Invasion Day 2010
Channel: Workers BushTelegraph
Date: 2014-01-22

What have we got to celebrate?

Ever since 1938 when aboriginal leaders launched the first protest around this day Invasion Day has been important to both indigenous people and their non-indigenous supporters.

The notices issued before the march show the importance in the aboriginal calendar of Invasion Day, 26 January.

Many important themes were addressed at the rally and march in 2010 from Parliament house to Musgrave Park.

For example, it was pointed out at the rally by Sam Watson that there will be a federal election later in the year where aboriginal issues will be raised. Attempts are being made to get an aboriginal candidate from the Northern Territory into the Federal Senate. Also there was discussion of the conditions on Palm Island. In March this year there will be a third inquest into the murder of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island on 19 November 2004. Gracelyn Smallwood beseech activists to go to this inquest that will be held in Townsville.

All important was the defining speech by an aboriginal elder Coco Wharton of what it is to be an aboriginal person.

    'The first law is to your people, then your countrymen and only then to that thing [the Australian flag']

Wharton exposed 'the gatekeepers' who are looking to be appointed by governments and media to speak on behalf of aboriginal people. He named Marcia Langton, Pat Dodson, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Noel Pearson, and Lowitja O'Donohue. According to Coco Wharton these people are meddling in other people's affairs. He said that 'don't be black when you want to be black, be black when you have to be black'. Here is his speech after he sang song from the Cooma mob: 'Being Free is Being Black' at http://youtu.be/qEMP3LupZFc

He talked about the interference of the Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, who refused the Murris permission to march over the Victoria Street Bridge while at the same time allowing 20,000 people to march over the Victoria Street bridge for the Australia Day march. We marched down George Street and across the bridge anyway. We outnumbered the police 50 to 1.

Several other issues were addressed. Aboriginal representation in the parliament, the needs of youth, the murder of Mulrunji by Snr Sgt Hurley.
Colonial Past

You would have to ask what was the purpose of the Lord Mayor to oppose the march and then the police baricading South Bank so to curtail the usual cultural ceremonies that are conducted at south bank. Why not just accept it as part of the celebration of what it is to live in Australia?

On the south side of the river as we marched to Musgrave park we could hear the 21 gun salute for the governor, the heart stopping flyover of the F111 and see the blue Daimler awaiting the Governor — all open declarations of a colonial past, the theft of the land and the exploitation of black workers on properties. The importation of labour to continue the colonial project.

Sam Watson and Auntie Alex Gator stress the important issues facing aboriginal people in the  video below should give some idea of these issues and others that were adressed. Gracelyn Smallwood spoke of the struggle that has been going on in Townsville courts over the resistance by aboriginal people on palm Island. Meredith Rose gave a report of what has been happening with the various inquiries into the murder of Mulrunji Doomadgee.

Especial thanks to Juan Carlos for the musical score that accompanies this footage.

Ian Curr
Invasion Day, 2010