Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 22 October 2024

Uncle Jim Everett arrested for defending native forests in lutruwita/Tasmania 

Today, ‘Uncle’ Jim Everett-Puralia Meenamatta has been arrested for defending native forests in lutruwita/Tasmania from logging by the Tasmanian Government’s Forestry Tasmania.

It is not the first time the palawa plangermairreenner elder, poet, writer and filmmaker was arrested for defending forests.

He was arrested in the Bradys Lake forests on his 82nd birthday saying his birthday gift to the forests was asserting palawa law in country.

“The palawa have been under colonialism now for 221 years and have never had any agreements with the colonial governments of Australia or Tasmania to become Australian citizens.

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,” said Everett.

“This ongoing destruction of native forests in lutruwita must stop now. Climate change is bearing down on future human habitation on Earth. It is at a tipping point and government must acknowledge and act accordingly for the safe future of the people of lutruwita and all people,” said Everett.

He was arrested defending native forest in the Styx Valley on 19 March 2024, refused to attend court on 3 June, and a warrant was issued. He was arrested again and given a new court date to appear on 23 September and again refused to attend court.

“Enough is enough, 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,” said Everett.

“Colonial Australia has been a failure since the invasion of our First Nations in 1788. It has taken the colony a blink of an eye in First Nations’ history to cause immense destruction to our entire environment’s relational ecosystem and our people. Colonialism continues its cultural genocide of habitat and people.

“We have no power to stop the destruction of our cultural heritage. Our people are increasingly incarcerated in colonial prisons. The governments are still stealing our children, and the colonial assimilation program to remove our identity continues to cause trauma in our communities nationally,” he said.

“We are sick of this failed colony and its destructive practices for profits regardless of the negative impacts on our law in country and its impacts on all people of the colony. To end this destruction the colony should firstly make an agreement with First Nations to be Australian citizens and negotiate the conditions of citizenship to allow us to get on with healing our country,” Everett concluded.

Featured image above courtesy Jillian Mundy.

Media release – Grassroots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT), 22 October 2024

STATEMENT ON ARREST OF UNCLE JIM EVERETT – PURALIA MEENAMATTA

Grassroots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT) condemns today’s arrest of Uncle Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta for defending forests in the central highlands of lutruwita, and stands in solidarity with the pakana elder and his campaign for the protection of forests and respect for law in country.

Respected pakana elder Uncle Jim Everett was today arrested for fulfilling his cultural obligations, and defending country in the central highlands of lutruwita. Uncle Jim has called for the immediate protection of lutruwita’s native forests, respect for and embracing of Law in country, and for the wider community to join First Nations people in taking a stand for country. GRANT calls for his immediate release from custody and is ready to mobilise in his support.

Uncle Jim was previously arrested for defending giant eucalypts from logging in the Styx Valley in March. He has since refused to attend court multiple times, asserting the First Nations traditional concept of law in country

“I do not recognise any colonial authority over me because I am not an Australian citizen, and the Australian-British colonial laws that I challenge have no jurisdiction to arrest me for defending my law in country from ongoing destruction of our natural world. Law in country is what governs me, and I do what I do because it’s the truth.” Uncle Jim said.

Uncle Jim is calling upon both First Nations People and the wider community across so-called ‘Australia’ to mobilise in protection of country. He is spearheading 20 days of action from January 6th to escalate the issue.

“We are asking all of you strong First Nations people and organisations, and mainstream supporters to join in the challenge. Together we will achieve change,” he said. “We are asking mainstream Australians to stop ideas of assimilating First Nations into the destruction of All-life environments and come our way, learn to understand country, and find identity here with country.”

“By re-establishing our rights and responsibilities under law in country, and governed by our lived-lore with country we can return to our cultural customs held in First Nations’ knowledge. There is no other way, there is no other world, this is what we have and if we don’t stop the profit driven destruction to our law in country, our lived-lore, our knowledge and culture, there will be nothing left for future generations to continue life in Australia.”

“We know the way, come and we will teach you, this is what we are saying,” said Uncle Jim.

GRANT is answering Uncle Jim’s call to protect country, and encourages others in the community to join us. Our mobilisation has begun, and will continue over the coming months, alongside our allies on-ground in lutruwita. We commit to being led by palawa and pakana, and to building power in alignment with Uncle Jim’s vision. Our goal: to protect country, challenge the ‘Australian’ system’s rampant greed and destruction, and fight for palawa custodianship of Country in lutruwita to be upheld.

Finally, we wish Uncle Jim a wonderful 82nd birthday.