On his 82nd birthday last week, Uncle Jim Everett Puralia Meenamatta was arrested for defending native forests in Lutruwita (Tasmania) from logging by Forestry Tasmania.
He was arrested in the Bradys Lake forests, in the central highlands, and says his birthday gift to the forests was asserting Palawa law on Country.
It is not the first time the Palawa Plangermairreenner Elder, poet, writer and filmmaker has been arrested for defending forests.
Everett says the planet is at a tipping point.
“This ongoing destruction of native forests in Lutruwita must stop now," he said.
"Climate change is bearing down on future human habitation on Earth.
"I'm a lawkeeper and I'm obliged and obligated to maintain law in Country to protect our very old ancestral forests from any further destruction."
There is no treaty between Palawa people and the government of Australia or Tasmania.
"Colonial Australia has no jurisdiction to arrest me or try me on charges for defending Palawa law in Country and my action is to challenge the lie of assumed citizenship," Mr Everett said.
Nala Mansell, campaign coordinator for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, said Uncle Jim had the support of the community for his brave defence of Country.
“It is a complete injustice that an 82-year-old Aboriginal man is arrested for defending his sacred lands and is charged with trespassing on his own territory," she said.
"This incident starkly highlights the failures of a legal system that does not recognise the inherent rights and responsibilities of our people.
“We demand that any charges against Uncle Jim be dropped and our right to defend Country is recognised."
Jim Everett in the Styx Forest, where he was arrested earlier this year for defending ancient trees. Credit: Jillian Mundy
He was arrested again and given a new court date to appear on September 23 and again refused to attend court.
He says logging native forests is unnecessary, when growing plantation timber is an option and expensive, because it's by both the Australian and Tasmanian Governments and it also destroys habitat for native wildlife.
“Enough is enough," Mr Everett said.
"The destruction of our ancient native forests is an attack on our law in Country, which is pre-eminent to the colony’s alien sovereign from Britain.
"Until an agreement is made between the government and First Nations, so-called Australia will remain a colony.”
Ms Mansell said the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre stands in solidarity with Mr Everett and his fight for justice and recognition of ancestral rights.
"We demand recognition of our rights and a commitment to preserving our sacred lands for future generations," she said.
"Our struggle is not just about protecting our environment; it is about reclaiming our identity, culture, and place in this land we have cared for since time immemorial."
Mr Everett called for everybody in Tasmania to come together to protect forests and Country.
"Because if we're going to give our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren forests, if we're going to give them clean waters and clean sea waters, where salmon farming is causing havoc then we all need to come together," he said.
Former Greens leader Bob Brown, whose foundation supported Mr Everett's protest, drew parallels with Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe's protest against King Charles – which happened on the same day.
"After the loggers arrived, so did a masked owl into that forest and they're about to destroy its habitat," he said.
"It's very serious, there's rare and endangered wildlife including swift parrots, masked owls, Tassie devils, whole range being destroyed day after day to export timber and profits out of this state and to get subsidised ...
"On a day in which a call for treaties has gone right around the planet, here's a poignant call from a respected Elder of the Palawa people of Tasmania for a treaty and for an end to the destruction of country.
"Surely, that should be heard."
