Waanyi Nation Declares Independence to Run its Own Economy in Australia

Yet another Aboriginal Nation has declared independence from the Commonwealth of Australia. Fed up with the deal that its people have been subjected to since colonial masters arrived in this country back in the 1880s, the Waanyi Nation declared its independence on 31 January.

"We the Aboriginal peoples of the Waanyi Nation in the Gulf of Carpentaria are taking control of our homeland," reads the declaration. And it outlines that that Waanyi Governing Tribal Council (WTGC) – a legally registered entity – will be taking care of administering the nation.

The Waanyi people fought long and hard to gain legal recognition of their Allodial rights under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). But, as they've set out in a further notice, the success of their native title claim in 2010 has not brought them financial benefit.

The Waanyi began their uphill battle to gain native title recognition in 1994, as mining interests had their sights on establishing an open cut zinc, lead and silver mine on their land. Indeed, in 1997, the now-defunct Pasminco moved in to begin construction on Century mine.

Following the reestablishment of its independence that dates back before European contact, the Waanyi Nation is busy setting up a local economy, and looking ahead, the tribal council will be in charge of protecting the environment, and it will be in touch with the current mine owners as well.

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Asia Raya

Koran yang memberitakan kemerdekaan Indonesia 1945.

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