Aboriginal Tent Embassy: History and Politics of Representation

This report provides an overview of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, which was established in 1972 to protest against the government's refusal to grant land rights to indigenous Australians. The report covers the history of the embassy, the land rights struggle, and the demands of the protestors. It also discusses the politics of representation and the importance of political representation and self-determination for indigenous communities. The report includes a reflective essay on the research process and the challenges of researching complex legal and political issues. Course code, course name, and college/university are not mentioned.

The Tent Embassy

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Part 1................................................................................................................................................3
Response task...............................................................................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................7
Reflective essay...........................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
The tent embassy is the embassy which is made from umbrella as four men was sitting
opposite to parliament house. They were protesting against government and want that
government should give land rights to indigenous people. This report will discuss the history of
event which is establishment of aboriginal tent embassy on the lawns of parliament house.
Further it will discuss on the politics of representation.
MAIN BODY
Part 1
Response task
The establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of Parliament House (now
Old Parliament House) in January 1972.
On the day of 26th Jan 1972 four men has set on the beach by taking big umbrella on
opposite to parliament house in Canberra. Here umbrella is described as the Aboriginal embassy
(Aboriginal Tent Embassy., 2020). The reason why men is sitting in front of parliament house is
because they are protesting against indigenous land rights which was started by Mc Mahon's
government. This embassy has worked on multiple locations and has also operated in various
forms before it is permanent established. Although with the time the goal of protestors evolved
and now it has changed. As now it is not only about land rights but it also includes self
determination. After the European settlement, indigenous Australian were fighting for their
rights to retain their traditional lands. As they wanted their rights over their traditional lands
back. In the year 1960-1970 there was era in which people were aware and also witnesses many
actions which is taken by indigenous activism which comes under land rights struggle. This era
was the national awareness era. In the year 1966 a strike has began which was stayed for seven
years which was started by domestic workers and their families as around 200 people walked off
to Wave hill station.
The purpose of this strike was people were asking to lobbying Northern territory and Australian
government for equal payment and also for the land ownership. This strike or protest was also
included Gurindji people which has brought these problems at public forum. After this issue is
brought at public level these protestors got support from many local people (Iveson, 2017). Then
the year 1967 has came in which aboriginal Australians has got recognition as a citizen. This was

the year when land rights struggle gets more momentum and indigenous problems also got wide
within Australian public. Finally this was the issue which was now highlighted and people have
started supporting it. In the year 1971 the Supreme court has also highlighted the land rights
problem. In the year 1963, there was a traditional land which was owned by Yolngu people were
sold to a mining company without getting consultation from Nabalco. Then after that many
attempts has made by traditional people in order to return the land by raising Bark Petition.
Indigenous people wanted there land back because it was sold to a company without informing
to them or without taking permission. Traditional people at that time were feeling insecure. As
they were feeling like they are not equally treated in Australia and their land are sold off without
their permission. Then the evening of 1972 has came in which the government of Mc Mahon has
announced that they are implementing new system. In the new system government has rejected
this proposal of giving independent ownership of land to the indigenous community.
They further said that indigenous people can take social or economic use of the land but they has
not given permission for forest or mineral rights. Indigenous people are receiving continuous
disappointments on the land rights struggle and after this announcement many indigenous groups
has came in action and they decided to make Tent Embassy. As the community is fighting for
their land rights from many years and after new systems got implemented government has taken
decision against this community. So it can be said that equal treatment is not given to such
communities. After the announcement, people got angry and many protest groups has came into
actions which has also included Redfern group of Sydney. Four members from the redfern group
went to Canberra and set up umbrella on the beach on the lawns opposite to parliament house.
This protest has formed aboriginal embassy. The protest was the sign that the decision of the
government has made indigenous people aliens at their own land. Indigenous community was not
aliens because Australia is their country as well and they should get equal rights for everything
whether it is payment or land rights. The aboriginal embassy has came in action and they has
issued a list which has included many demands to the Australian government. The demand
includes rights of the northern territory as the state in Australia and along with that they also
want aboriginal state of parliament, and they also want mining rights of the land. On the
aboriginal reserve lands, indigenous people are demanding for mining and ownership. They also
demand for sacred sites preservation of Australia. Indigenous people said that they want
ownership in major cities along with the mining rights (Perheentupa, 2018).

They further demanded compensation from the government for those lands which were never
returned to them. The compensation which they were demanding should have start with 6 billion
dollars. These all points which was the demand of indigenous people were taken to the
opposition leader and activists think that if these all demands got fulfilled then it was the great
success in gaining recognition. Indigenous people should get right to be recognised. Basically
people were demanded for those rights which they were having earlier but due to government's
new systems all rights are taken from them. Although government has announced to return them
land ownership but does not give forest and mining rights. Indigenous people want this right
because they can earn by doing mining activities. This protest is getting more and more support
and the embassy has started growing and by April it has included eight tents. This land right
movement got support by indigenous and non indigenous people both from across the country.
People of Australia has understood the importance of land and people around the country has
supported this movement because they believe that indigenous community is also part of our
society so their rights should be protected (Abbondanza, 2017).
Those community should not face discrimination but should be treated fairly. There are some
official representative as well which has shown support to aboriginal groups. Now aboriginal
group is getting support from other countries as well which includes Canada and Russia. These
countries are helping embassy and making it more strong. If talking about Australian population,
they are also supporting indigenous groups and making embassy strongest as students population
of Canberra is giving full support to this protest. Many Australian university students are joining
this protest and also opening embassy bank account. Now this protest is also getting support
from national and international media. As media is covering this event and talking about this on
their prime show. Protesters are protesting on embassy site. One can find out aboriginal activists
on the embassy site. There are certain embassy groups which has went for protest marches. They
had also accused government representatives and discussed about this issue at community forum.
Protestors ensured that the land rights issue continuously grow and reaches to broad public. As if
it reaches to large public then government will get more and more support.
Groups of protestors which has included indigenous and non indigenous people both has make
sure that their protest will reach to the entire world so that government has to forcefully changed
their new systems and should give land rights to indigenous people. The embassy has got wide
support and also faced contingent of politicians which have this feeling that protest is nothing

important and will not run more than few months. Most of the politicians were wrong because
the protest was joined by many groups within and outside of Australia. Soon the protest got so
much viral that people around the globe is recognising this protest and also started raising their
voice in support of indigenous people (Hayes, 2017). Embassy has also started receiving offers
that buildings should be made on original site and also at various other locations at Canberra. But
government did not give permission to build such buildings and also tried to remove protestors
and also not making any changes in the land rights event. In the year 1972, ministers of the
government has announced that new laws are being enforced and under this law camp which is
made on unleased land will be considered as illegal under ACT act. And this law will also give
power to the government to remove people who has found to breach this law. In the month of
July it is observed that police has started removing protestors from the land and also removing
their embassy tents.
This has resulted that police got clashed with the protestors and violence has occurred. When
protestors were refused to move then police has arrested those protestors and also torn their tents.
By seeing such action from the government many people around the globe has started accusing
government by saying that government is trying to shut the mouth of protestors and also not
giving people right to speech. Next day when the tent was again recreated then it has observed
that again around 200 protestors clashed with police and the tent which was recreated was again
removed. Images of police in which they are removing protestors got spread in the entire
country. Through this act embassy has receiving even more support from the public. The image
of government is becoming more worse in the eyes of public because government is not allowing
people to so peaceful protest also. On 1972 almost there was 2000 people were there when tents
got removed by protestors only in the peaceful manner. Many people have raise their voice and
said that actions taken by police in order to remove protestors was not valid. As this was the
peaceful protest and protestors was not doing any violence then government have no right to
remove them or stop them for what they are doing (Zuidema, 2020). Some people also said that
this is dictatorship. In the month of September the removal ordinance was legally imposed which
restricts establishment of embassy tent at the parliament house.
Then till 1992 embassy has made at the succession places in Canberra. Now this protest
campaign is not only limited to land rights but protestors has started encouraging many issues
like getting funds for aboriginal communities, they also want political representation from

indigenous community, aboriginal sovereignty and self determination. These are the demands of
the protestors because they want that rights of the indigenous people should be protected. In
order to safeguard indigenous community from future destruction they must have political
representation and government should also give them funds. In the year 1992, when embassy got
re-established on its previous site which was the lawns outside of the parliament house.
Protestors once again got active and started talking about issues which is faced by indigenous
people. They have the fear that government which is in power is forgetting indigenous Australia.
The tent embassy is the sign of aboriginal protest which was against the government and their
viewpoint to indigenous problems (Campbell, 2019). This issue has been publicised by the
embassy which is the aboriginal sovereignty within indigenous community and also right to self-
determination. It is said to be the longest protest of Australia. This embassy has helped
indigenous community in getting land rights and also ended racial discrimination in the country.
The embassy has become the international sign for aboriginal people.
PART 2
Reflective essay
I have come to know about various laws which have been discuss above and that people
who have engaged with the many things for making their life and make sure for having families
security towards the land system. As in these chapter this have been described about how the
government have band various thing in countries while taking the option towards the land
system. In such cases this have been also introduce about how should I will come to know about
those sources (Bellentani, 2021). I have selected this because while for collecting information
about the various things which might be related to the land laws and that could be important for
knowing those impact which have been turned towards the people. The event said about the
various things which having high ethical issues and took many thing which could be essential for
people about tent embassy.
I have also come to know about the various sources which have been used and that could
be also important for taking better and high advantage. The sources have been collected with the
more reliable and proper collection of the sources have been done. Various method such as
secondary and acts for which the report can be easily change and that could be also easier for
making research. This could be also important for taking advantage and which have play
important role in which the research can be complete. As I have also face some issues such as

while collecting the sources about technical and knowledge. While having such thing that could
directly effective towards the report (Thomson and Ganz, 2021). I should also being prepared
about those things which could be important and that helps me for having better future
estimation in report towards any laws.
Aboriginal tent embassy which could be having many laws towards the land system and
government should also keep all equalities in countries. Through which this could be also
important for make the countries growth and developed more things in countries while by taking
many laws. The embassy have also set up more international and which might be important for
knowing about those terms and make sure for having high conditions. I have also come to know
about the equalities might be important in which their people are facing much issues and that
could be also essential for working with equalities. As this could play important role in which i
have much analysed about the proper theory and try to make sure for having possibility in which
the goals and objective have been cleared (Dennett, 2020). I have set up the work into many
division for clearing out some of the basic concepts in which this could help for me and many
other people for knowing about tent embassy.
I have also identified many issues which might be more related to the sovereignty and
community which are facing issues in creating the things about the land system. While having
such things this could essential in taking high equalities and that could be also people for
knowing about the concepts and laws activities. I have also analysed about the right equalities
towards the rights for future destruction which must be important for the political concepts and
that could play some important role for knowing about how the act was completed and make
their equalities. I thinks that various methods that can be used in such things for which the
government can easily come to know about how they can deal over any situation and which
methods helps them for keeping rights for all people (Kiernan and Hughes, 2020). As the
embassy could help the people for keeping their rights and make sure for about their land at
various countries.
As the sources have been engaged with having the better concepts and that could be also
essential in collecting the various things about the communities and various other concepts. I
have taken much knowledge about the communities and embassy how they usually use the rights
about the people and make their citizen over through which how they can work. The people have
also taken action for taking their rights outside the embassy and voice for protecting about their

lands. While such thinks I was pretended about those variable and that could be important for the
people in which they can easily completed future goals and objective (Hawkins, 2020). I have
also analysed about the aboriginal indigenous people who can perform their act and that might be
essential for making high advantage and that could be important for taking growth and make
more opportunities.
I have many issues while at time of having the better concepts and which could be also
keep in mind about the various act and that might be also play the concepts for having the better
growth. While having such kind of things this could be lead for effective system and make the
people for having rights regarding the virtual things. The embassy could also keep their records
while through while through which that could be important for knowing about the high impact
things and also keep mature things so that government can keep the equalities to all people in
their countries. I have also analysed about that in making the report this could be also essential
for keeping the communication and make less searching powering so that could help for knowing
about how the effective things that could have those valuable goals and objective.
I think about that embassy and many other states government should work on the
concepts of the equalities in which every people have their rights towards the land. While they
can reach out some laws in which they can basically clear out for the concepts before taking out
their place (Pearson, 2017). This could be essential as thinking about those valuable and make
sure for having high effective thing which have been taken place while having some of the
important methods. International things and many other thing which could have concepts about
those things and make sure about for having the goals and make their better terms and condition
with many other countries.

CONCLUSION
Through this report it can be concluded that government of Australia is not giving equal
rights to indigenous people. Indigenous community want land rights and also they are demanding
for right to treat them equal. Government has also implemented new systems but this community
was completely ignored. So this report has shed light on the journey of protestors in the favour of
indigenous people.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abbondanza, G., 2017. The Republic of Murrawarri and the Debate on Aboriginal Sovereignty
in Australia. Indigenous Policy Journal. 28(3).
Bellentani, F., 2021. The Meanings of the Built Environment: A Semiotic and Geographical
Approach to Monuments in the Post-Soviet Era (Vol. 24). Walter de Gruyter GmbH &
Co KG.
Campbell, T., 2019. 'Ours will be a tent': The meaning and symbolism of the early Aboriginal
tent embassy. ANU Historical Journal II. (1). pp.57-71.
Dennett, C., 2020. The Crash of Flight 3804: A Lost Spy, a Daughter’s Quest, and the Deadly
Politics of the Great Game for Oil. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Hawkins, O.S., 2020. Two Kinds of Baptists: Re-Examining the Legacies of John Franklyn
Norrisand George Washington Truett. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Hayes, A., 2017. On country: Australian aboriginal communities, mining, and artificial
intelligence [Opinion]. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine. 36(3). pp.37-40.
Iveson, K., 2017. ‘Making Space Public’Through Occupation: The Aboriginal Tent Embassy,
Canberra. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. 49(3). pp.537-554.
Kiernan, B. and Hughes, C. eds., 2020. Conflict and change in Cambodia. Routledge.
Pearson, N., 2017. Up from the mission. Black Inc..
Perheentupa, J., 2018. Whitlam and Aboriginal self‐determination in Redfern. Australian Journal
of Public Administration. 77(S1). pp.S13-S18.
Thomson, A. and Ganz, S., 2021. Annual Atwood Bibliography 2019. Margaret Atwood
Studies. 14. pp.35-337.
Zuidema, M., 2020. Dingen die niet voorbij gaan: De ontwikkeling van de herinnering aan de
Aboriginal Tent Embassy onder Aboriginals (1972-2012) (Master's thesis).
Online
Aboriginal Tent Embassy., 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/aboriginal-tent-embassy>
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