Land council rejects Nimbin Rocks Tent Embassy proposal

Aboriginal Tent Embassy going up at Nimbin Rocks next month

Robert Corowa plans to establish an Aboriginal Tent Embassy at Nimbin Rocks next month in solidarity with the West Papua Freedom Flotilla.

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Melissa Gulbin Northern Star 20th Jun 2013

Ngulingah Local Aboriginal Land Council has flatly refused to allow a solidarity ceremony to take place on Morton Rd, Nimbin Rocks.

"There is a protocol, a right way to go about these things and we haven't been approached (by organisers)," Land council chief executive officer Sedrick Hinton said.

"Ngulingah is the owner of that sacred place. We have spent grant money on regeneration work, beautifying that significant site and we're not going to just allow it to be ruined," he said.

"It took 10 years to get squatters out of there and they left it in an appalling state.

"If there was anything to happen on Nimbin Rocks without the permission of the Ngulingah Land Council, the police would be called.

"We haven't spent $2.8 million of grant funds to restore the land only for it to become a mud bath. Them days are gone."

Last week it was decided by Freedom Flotilla supporters that Nimbin would be added to healing ceremonies taking place from Lake Eyre to West Papua.

The official ceremonies were planned to take place on Sunday, July 28, but members of the public were also invited to prepare the day before.

The indigenous populations have granted each other Aboriginal passports.

The convoy intends to transport sacred water collected from the mound springs of Arabunna country while following the ancient songlines across Australia in a freedom ride from Lake Eyre.

The convoy aims to reconnect culturally and creatively with Aboriginal communities at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and now the Northern Rivers.

The people of the Northern Rivers were invited by Arabunna Aboriginal elder Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, who believes that following their songlines will reveal a connection between the lands which were once joined.

Mr Hinton said he had sent a letter to organisers, detailing his objection to using Nimbin Rocks for the ceremonies.