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Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy are calling for the remains of the sacred Directions Tree to be respectfully returned.

A1 Tree Solution Ballarat, the contractor that felled the beautiful 350 year old Yellow Box Gum have been disrespecting grieving protectors by driving the remains of the sacred tree around Ararat and the Western highway.

They were seen on the Western Highway only moments before police invaded Top camp on Tuesday. These actions are deeply hurtful and demonstrate the lack of respect shown by A1 Tree Solutions.

Chelsea Lovett-Ahern from the Djab Wurrung Protection Embassy said on Facebook:

“This Djap Wurrung Directions Tree was the holder of the DNA of our ancestors. She had a strong and staunch woman’s energy, where she proudly stood tall with branches stretched wide holding her given space on women’s country. We are heavily grieving her loss culturally, physically & spiritually. We need her body back, not turned to mulch like our other trees. We need respect and answers for what has been done!”

Supporters are being asked to contact A1 Tree solutions on 0447 238 733 and leave a review on Google.

Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy has developed a COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocol.

Are you attending or planning to attend any of the Embassy’s Camps?

If the answer is YES, please do thoroughly read this document and observe it’s guidelines whilst at Camp.

Thanks for your support!

Last Wednesday the 29^th of January, Major Roads Projects Victoria came to cut down an old growth tree, possible mortuary tree in the 3.8km stretch of land that was signed over to them in late 2019.

The tree was located within the 3.8km area and Djap Wurrung protectors stood underneath the branches of the tree on the Djap Wurrung side of the boundary to prevent its destruction.

MRPV told the protectors that the tree was to be cut today and were seen assessing its significance by inserting a camera down the hollow.

“Its highly likely the remains of our ancestors are buried within this 400 year old tree. There are a variety of culturally appropriate methods to identify mortuary trees including soil analysis in a laboratory,” said Chelsea Ahern, from the Djap Wurrung Embassy.

“MRPV’s methods for assessing cultural significance today completely disregards and offends Djap Wurrung heritage.”

“I’m prepared to do whatever it takes for my kids, my culture and future generations”

AMBER ALERT – Wednesday 4th Dec 2019

MRPV are currently trying to do a walk through to start works on their next section
The Djapwurrung embassy DOES NOT give consent.
MRPV continues to maintain their presence.
Be prepared in the near future for a red alert on the frontline to stop these illegal and violent attacks to sacred women’s country.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the dwembassy front line. Anybody that has visited or spoken to those that have sat on country these past 16 months knows that we would never compromise. Those that have shown support or sat on country with us know that it’s never been about a couple of trees.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND STILL REMAINS NOT NEGOTIABLE.

Yesterday we spoke directly to an employee of MRPV on Djapwurrung who said that major works will commence tomorrow. This includes major machinery on country for intense digging purposes. The rep from MRPV also said that camps should pack up and move on because it won’t take long after today’s digging for the road to be layed.

Compromise.

What is comprise? Compromise means lowering your standards and going against what you believe in. Anything in the form of mediation is a compromise. Yep. Life brings plenty of times when we all have to compromise, but there are times where you stand your ground and say absofknlutely not! Because somethings are just NOT NEGOTIABLE.

We’ve been labeled losers if we remain on country, protecting Country, protecting our fight for survival and protecting this song line that not only effects the Djapwurrung. There is many a connection to this song line that most wouldn’t consider and that should never have been compromised. Be great to see as many on country again as possible. Numbers are low because of the confusion of recent mitigation that has nothing to do with the Embassy front line.

The fight for survival is more in jeopardy than ever before. And we need your support on country right now.

Contractors conducting surveying works have continued to flout a mandatory stop work period while Djab Wurrung Traditional Owners await mediation with Major Road Projects Victoria.

Contractors for Major Road Projects Victoria have now been escorted off sacred women’s Country by sovereign Djab Wurrung land protectors and their supporters for two consecutive days. On Wednesday, 18th September, police were also onsite permitting the works to take place.

One of several police officers present claimed “there will be no intimidation, this is a peaceful protest, they’re almost finished their work, they are coming back now.”

However, representatives from the Djab Wurrung Embassy continue to insist that “We feel threatened, our kids’ cultural heritage is being threatened. This is intimidation. Police and contractors have failed to respect the mediation process that was agreed to last week.” (Amanda Mahomet, Representative for the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy.)

During the interactions onsite, it was alleged that the contractors’ hired security guards were carrying weapons and that they refused to show the land protectors the contents of their pockets. It has also been alleged that the security guards have been changing their identification numbers daily.

“This is a peaceful action to protect country. The high security presence is a risk to the safety of Djab Wurrung people and all of our supporters. We simply want to engage in open dialogue about works that continue to take place on land that is sacred to us” Amanda Mahomet.

The peaceful blockade to protect sacred Djab Wurrung Country continues. Please visit the Djab Wurrung Embassy website to see how you can help: www.dwembassy.com

At 11 o’clock this morning, an adolescent male kangaroo nestled himself in the ancient hollow of a sacred birthing tree on Djab Wurrung women’s country. Within half an hour, a group of sovereign women land protectors had arrived to greet him. The moment they reached the tree, the kangaroo emerged and hopped off into the distance, having delivered his call to action to the sovereign women of the land. The content of the kangaroo’s message became clear as a group of high-vis-vested contractors and their hired security guards walked boldly onto Country, claiming to be conducting a “recommencement survey” in violation of a stop works order pending mediation with the sovereign Djab Wurrung people.

Violation is the only appropriate word for these actions, as Djab Wurrung women and their supporters were forced to place themselves in the way of the contractors to protect the sacred birthing tree and a camp that has been a haven for women, gender diverse people and young children as the standoff to protect sacred lands from a highway extension continues. The Djab Wurrung women continued to hold the space in the face of rising aggression and tension as the workers seemed determined to further intrude on the sacred landscape, approaching within metres of the sacred birthing tree and a culturally significant canoe tree.

Further support from senior Djab Wurrung men and allies soon arrived to peacefully escort the workers off Country, chanting “Always was, always will be Aboriginal land” and urging Vic Roads to conduct the appropriate processes for consultation in accordance with sovereign Djab Wurrung Lore.

Upon the Djab Wurrung women’s return from escorting the workers offsite, the same kangaroo passed by the birthing tree. “I reckon he’s telling us well done, you’ve done what I brought you here for, you’ve seen ’em off” said Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy Representative Amanda Mahomet: “These men came to conduct work in preparation to destroy our sacred places and violate women’s country, even while their higher-ups have made a so-called “commitment” to hold off until mediation. Could anybody reasonably see this as acting in good faith?”

“This is a place of sanctuary in which Djab Wurrung sovereignty has never been ceded and unless and until there is genuine respect for our traditions, our culture and our sovereign Lore we will answer the call of our Country and of our ancestors to protect and defend these sacred lands.” Amanda Mahomet, Embassy Representative.

Mediation is set to commence tomorrow.

MEDIA RELEASE –

02 Sept 2019

Contractors Walked Offsite by Djab Wurrung

3 unmarked utes with 7 workers entered Middle camp via a property to the west of the camp. The workers, including 2 security guards and at least 1 CPB contractor, arrived with star pickets on the back of the utes and commenced a toolbox meeting about 10am this morning.

Djab Wurrung people and supporters walked up to meet the contractors and after a brief interaction, peacefully walked them offsite chanting “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land”

“This is Djab Wurrung Country, we’ve never ceded sovereignty of our land. These workers must seek permission before entering or conducting business on our country.” Says Amanda Mahomet, Embassy Representative

“We welcome people to country every day, but only when they show respect for our traditions, our culture and our Lore. These men came to conduct work that will ultimately destroy our sacred places.” Says Amanda Mahomet, Embassy Representative

They have come with no respect for our culture, and we will continue to assert our sovereignty until the Daniel Andrews Government recognises us as the Traditional Owners of this land.” Says Amanda Mahomet, Embassy Representative

Roadside Tree set a light by angry opponent

A mature tree was found smoking on the Western Highway near the Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy early this morning.

A gum tree over 600 years old has been found smouldering under suspicious circumstances this morning. Located about 1km east of Top Camp the tree on the side of the highway had been lit on fire and was seen smouldering for hours.

Embassy supporters noticed a work truck by the side of the road, they went to investigate and found that the tree was smoking with a fire burning inside the trunk. Embassy Lore Man Zellanach came to attend the fire and together they poured over 100L of water into the tree hollow but were unable to stop the tree from smouldering.

“This is devasting, I feel heart broken. This old fella [the smoldering tree] doesn’t do nothing wrong by no-one, he’s been here a long time, minding his own business and someone’s come along this and done this on purpose.” Zellanach Djab Mara, Djab Wurrung Lore man

“Who would do such a thing? This tree is living, breathing, dreaming. It carries spirit, carries life. Under our Lore, if you damage country you will get sick. Whoever has done this is sick, and will become very sick, the land is what supports us”

The work truck left as soon as they saw the Embassy supporters and returned with a police escort. They were reportedly trying to put the fire our and reporting to Vic Roads who they said “owned the tree”

The police and workers did not provide detail on how this had happened.

The fire brigade came and sprayed foam around the tree, an independent specialist is on their way to assess the situation.