A message from Amanda Mahomet at camp:
'Over 500 people on site as State sanctioned eviction looms
Numbers at the Djab Wurrung Protection Embassy are at an all time high as the Major Roads Victoria’s eviction noticed draws to a close. Traditional Owners were given 14 days to vacate their sacred landscape on the 8th of August after they have camped on Country for 15 months in opposition to the Western Highway Duplication just outside Ararat.
Since the protest camp was set up thousands of people have passed through the Embassy, but the show of support on the eve of eviction demonstrates the broad base of people that want this landscape protected.
“We’ve seen over 500 people journey to Country to stop this road and protect sacred Djab Wurrung song lines once and for all.” Said Amanda Mohamet, Embassy Representative
“The numbers we’ve seen today make clear that Premier Daniel Andrews will be on the wrong side of history if the Victorian Government pushes ahead to desecrate this sacred Women’s Country.”
The Embassy has been opposing the duplication of a 12.5 kilometre stretch of the Western Highway, on the basis that the Victorian Government failed to consulte with the Djab Wurrung people and give Tradition Owners the opportunity to make a free, prior and informed decision on the future of their land.
“If this eviction notice has done one thing, its shown that we have Australians from all walks of life behind us. We are the traditional custodians of this part of country, and we have a cultural obligation to be here,” said Amanda
The Djab Wurrung people have been pushing for the road project to take the alternative northern route, which would protect the sacred trees and have the saved millions of dollars the Government has wasted by failing to consult with the Djab Wurrung people.
“At the end of the day we’re not going anywhere until our sacred Women’s Country is safe. Daniel Andrews needs to intervene and stop the destruction of our heritage. The eviction notice must be lifted and Major Roads Victoria needs to restart planning for this project, with Djab Wurrung at the centre of any negotiations.”
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'We are sitting here on Djapwurrung country protecting sacred trees.
These beautiful trees include an 800 year old tree that has seen over 50 generations born inside of a hollow in her trunk and a 350 year old directions tree that has been shaped and resembles a Woman. This area is part of the song line, the series of scared trees and artifacts we find here regularly prove it’s significance.
To our People, the land is our means of survival.
It is our food, spirit, identity and culture. Our lands have a spiritual value and not an economic one. If the land is destroyed so is our dreaming. Our dreaming is our story. It is what connects us to the beginning of time, back to our spirit ancestors, our creators.
Vic Roads plan to create a 4 Lane Highway.
It’s located just outside of Ararat, this is why we are sitting on Country now. If this 12km stretch goes ahead 3000 trees will be gone, including the sacred trees and their protected habitats. All this devastation is in the name of cutting 3 minutes off the existing highways travel time.
Over the past few months, we’ve set up three camps.
We’ve been taking bold action thereby preventing work form starting and demanding the project is cancelled. It’s no easy task but we know it must be done. The small examples must be won or the big examples will continue to get bigger and this nation and all of its People will be lost forever.
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More information:
https://youtu.be/Hpv2LMY_snM
https://dwembassy.com
https://twitter.com/djapwurrung
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Please make your way to camp ASAP and join the movement!