Date: Tuesday September 10
Time: 8:30 am – 12:00pm
The Fight to save the sacred Djabwurrung Landscape from destruction at the hands of the Andrews Labor state government is ongoing. An eviction order looms over protectors on country so we are going to bring the voice and spirit of the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy to the city and to the doorstep of the offending colonial institution (Vic parliament) that wants to desecrate Djabwurrung sacred sites. The event will be hosted by Djabwurrung women.
Important Note: The priority is still maintaining a strong physical presence at camp, so if you’re able to be at the embassy or were planning on being at the embassy on this date, we ask you to honour those plans and be on country. If you will be at camps in the lead up to this date please stay there do not leave to attend this rally. This is for supporters who are not able to make it out on country.
The fight led by the Djabwurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has generated enormous amounts of momentum in the forms of media coverage and support both nationally and internationally over the previous months as the state has ramped up their disgraceful efforts to move Traditional Owners off of their own country. The traditionally ALP aligned union movement has thrown their support behind the Djabwurrung embassy, the Greens have instigated a motion in support of the embassy, The Age have taken an editorial position questioning the process undertaken by the state government, the New York Times have covered the ongoing resistance, and solidarity actions have sprung up everywhere around this continent, as well as in France and Germany in recent weeks.Most importantly of all, resistance of the Djabwurrung community and supporters on country remains solid and determined. All that is left is for the ALP to join the overwhelming swell of support and engage sincerely with the embassy on the alternate solutions. There has been no good faith engagement from the Andrews government whatsoever to this point
In the lead up to the event we request everyone maintain the pressure on key figures who currently stand complicit in this attempted cultural genocide. Contact points are available here – https://bit.ly/2SGTRd4
The current eviction notice has been timed to coincide with the inquest into the death of Tanya Day at the hands of the Victorian state. This is a time when the state government and VicPol know that the attention of the Victorian Aboriginal community and their supporters will be split and many people suspect they will try to use this window as an opportune time to attack camps. We must show our strength and resolve and that we will not lose our resolve or focus. If the Andrews government was to allow Victoria Police to attack camp during this time it would be an act of unspeakable and unforgivable colonial violence. We extend our love, respect and solidarity to the Day family during this trying time and request all our supporters to follow Justice for Tanya Day – Remember Her Name and mobilise yourselves in support of the family.
The fact that this government is engaging in such an array of colonial behaviours makes a mockery of the effort to begin treaty negotiations with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
More details and speaker announcements to come.
We encourage you to take photos on the day and share them using the tag #NoTreesNoTreaty. Please also tag Daniel Andrews in any social media posts.
