There are many distinct tribal groups, nations, here on this continent, all with the right to self-
determination and sovereignty. l want to pay my respects and honour all of them, support
them, unite with them, and work with them on the their justice issues such as land rights,
treaties, restoration and restitution, and support their terms of reference and conditions on
how this may be done. There can be no other honourable way, otherwise we are no better
than the oppressors themselves. I believe we all must respect the bloodline Elders’ law back
to our countries, and this is represented by our Elders who sit in council. This is our land and
our law, this has been the way which held our tribes and communities together for thousands
of years, and we demand to have our customary law recognised and reinstated forthwith. We
don’t need some corporate body or colonial government appointed “authority”, which is
misrepresentative and unaccountable to our people. This is the problem, and responsible for
the ever-widening gap, particularly over the last 40 years. Our Elders are the true
representatives, spokespeople, law for country, so it’s important to get that right before we go
any further down the track with treaty business.
I believe it would be a good idea to have an official end of hostilities, and an ongoing, well-
resourced education campaign backing it up. Our people, and all people surely, have had
enough of the lies, fraud, corruption, and the entrenched, institutionalized criminality. We want
justice, respect, and our fundamental rights recognised. It’s been a long time struggling for
this moment. We are tired of the bullshit, justice delayed is justice denied. There is no consent
for colonial occupation. No treaty means no end of war, and that needs to happen to create a
safe place to negotiate. Treaty can mean many things, a contract or agreement. Treaty creates
the basis for co-existence and a new beginning. We want our peace restored, we owe it to our
Ancestors, esteemed Elders, this sacred land, its inhabitants, and our children’s children. Let’s
get it right, it’s not about money or power, it’s about our obligations to this place of which we
are the rightful caretakers, guardians, and custodians.
If Treaty is done right, it can be a win-win. It will liberate us from the foreign control and
domination which has seen destruction of the environment to the point of ecocide, which
affects everyone. It has meant the theft of resources which end up offshore, and the
oppression of our peoples, including non-Aboriginal people in many instances. I believe very
strongly in a proper and just treaty process, let’s get it right. I’d like to thank the members of
the Assembly for the great work that’s already happened, but I want help raise the bar. It’s the
same for the Yoorrook Truth Commission, my proposal will empower the rightful custodians
at the local, state, national, and international levels, giving them the status they are entitled to.
It will also acknowledge the crimes against our humanity at a higher level than state-based
colonial legislation which has failed us time and time again, which at this point has no consent,
treaties or jurisdiction.
It’s insulting and offensive in the extreme for the colonial state to be continuing to dictate the
terms here, it’s perpetuating the harm and the crimes. Time to take the treaty and truth
business to another level, that being the international legal level. We deserve the unbiased,
impartial scrutiny and standards that the international legal community have established. It will
liberate us, and everyone else in the process. It’s a brand new day, a new dawn, a much
needed breath of fresh air. No more foreign invaders, multi-national mining companies,
domination and control. We demand our independence from any form of foreign control, we
never ceded our sovereign rights. Support us on this and keep the wealth and decision making
here, it’s a win if it done right, and it starts with booting the British crown out. The time has
come.
For further information, please contact: Uncle Robbie Thorpe
Ph: 0422 200 696
Email: bunjilsfire@gmail.com