out for yourself what it looks like from the other side of the looking glass. Otherwise it's up to each of us to contact local mobs and find out what is happening in our own backyards. |
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Link here |