Self Determination

The Australian Government presents to its own citizens and to the United Nations, that the land purchased by the ILC (Indigenous Land Corporation) would belong to the “Indigenous Estate”, what implied that this land bought by taxpayers’ money is actually owned by Aboriginal People, when in fact the government continues to own the land. “The Indigenous Land Corporation assists Indigenous Australians to acquire land and to manage Aboriginal held land so as to provide economic, environmental, social or cultural benefits.” states the official website of the Australian Government.

The 2015 Gathering of Nations included delegates from various Nations and observers from all over Australia. Here we have a complete set of videos of principal presentations. Topics include Updates for asserting sovereignty and the current political climate, Decolonising the Mind, Con of Constitutional reform, Rebuilding Nations, Unilateral Declarations of Independance (UDIs), Treaties and Nations, Unity through Tjukurpa Law, Citizenship and nationalities, Putting Aboriginal Law on Top, Strong Law and Culture, Want of Jurisdiction and the Spirit that connects us to country.

In the two days of the Gathering of Nations the 150 participants, delegates and observers from all over Australia, were presented with research and information in respect to the key issues facing First Nations Peoples today and the progress to date in the assertion of First Nations sovereignty at a national level. We very clearly articulated the internationally accepted process for assertion of sovereignty by Nations and Peoples subjugated by a foreign power and expanded on the need for decolonisation.

A Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) is a formal process leading to the establishment of a fully recognized state, which declares itself an independent and sovereign pre-existing state without a formal agreement with the occupying nation state, because the two have never been together. "Many people are wanting to understand UDIs," said Ghillar Anderson, "This topic will be discussed at the upcoming Gathering of Nations on 21 -22 November 2015 in Old Parliament House, Canberra. There will be opportunities for further discussion during the surrounding days at the Aboriginal Embassy.

If we truly want to establish a process of asserting our sovereignty then we must cast aside personalities and differences. This is not about gaining personal notoriety or fame because not one person has all the answers, but many minds can locate the true pathway. For of all we need to recognise flaws in our own personal makeup. Do we truly understand what colonised minds look like? We must first look at ourselves as oppressed people because oppressed people must understand that they are themselves their own examples of oppression and unfortunately when we go through the education and enculturation processes of the colonial States, we miss so much of our own ancient teachings and in doing so lose our self-awareness of who we truly are.

On 6 July 2015 Tony Abbott, Bill Shorten and the selected 40 government-appointed 'Indigenous Leaders' will be meeting together at Darling Harbour Sydney to discuss advancing the referendum proposal, but the exact time and location has not been released by the organisers. "Now the Australian government realises that the objective to wipe out Aboriginal Nations and Peoples has failed and breeding the colour out did not work either, for our Aboriginality has remained a driving force within the spirit of the people". Ghillar Anderson said in a Media Release.

There are warning bells ringing across the continent regarding this week's proposed Assembly of First Nations establishment meeting in Port Douglas at the National Native Title conference hosted by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Participants to the exclusive meeting to establish an Assembly of First Nations were invited by the Australian Human Rights Commission, under the auspices of the AIATSIS National Native Title Conference as late as 3 June 2015. It appears to be a very subtle way of diverting attention away from the real sovereignty of our Peoples.

A discussion paper Decolonisation: To be or not to be included in the Constitution puts in perspective the issue of where we choose to place ourselves as First Nations and Peoples within or outside the Australian Constitution. When the Sovereign Union argues that we have never ceded nor acquiesced our pre-existing and inherent sovereign rights, we find that the Recognise campaign is promoting acquiescence and consenting to be ruled by the colonising power from Britain, the Crown. This will be the case if there is no statement in writing to the contrary of clear and plain intent in the proposed wording of the referendum.

As First Nations Peoples it is now imperative that we unite and rebuild as sovereign independent nations, in order to assert our sovereign title and rights. This will be a major political and legal fight, but it is our future for not just us, but for our children and our grandchildren. The Sovereign Union governance is made up of nominated representatives from each Nation that has made their Unilateral Declaration of Independence. These representatives come together once a year to discuss all relevant political, legal, cultural, economic and social issues that confront them.

After 227 years of military occupation by the British, we have reached a highly significant position in our history. The invaders never thought the day would come when Aboriginal Nations and Peoples would be such a powerful force in the Australian politics. We must understand that, as affirmed by the High Court Mabo (No. 2) judgment, our ancient cultures and Laws have survived British sovereignty and remain the Law of the Land, as they have never been ceded. We are now challenging more than ever the power and authority of the colonial governments.