Friends,

Lee Point is sacred Larrakia land that is home to ancient Dreaming, ceremonial sites, 270 species of birds and trees that are over 400 years old.

On 30 April, Defence Housing Australia (DHA) began bulldozing our beautiful old-growth bushland to build “luxury” houses for the military and private profit. 100 police officers, security guards and horses were deployed to enable this destruction. At least 18 land protectors were arrested for peacefully resisting.

Witnesses to the destruction sighted many illegal and unethical practices from the contractors hired by DHA. There was no fauna spotter on site to ensure birds and wildlife were not harmed and the bulldozers went into lands that DHA didn’t have permits to clear.

After several days of bulldozing, DHA were forced to pause their destruction of Lee Point after Larrakia families, Darwin locals and environmental groups brought these illegal and unethical practices to public attention.

As a result, DHA are now “investigating” themselves. And while we don’t have any faith in a DHA-led investigation, this is the third time that people power has stopped DHA’s destruction of sacred Larrakia Land. This intervention has brought valuable time to ensure the pause is made permanent.

During this pause, the Greens, Darwin locals and environmental groups are calling for an independent investigation and/or Senate Inquiry into DHA’s illegal land clearing. We are preparing to table our petition with the Federal government for the Return of Lee Point to Larrakia ownership and care. Under Larrakia protection, these trees will be replanted, ceremony will be returned and the land will be cared for - forever.

THE PLAN FROM HERE:

• We have launched another petition calling for the Return of Lee Point to Larrakia Care and Protection - this one is for Larrakia people only and will be the one that we table with the Federal government. If you are Larrakia, please get in touch on contact@laniyuk.com with your name and family group if you would like to be added
• Once the Federal government has accepted and tabled our petition, a group of MPs will consider our demands and determine a process for how they will make recommendations back to the government about how to respond to our petition - we will provide these MPs with our Change.org petition to demonstrate the depth and breadth of our support
• Finally, with the NT elections coming up in August, we’ll continue working with environmental groups and Darwin locals to make sure the protection and return of sacred and ancient Larrakia Land is a a key election issue in the electorates surrounding Lee Point  

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

🌸 Click here to buy one of our Larrakia-designed t-shirts - We’d love it if you could wear and share our message with your colleagues, family and friends  

🌸 Make a donation to our Larrakia fighting fund - Donations will used to cover things like transport, meals and time for Larrakia people to protect our Sacred Country

🌸 Join our Signal chat and organise solidarity actions in your area - Signal is a free and encrypted messaging service where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other Lee Point defenders to coordinate solidarity actions with Larrakia people

🌸 Stay up to date by joining our mailing list - We’re planning to migrate away from Change.org for ongoing communications and actions in the very near future

🌸 Follow our journey on Instagram or Facebook - We’ll be posting regular updates on both social media channels

Thank you for your ongoing support. It is a beacon of hope in these otherwise trying times.

With love and appreciation,

Laniyuk