Loading ...ABORIGINAL land rights protestors marked their one year anniversary at Market Square last Friday.
The small but devoted group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous protestors erected tents, caravans, toilets, flags and a camp-fire this time last year in support of their call for individual clans to be consulted over Native Title issues on their traditional lands according to cultural traditions and in perpetuity.
The creation of the embassy divided thePortland community into supporters and detractors, and renewed debate about racism in the district.
The Glenelg Shire Council acquired the services of Maddens Lawyers to see if the group could be legally removed from the site and failed.
The council has since requested state and federal governments to intervene.
Protestor Paul Joseph said one year is a very small time for the Aboriginal people to occupy Market Square.
“They’ve been here for 60,000 years as the sustainable custodians of this land,” Mr Joseph said.
“How long’s a piece of string? How long is this embassy here for? As long as it needs to be… it’s called Koori time, things happen when they’re meant to happen.”
Read more in Wednesday’s Portland Observer.
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