At the end of 2014, the scene for Indigenous politics in 2015 was truly set: it was going to be a year of increased fight and protest for Indigenous rights.
While it is rare to see a year where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people don't take to the streets to challenge government policies, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett's announcement in November 2014 of the proposed closure of remote communities led to a large scale movement.
If the idea of forcing Aboriginal people off their traditional lands was not enough to cause anger in the Aboriginal population, the comments made by the then Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs sealed the deal.
Tony Abbott's suggestion that remaining connected with family and community on lands with which you have an intense religious connection going back several millennia was a mere lifestyle choice, which the Australian taxpayer was not obligated to supplement, revealed that despite his stated interest in Indigenous affairs, he had a lot to learn.
'Selfish rabble'
SOS Blak Australia — a vast network of Indigenous activists started by Sam Cook — sprang into action. November 2014 marked the beginning of an ongoing grassroots campaign of protest to stop the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. Throughout 2015, protests in Australia and across the world shut down major cities in order to highlight the right for Aboriginal people to retain their communities.
In April this year, the crowds in Melbourne, bolstered by solidarity campaigns from unions, political and community groups, swelled to over 4000 people. This CBD shutdown was so successful that it caused a traffic gridlock for several hours and led to Melbourne's Herald Sun labelling the protesters a 'selfish rabble' — a term which was then humorously embraced by the movement.
While Barnett seemed to backpedal slightly on his proposal in May, both his words and Abbott's served as a reminder that as Aboriginal people, rights to our lands and culture are precarious, and continuously under threat by governments. The fight must continue. It is certain that 2016 will see more sovereignty actions by Indigenous communities and their supporters.
Speaking of sovereignty actions, after 15 months occupying The Block, the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy had a win in August. The Tent Embassy had sprung up in protest to a development proposal greenlighted by the Aboriginal Housing Corporation which did not include affordable housing for Aboriginal people. This led to eviction notices (which were defied) and court action against the