Camp Sovereignty
Camp Sovereignty is the name given to an indigenous Australian protest movement established to publicise the "Black GST" political group.[1] The "GST" reflects the group’s aims of ending genocide, acknowledging sovereignty and securing a treaty.
On 12 March 2006 a camp was established and a ceremonial fire was lit in Kings Domain a public park in Melbourne to symbolise the continuing presence of indigenous culture in Australia. Also it was to protest against the Commonwealth Games, referred to by the protesters as the "Stolenwealth Games".
After the conclusion of the Games the central emphasis of the camp shifted towards the ceremonial fire. Robert Corowa, one of the leaders of the protest, argued that the fire was sacred because of the central place of fire in aboriginal traditions and ceremony.
Under legal threat and the protest of over 100 people it was eventually quenched on 10 May 2006. However several sister fires have been lit in Redfern, Dandenong, and Framlingham to continue the protest.
References
- "Uproot camp, PM urges". The Age. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- Liddle, Celeste (22 September 2014). "Indigenous recognition: we have more diverse views than the official campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
So too has the Treaty Republic, which partially sprung out of the Black GST movement made famous by Camp Sovereignty, set up during the Melbourne Commonwealth games.
- WikiNews: 2006 "Stolenwealth" Games to confront Commonwealth Games in Melbourne