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Archie Wood
Nov 2012 min read

Echoes of Resistance: Indigenous Sovereignty and Global Solidarity

Updated: Nov 26

Researched and written by Archie Wood

November 2024


The protest in the Parliament of Australia on Monday, 21st October, wasn’t just a disruption; it was an act of defiance that echoed far beyond Canberra’s chamber walls. This protest boldly challenged the deeply rooted colonial power structures still influencing Australia today. For Indigenous Australians, having a monarchy at the heart of the government is not merely ceremonial – it’s a stark reminder of an enduring colonial legacy that obstructs their path to true sovereignty. As Senator Lidia Thorpe put it, sovereignty isn’t just about governance; it’s about being of the land. Visions of sovereignty can be diverse amongst Indigenous communities, yet for Senator Thorpe, sovereignty is based on deep ancestral ties that a foreign monarchy simply cannot represent.   

 

This article examines the protest initiated by Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal Senator from Victoria, as part of the ongoing struggle for Indigenous sovereignty. It places this act of defiance within broader calls for justice, recognition, and solidarity, but also within the greater response to Australia itself as a country. By situating the protest within the global movement for Indigenous rights and resurgence, and examining themes of recognition, reform, and unity, we can appreciate its far-reaching implications – not only for Australia, but for Indigenous communities globally. 

 

  Credit: royal.uk - A traditional Smoking Ceremony welcomed The King and Queen to Canberra (Ngunnawal country)


The Protest and the Sovereignty Debate in Australia

 

Looking back, the 1992 Mabo decision in the High Court of Australia rejected the notion that Australia was terra nullius – unclaimed land – when British settlers arrived in the 18th century. This landmark ruling paved the way for Native Title recognition, affirming that Indigenous Australians hold rights to their land through traditional connections (Ardill, 2013, p. 315). However, while Mabo challenged colonial land claims, it left the question of full Indigenous sovereignty largely unaddressed. Native Title, as established, operates within the framework of Australian law, recognising Indigenous connection to the land without granting full authority or independent governance over it (Ardill, 2013, pp. 322-324).


Credit: Bethyl Mabo, AIATSIS - Eddie Koiki Mabo in Townsville, 1991.

 

Indigenous Australians continue to challenge the legitimacy of Crown sovereignty over their lands and seek avenues for more substantial governance structures. Today, over 250 Indigenous nations span Australia, each with unique languages, cultural practices, and governance systems (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Across the country, various Land Councils – established under acts like the Aboriginal Land Rights Act of 1976 – play key roles in administering land rights and advocating for the interests of their communities (National Museum Australia, 4 December 2023). While these councils represent a step towards recognising Indigenous governance, their powers remain limited within settler-state legislation.

 

In recent years, some progress in settler government legislation has aimed to expand Indigenous rights and governance structures, such as initiatives to formalise treaty processes in Victoria and Queensland (First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, 2023). However, for many Indigenous Australians, the lack of sovereignty recognition remains a core issue, as they continue to seek not only acknowledgement but self-determined authority over their lands and communities (Ardill, 2013, pp. 316 – 317).

 

To many, the monarchy symbolises an ongoing colonial presence. Protesting their appearance in Parliament becomes an assertion of Indigenous sovereignties that have never been ceded, demanding that Australia reckon with its colonial past and present. While the implications of the Mabo decision are clear to Indigenous Australians, broader non-Native Australian society often overlooks them. Protests like this shine a spotlight on the ongoing Indigenous sovereignty debates, reminding non-Natives that these are not just historical or theoretical issues – they are part of a living reality that won’t be pushed to the side-lines (Keynes et. al., 2023, p. 61).


 

Connecting Struggles Across Borders

 

In other nations where the British monarch serves as head of state, protests like Senator Thorpe’s inevitably strike a chord with Indigenous communities. In Canada and New Zealand, the Indigenous movements have long contested the British monarchy’s lingering influence, highlighting how each country’s colonial history shapes Indigenous-state relations today.

 

New Zealand, for instance, has the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, which, while contentious and often breached, is formally recognised and has provided Māori communities with a foundation for legal and land rights claims (King, 2003, pp. 307-310). In Canada, a series of numbered treaties and more modern agreements provide a formal basis for Indigenous rights, but the country still contents with significant gaps between treaty promises and implementation (Venne, 1997, pp. 205-207).


Credit: Phil Walter, Getty Images - Marchers protest government policies affecting the Maori in New Zealand/ Aotearoa


Australia, on the other hand, remains without a national treaty with its Indigenous nations, making it the only Commonwealth country without such an agreement (BBC, 24 May 2017). This absence highlights a unique colonial legacy that has left Indigenous Australians without formalised recognition of sovereignty or land rights – a stark contrast to the experiences of other Commonwealth nations.

 

Expanding the focus, the Commonwealth itself represents a legacy of British colonial influence that still affects Indigenous communities worldwide. For many, it’s a structure that perpetuates historical inequalities and maintains a concentration of symbolic power in the British monarchy (Moreton-Robinson, 2004, pp. 40-45). Yet, across Commonwealth nations, Indigenous communities are increasingly challenging these structures and seeking to redefine their relationship with former colonial powers. From demands for reparations to calls for the return of stolen artefacts, Indigenous groups are actively reshaping narratives and pursuing legal action to shift entrenched power dynamics (Tuck & Yang, 2012, pp. 2-3). These actions reverberate globally, reinforcing the urgency of Senator Thorpe’s protest as a part of a larger, interconnected movement.

 

Challenging the British monarchical presence in Australia is familiar to Indigenous groups across the Americas who resisted various forms of settler-colonial structures. While legal sovereignty may often be denied, many Indigenous communities are finding strength through alternative expressions of sovereignty that do not solely oppose settler states. By deepening community relationships and re-centring focus on UNDRIP and harmonising global Indigenous rights, many are transcending the colonial narrative and moving into one where their communities exist at a local and international level – celebrating their Indigenous identities and sharing Indigenous knowledge solutions to climate change (Anaya, 2012, pp. 60-65; UNDP, 31 July 2024). This approach opens doors to solidarity and amplifies their demands for justice, illustrating that sovereignty can also be about cultural resurgence, community resilience, and reclaiming agency within and outside existing political frameworks.

 

In these movements for sovereignty, organisations like the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues play crucial roles. They provide platforms for Indigenous leaders to connect, collaborate, and rally international support. These alliances create a powerful network that empowers Indigenous voices and magnifies the impact of protests like Thorpe’s – acts of defiance representing global calls for justice and self-determination.

 


Indigenous Sovereignty as Political Action

 

The October 21st protest highlights an urgent need for more than just symbolic acknowledgement. Indigenous Australians are demanding recognition of their sovereignty, protection of their land rights, and genuine political reforms that bring their voices into the heart of governance. A significant moment in this ongoing struggle was the recent referendum on the Voice to Parliament, which aimed to enshrine Indigenous representation in the Australian Constitution (Reconciliation Australia). While acknowledgements of Country have become a familiar ritual, they often fail to deliver the tangible realisation of sovereignty that Indigenous communities are determined to achieve (Moreton-Robinson, 2004, p. 89). The debates surrounding the Voice highlighted the complexities within Aboriginal communities and the broader Australian society, revealing differing opinions on whether such a framework would strengthen or undermine sovereignty. The referendum's failure has led to renewed discussions about the pathways to self-determination and the necessity of addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of the over 250 Indigenous nations in Australia (The Conversation, 14 Oct 2023).


Credit: BBC - 'Vote Yes!' campaigners during the 2023 Voice Referendum in Australia

 

Indigenous leaders envision a future that transcends mere symbolism, aiming for structural reforms that would tackle the power imbalances between the Crown and Indigenous Australians. This includes ground-breaking steps like treaty negotiations, constitutional amendments, and creating political frameworks that respect the unique sovereignties of Indigenous communities – a radical shift toward true self-determination.

 

Greeting King Charles III in Sydney, Elder Allan Murray from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, appeared to reference Senator Thorpe's remarks on the necessity of having such ground-breaking steps:

 

‘We always long for a return of our sovereignty. We are a sovereign people, we have never signed a formal agreement or treaty’ (Sky News, 22 October 2024).

 

‘The Union Jack was put on our land without our consent. We've been ignored. We can't rest on our laurels’ (Sky News, 22 October 2024).

 

Whilst not blaming the King directly, Murray points out that the monarchy has intrinsic institutional issues which harm Indigenous efforts towards self-determination:

 

‘It was his family that goes back to 1770. We’ve sent to the Kings and Queens asking to be recognised but have been ignored since 1770’ (Sky News, 22 October 2024).

 

 The ambitious goals of Indigenous peoples resonate globally, inspiring Indigenous movements to pursue similar transformative reforms in their own political systems. By challenging legal and political structures that have marginalised Indigenous voices, Australia’s fight for sovereignty could spark a wave of change, empowering Indigenous activists everywhere to push for deeper, more meaningful recognition.

 


International Collaboration and Support: Amplifying Indigenous Voices

 

International collaboration can amplify Indigenous voices, providing a collective challenge to entrenched colonial frameworks and promoting global recognition of Indigenous sovereignty. Connecting Indigenous Australians with global allies helps shine a spotlight on their demands and lends weight to their call for justice and self-determination.

 

A key aspect of this collaboration is respecting Indigenous leadership principles, as outlined by Indigenous Standpoint Theory (IST). IST emphasises valuing Indigenous perspectives on sovereignty and resisting colonial assumptions that have historically undermined Indigenous knowledge systems (Ardill, 2013, p. 326).

 

In practice, IST encourages a shift in how we view knowledge and authority. It asks us to consider the world from Indigenous perspectives, which often involve collective experiences and a deep connection to land. This framework allows Indigenous communities to assert their own narratives, reflecting their agency and resistance.

 

These cross-border connections strengthen Indigenous advocacy, allowing activists to share strategies, build solidarity, and mount a united challenge to colonial narratives that have long marginalized them. Platforms like the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) provide opportunities for Indigenous leaders to exchange ideas, address sovereignty struggles, and advocate for collective rights (UNPFII; IPMSDL).

 

Additionally, collaborative exchanges between Indigenous groups – such as the arrangement between Māori activists in New Zealand and First Nations communities in Canada in 2022 – help refine approaches to treaty negotiations, sovereignty movements, and environmental justice campaigns (Government of Canada, 2022).

 

Grassroots organisations also play a critical role in connecting movements globally, whether through joint efforts to reclaim sacred artefacts or coordinated legal actions under frameworks like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

 

Through this interconnected support network, Indigenous movements around the globe gain momentum, making their voices increasingly impossible to ignore.

 

Credit: Patty Hadju - Canadian delegation meeting with Māori leaders in Whangara, Aotearoa-New Zealand


‘Post-Colonial’?

 

This protest makes it clear that the term ‘post-colonial’ fails to capture the reality that Indigenous Australians face. For many, the idea of Australia being ‘post-colonial’ is almost laughable, as colonial power and structures still influence their land and lives. Scholars like Allan Ardill argue that using ‘post-colonial’ language can obscure the ongoing influence of colonial structures that directly shape Indigenous experiences (Ardill, 2013, p. 318).

 

Critics of the term ‘post-colonial’ assert that it can create a false sense of closure regarding colonialism. While the term suggests a transition away from colonial rule, it fails to recognize that many Indigenous communities still grapple with the legacies of colonization in their everyday lives. This perspective invites us to rethink the narrative around post-colonialism and understand that colonial powers are not just historical footnotes; they actively influence contemporary policies, social dynamics, and economic inequalities (Ardill, 2013, p. 333).

 

Lidia Thorpe’s protest challenges the narrative of “colonial” at the heart of Australian governance but also serves as an assertion of Indigenous sovereignty. Her actions highlight the limitations of postcolonial narratives, which often overlook how deeply colonial powers remain involved in Indigenous affairs. This calls for a shift in focus: we need to discuss Indigenous sovereignty in terms that truly centre Indigenous voices and acknowledge that their self-determination is still very much an active, ongoing struggle. For Indigenous Australians, there’s a strong demand for real recognition, to transcend the old narratives and be strong in their Indigenous identity, in particular to be a voice for all humanity in confronting climate action at a global level, through local solutions.

 


Enduring Protest

 

Ultimately, the Monarch's recent appearance in the Australian Parliament serves as a reminder of Indigenous Australians’ ongoing fight against colonial authority and their demand for genuine recognition of sovereignty. When viewed through the lens of global Indigenous solidarity, it’s clear that these struggles connect us all, highlighting shared challenges and aspirations faced by Indigenous communities everywhere.

 

In light of the recent challenges surrounding the Voice to Parliament referendum, it is evident that a middle-ground approach to sovereignty may not suffice on its own. The ‘middle-ground approach’ refers to attempts to balance Indigenous self-determination within the existing settler-state framework. This often involves symbolic gestures, limited political representation, or consultative bodies that operate within the structures of the Australian government, rather than fundamentally shifting the power dynamics (Maddison, 2009, pp. 54-57).

 

The Voice to Parliament, for instance, was proposed as an advisory body that would allow Indigenous Australians to provide input on laws and policies affecting their communities. While framed as a step toward greater inclusion, it stopped short of addressing deeper issues of sovereignty, land rights, and treaty-making, leaving many Indigenous leaders questioning whether such measures could deliver meaningful change (Appleby & Synot, 2023).

 

Indigenous leaders like Lidia Thorpe are calling for more direct and radical actions that go beyond symbolic recognition, and beyond The Voice to Parliament. This includes genuine treaty negotiations, constitutional reforms, and the establishment of frameworks that uphold Indigenous governance and self-determination. Such steps resonate with ongoing initiatives in Australia, including community-led efforts to reclaim land, preserve cultural heritage, and assert Indigenous rights within existing political systems (The Guardian, 16 Aug 2023).

 

The recent Haka protests in New Zealand’s parliament, led by Māori lawmakers, demonstrate the ongoing, daily struggle of Indigenous communities under colonial treaties (Armstrong, BBC, 14 November 2024). As Māori leaders stood in defiance, invoking their cultural heritage to oppose legislation they deemed harmful to Treaty protections, they echoed the broader struggles of Indigenous communities worldwide. This act serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnected fight for sovereignty and justice, urging reflection on the role of colonial frameworks and the enduring power of Indigenous identity and resistance.

 

This moment stands as proof of the strength and resilience of Indigenous voices, encouraging communities worldwide to keep pushing for recognition, justice, and sovereignty. As we reflect on these ongoing struggles, we might ask ourselves: How can we, as individuals and communities, actively support Indigenous sovereignty and contribute to dismantling the colonial frameworks that continue to affect lives today?

 

For more information on some of the efforts of Indigenous groups in Australia, please visit these links:


 

 

 

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