Wayne (Coco) Wharton and Marshall Bell

Having attended a two-day Brisbane Treaty Talks conference and workshops on the continuing sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Michael Anderson said that the meeting was one of the best on a single national issue that he has attended for many years

"Clearly the people are now asking the pertinent questions relating to a process of asserting their continuing sovereignty as individual Nations," he said.

 Sovereign Union Media Release 20 May 2013 - Declarations of Independence

One of the largest black states in the country calls for a freeze on all mining and development on their ancestral lands.

More that 400 Native Title claimants met in Tamworth to discuss Goomeroi business on the weekend.

Representatives said that they are looking at options to stop ministerial decisions which approve mining in the region.

 Video - Goomeroi People call for a mining freeze NITV News Report 13 May 2013

On the 3rd of April 2013 the Murrawarri Peoples Council wrote to Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth the Second advising her of the declaration of the Murrawarri Nations continued Independence and Statehood and requested Her Royal Highness produce documents that show how Sovereignty, Dominion and Ultimate (Radical) Title was obtained over the Murrawarri Nation Ancient Lands, Waters, Subsurface, Natural Resources and Airspace under International and British Common Law.

By not producing these documents the Crown has affirmed the Murrawarri Republic to be a continued Free and Independent State, in line with International law and covenants.

 Video - Murrawarri Republic seeks support from UN NITV News 10 May 2013

 Murrawarri Republic Media Release 10 May 2013 pdf file

Michael Anderson, spokeperson for Sovereign Union warns Aboriginal and Torres Strait people against signing Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA), saying they cede their sovereignty for a few crumbs if they do.

"In Australia we have reached a very important time in our history. We must come together as distinct sovereign nations to jointly locate a national perspective on our sovereign rights," he writes.

A declaration of independence refreshes the campaign for Indigenous sovereignty over parts of Australia.

Fred Hooper, spokesperson for the Murrawarri Republic says if Queen Elizabeth can't provide proof of ultimate title the Murrawarri Republic would consider itself as an independent nation in the world and they'd be seeking United Nations assistance.

Eminent historian Professor Henry Reynolds says the issue of Aboriginal sovereignty has never been decided by Australian courts because in previous claims the courts have determined that they're not equipped to make a ruling.

Both the Euahlayi and the Murrawarri Nations have joined in a combined effort to fight against paying rates on their ancient homelands.

This is an issue that has arisen as a consequence of the Brewarrina Shire Council seeking payment of rates for services on their ancient homelands.

The matter is beyond the scope and jurisdiction of the State courts so the Federal Attorney-General will now consult with the State and Territory Attorneys-General.

On the 30th March 2013, Murrawarri people from the Culgoa River region of northern New South Wales, Australia, declared their Sovereignty of their lands under the name of the Murrawarri Republic.

They declare their continued independent statehood on behalf of their peoples and, by virtue of their natural ancestral and inherent right and on the strength of the resolution of their People, declare the Murrawarri State.

Sovereignty is the ultimate power, authority and/or jurisdiction over a people and a territory. No other person, group, tribe or state can tell a sovereign entity what to do with its land and/or people.

A sovereign entity can decide and administer its own laws, can determine the use of its land and can do pretty much as it pleases, free of external influence (within the limitations of international law).
By Dr Alessandro Pelizzon

Enlarge/Caption

On the centenary of Canberra (12 March) it is timely to draw attention to the fact that the sovereignty question, as it relates to Aboriginal Nations and Peoples, is now a living and active thought and aspiration, which is steadily developing into a nationwide movement.

It is now essential that we look at some international legal factors that give rise to the strengthening of our asserted positions of ‘sovereignty never ceded' and ‘continuing sovereignty'.