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History

Camp Sovereignty was borne from the Australian-based ‘Black GST Movement’ which campaigns for ending genocide (G), creating sovereignty (S), and making treaties (T) with Indigenous Australians. This movement originated in Melbourne in early 2005 by a group known as the Black GST political group.[1]

The Black GST group were initially small and began publicising their message throughout 2005 in anticipation of the 2006 Commonwealth games. The Camp Sovereignty protest was organised by the Black GST group and led by Marg Thorpe, Gary Foley and Robbie Thorpe, coordinating a predominantly young group of Indigenous activists.1

The group advocated for increased recognition and campaigned against perceived injustices. Genocide refers to the mass-slaughtering of Indigenous Australians in response to targeted massacres on Indigenous groups throughout history and the belief these have been repeatedly overlooked and accepted in society. Sovereignty refers to a perceived regime of oppression with the Indigenous voice silenced under Commonwealth law rather than adhering to Traditional Law. Treaties refers to the lack of an established agreement with the Commonwealth and Indigenous Australians. Indigenous activists relate these three dimensions back to the continued land rights disputes.[2]

Indigenous activist Robbie Thorpe elaborates on the three components of GST in his weekly podcast[3] with an episode dedicated to the Black GST Movement. For example, one of Thorpe’s arguments throughout the GST movement is their criticisms of Australia as being the ‘single Commonwealth country which does not have an established treaty with their respective Indigenous peoples’. This podcast collates and shares interviews and primary accounts from the founding members of the Black GST group and later Indigenous activists of the 21^st Century.

Prior to the events of 2006, the Black GST group were relatively unknown without much publicity or recognition. Aside from the Indigenous Law Bulletin (2006) which encouraged Aboriginal activism in Australia, media outlets were not recognising the work and plans of the Black GST group. As the 2006 Commonwealth games approached and Camp Sovereignty launched, this movement became recognized by people, media and government as a more prominent inconvenience which would require action to respond to the concerns of the movement centred on genocide, sovereignty, and treaty.

The camp sovereignty protest at the Commonwealth Games was resembles similar protests where sports and politics intersect[4]. protests such as the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games protest and Sydney’s 1988 Bicentennial Marches.[1]

Chronology

2005:

The Black GST group is formed by a small group of activists in Melbourne early in 2005. The group consisted of various Indigenous and White activists with prominent figures including Robbie Thorpe, Marg Thorpe and Garry Foley. The group sought to publicise Indigenous civil rights issues and introduced their motives to end genocide, promote sovereignty and create treaties.[1]

Early 2006:

Prior to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games (15/3/2006-26/3/2006), the Black GST group encouraged people to attend their planned protest which would commence days prior to the Commonwealth Games. The group encouraged activists to join them in occupying the land for the duration of the Commonwealth games. The group branded the Commonwealth Games as the ‘Stolenwealth Games’[5] in reference to historical actions of genocide, sovereignty and treaties. The group planned this initiative and invited activists throughout 2005 and early 2006 to best take advantage of the anticipated domestic and international media coverage. The group also pursued various events throughout the 2006 Commonwealth games including further protests and press events.3

Later throughout February and early March 2006, the Black GST group and Victorian authorities engaged in frequent discussion to ensure ‘the protest is manageable’3 and is reasonable. However, these discussions were not conclusive, and the Black GST group became increasingly vocal following a rejection of a cultural camp in Victoria Park, Collingwood.2

March 2006 (Commonwealth Games)

On March 2, 2006 the group launched the Camp Sovereignty website to publicise their message online to a global audience and share the significance of their sacred site.[6]

The 2006 Commonwealth Games ran from the 15^th of March to the 26^th of March. On the 12^th of March[7], the Camp Sovereignty movement was launched and the Black GST political group established a camp in King’s Domain, Melbourne. The group lit a fire in the public park to represent their cultural traditions in the heart of the events as a form of Indigenous recognition at a Commonwealth event. The group publicised this idea of the “Stolenwealth Games”, rebranding the motto of the games: “united by the moment” with “divided by history”. 7 Throughout the games, the ceremony and protest remained and gained increased attention from the public, media outlets and authorities.

The choice of occupying King’s Domain was contentious because it was classified as a “Games Management Zone.”[8] According to the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Act 2001[9], these zones are under special restrictions including strict bans on any form of protesting or demonstrating. The organisers selected this location to draw attention to the demonstration due to its importance and its proximity to the Queen’s residence.9

Late March – Early May 2006

Despite agreement to conclude the demonstration on the 25^th of March, the group continued to occupy King’s Domain beyond the Commonwealth Games events. After many disputes and legal issues [see Aftermath section] the protest was closed on the 10^th of May 2006.[10]

Aftermath

After refusing to close the camp on the 25^th by declaring the site of the fire in King’s Domain

as sacred,7 governments initiated legal action to stop the demonstration.

The work of the Black GST group continues throughout the 15 years after Camp Sovereignty, with regular communication verbally and through media publications.

The events of Camp Sovereignty have had longstanding impacts on Indigenous movements, initiating various sister fires throughout the nation. The more recent Camp Freedom protest was a direct connection to the events of Camp Sovereignty, with a large protest at the Commonwealth Games 2018 on the Gold Coast.[11]

Media Coverage

The focus of Camp Sovereignty was to maximise media coverage of Indigenous civil rights issues on a national and international scale to create reform.

The events led to an array of headlines across a multitude of mainstream media outlets including The Age[7][8][10] and The Wire[12].

In 2019, the ABC dedicated an episode of its podcast Shooting the Past to focus on an image from Camp Sovereignty and analyse the events and long-standing impacts of the movement, inviting experts and participants of the protest.[13]

[1] http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/IndigLawB/2006/1.html

[2] https://overland.org.au/previous-issues/issue-230/essay-tony-birch/

[3] https://craig39s-audio-works.castos.com/episodes/black-gst-genocide-sovereignty-treaty

[4] Handbook of Sport and Politics

[5] http://www.jstor.org/stable/27649735

[6] https://campsovereignty.wordpress.com/2006/03/

[7] https://www.theage.com.au/national/uproot-camp-pm-urges-20060407-ge23ds.html

[8] https://www.theage.com.au/sport/protesters-to-site-camp-in-no-go-zone-20060225-ge1trw.html

[9] http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/repealed_act/cgaa2001314/

[10] https://www.theage.com.au/national/protesters-wont-leave-park-until-demands-met-20060510-ge2abv.html

[11] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2018/apr/08/camp-freedom-protesters-rally-for-indigenous-rights-at-commonwealth-games-in-pictures

[12] https://www.thewire.org.au/story/will-camp-sovereignty-black-gst-be-moved-on-from-kings-domain/

[13] https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/shootingthepast/shooting-the-past-camp-sovereignty/10665808

The ABC’s program ‘Shooting the Past’ highlights the events behind a historical photograph and discusses the meaning behind them.^[1]

This book is an academic source which provides key insights into the overlap of sports and politics in shaping movements and events.^[2]

Birch’s academic article provides a comprehensive timeline of the Black GST movement and Camp Sovereignty.^[3]

Kennedy’s contributions to this academic journal provide a thorough analysis of the short-term impacts of Camp Sovereignty.^[4]

The article published by The Guardian is highly useful in examining the long-standing impacts on society and social values.^[5]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fiordland_National_Park_-_New_Zealand.jpg

• Description: The photo depicts the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand
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• Description: The media will show the Fiordland National Park of New Zealand