Australia’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy Marks 40 Years of Struggle

This week marks the 40^th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra – a symbol of Indigenous struggle in Australia.

In 1972 four Aboriginal men, Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams and Tony Coore, sat under a beach umbrella on the lawns of Australia’s Parliament House, in protest of the McMahon Liberal government’s refusal to recognize Aboriginal land rights. They raised a sign bearing the words ‘Aboriginal Tent Embassy,’ and established what is now the longest continuous protest site in Australia.

‘Until one day our people are recognized as the true custodians of our country and crimes of genocide are brought to justice, we’ll continue being here,’ said Lynda Coe, niece of one of the embassy’s founders.

Supporters will mark the anniversary with a three-day ‘Corroboree for Sovereignty,’ celebration.