On Saturday November 2, the Sydney Basin Tent Embassy opened at so-called Victoria Park. The event comprised speeches from embassy caretakers and Traditional Owners, as well as smoking ceremony and dances. The embassy calls for land back and recognition of First Nations sovereignty. The rain held off for the afternoon, as people gathered on the Western side of the park, close to the fence of the University of Sydney.
The Tent Embassy unofficially began a couple of weeks ago, starting on the City Rd side of the park, but moved to the University side, sheltered by a fig tree and a forest of tall eucalyptus trees.
Lizzie Jarrett, of the GumBaynggirr, Bundajalung, Dunghutti clans, started the meeting, speaking of previous tent embassies at Victoria Park. The park is a historic site of Aboriginal resistance against colonialism – the plaque in front of the current Embassy recalls this history. In July 2000, an Aboriginal Tent Embassy was set up in Victoria Park to call for sovereignty, recognition of land rights, amidst the international attention on Sydney during the Olympics. The opening is a “reigniting” of previous resistance.
Jarrett, MC for the opening, called on attendees to remember they are residing on Gadigal Land and encouraged everyone to do their research. Jarrett then introduced Aunty Rhonda Gibson Dixon Grovenor, a Gadigal elder, asking the audience to “make sure you know her”.
Aunty Rhonda Dixon Grovenor, a Gadigal/Bidjigal/Yuin Elder and Traditional Descendant from the Sydney (Warrane) and saltwater basin and the South Coast of NSW, then spoke of her history. Aunty explained her history as the daughter of activist Charles Dixon, a leading figure in the Maritime Union of Australia. Charles Dixon was one “of the first to set up the tent embassy in Canberra in ‘72”.
Dixon Grovenor described the history of her large possum fur coat – a ceremonial cloak made by four generations of her family. Dixon Grovenor spoke of her familial connections with sharing Indigenous cultural knowledge and advocacy.
While Dixon Grovenor captured the crowd, more and more joined the group at the Park. The crowd was composed of individuals and families spread out on picnic blankets.
Afterwards, a smoking ceremony began, to cleanse the area of bad spirits. The crowd gathered around, taking turns to cleanse themselves in the smoke.
Next up were the performances, from Drew Longbottom and others. There were five dances, the fourth one was participatory, the crowd took their shoes and socks off and became the fish. Amongst the crowd, attendees wore the Keffiyeh — a symbol of Palestinian identity and liberation — and held up umbrellas as the rain held off for the performances and proceedings.
After the dances, the speeches began. Jarrett started by reminding the audience that their participation in the dances was part of “the oldest living culture”. Jarrett called for those that “didn’t know” so-called Australia’s colonial history to educate themselves, and for those that do know, to not remain complacent and to “keep educating”. Jarraet also spoke to the importance of mobilising, “the fight can’t just be done by First Nations peoples alone” especially in protesting the visits of King Charles and the persisting effects of colonialism. Jarrett discussed “unlearning the bullshit of Captain Cook finding us” and making “sure this conversation doesn’t get swept under the rug” through active participation in regaining sovereignty.
Jarrett then introduced the next speaker, her nephew and Wiradjuri man, Ethan Lyons. Lyons began by saying, “I’m not an activist, I’m a black fella.” As caretaker of the embassy, Lyons emphasised that the tent embassy is different from an encampment or a rally, and that it must be respected for its cultural significance. Lyons also encouraged attendees to ask questions and inquire further about the tent embassy.
Aunty Rhonda supported Senator Lydia Thorpe’s statement to King Charles II during his visit to Australia, reiterating that he is “not our King” and that this land “always was and always be Aboriginal land.” Aunty Rhonda, an Elder within her community, gave her full support to Thorpe’s actions last week at Australian Parliament House.
Uncle Peter, introduced by Jarrett, then sang a song with “one of the oldest oldest instruments known to mankind”; the Yidaki. Uncle Peter, who had previously attended the tent embassy in Canberra in 1997, spoke how “reconciliation is for the white people.” Jarrett elaborated on this, statingthe definition of reconciliation never included a greeting and that he would carry the energy from embassy’s before him.
Returning to Jarrett, discussions of the definition of reconciliation, the colonial impacts of the English language and the exploitation of Aboriginal artefacts across the world were raised. Jarett emphasised, “you’re part of the beneficiary of [our culture]”.
The embassy’s firekeeper, Uncle Matty Green, spoke next, “[Colonisers] said they came here to help, but rape, murder and steal [us]”, they stated. Explaining the long, proud history of First Nations peoples, Green said, “we could tell you how we danced with dinosaurs if you asked us.”
Green spoke to the power and healing deserved by their mob, “Help us create the dreaming again so we can dream once more” they said. They also called for acceptance and purposeful listening, “There’s listening and there’s hearing […] Please accept us because no one is”.
The opening event ended with a reminder that allyship does not mean attending one event. As an ally, making change is consistently educating yourself, continually showing up and actively hearing the calls of First Nations peoples. Speakers also encouraged people to attend the Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody rally at Long Bay jail held November 3 and the Palestine Action Group rally at Hyde Park held every Sunday.
Tent embassies are a longstanding protest tradition in First Nations resistance, initiated in the popular consciousness with the embassy outside Old Parliament House, Canberra. This embassy has stood as a continuing protest site for 52 years. Currently, there is also an embassy in Brisbane.
To learn more about the Sydney Basin Tent Embassy, and contribute to fundraising, head to their social media.
