We Are Country, Country Is Us

We assert the First Nations traditional concept of Law in Country and that We Are Law Keepers of Country. Or more direct: We Are Country, Country Is Us.

Uncle Jim Everett in a hat, scarf and t-shirt that reads Lutruwita Tasmania has a Black history standing beside old growth logs protesting native forest logging | Tell the Truth

Jim Everett puralia meenamatta

I am a Plangermairreenner from Meenamatta Country in the north-east Midlands of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Law in Country is what governs me, and I do what I do because it’s the truth. I stand firm on our Law in Country.

I do not recognise any colonial authority over me because I am not an Australian citizen. I am a Palawa First Nation 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.

portrait Jillian Mundy; mangana Eric Woehler; #StandWithUncJim #TellTheTruth

Mangana or yellow-tailed black cockatoo in flight, which is Uncle Jim Everett's totem | Tell the Truth

nature, texture, iceland, moody, photography, otherworldly iceland, underground, underworld, otherwordly, woodland,

Hey you mob we’ve HAD A WIN 🖤👏🏽💪🏽✊🏽🔥

Yesterday we were back in the forest defending Wedge Tailed Eagle nests and Law in Country.

The forest we were defending neighbours trawtha mukaminya, Palawa Land in the Central Highlands of Lutruwita.

Community members - Janice, Cody, Sienna and I stood defiantly in the bloody freezing cold under the magnificent star lit night sky to stop the logging contractors entrance to the forests. We joined BBF who had been defending that forest for nearly two weeks. Holding firm and holding faith that every day we slow down or stop the contractors coming in, a tree/homes/culture survives. It seems so ludicrous that less than a few kms away the Aboriginal community are putting efforts into caring for and rehabilitating this importance cultural landscape but here Forestry Tasmania are allowing the decimation of ancient forest that is home to endangered Wedge Tailed Eagles.

But wait don’t get overwhelmed or depressed cos we won !!!

Our efforts did make a difference 💪🏽

The afternoon after our action the logging machines were removed and this beautiful forest is still standing ✊🏽👏🏽🔥🖤

Yesterday I was in the forest but today I was back in Court pushing back on the Colonial court where I was charged with trespassing while protecting Law In Country in a Forest situated at the back of Kunanyi.

Be it in the Forest, in the Oceans, or in the Courts have faith that we are making a difference and we are creating a pathway though.

We are making a difference and we are Protecting Law in Country 🖤💛❤️

Ruth Langford Tipruthanna, 25 June 2025

Images supplied & BBF/Ramji

I really feel this was one of the most powerful actions I have ever done. The point at which I felt most emotional was when Ruth, Cody and Carleeta walked around the clearfell and nearby standing forest and were singing up Country. It's an extra layer which is really important when we think of actions as defending Country, and for me personally it helped the country come inside of me, helped deepen my relationship to it.
Also, I've had some reflections that Aboriginal Led action has two layers of impact. We're stopping destruction, and that's vitally important in itself; but also we're engaging in system change. "There is another way" ... I see this as saying there is an alternative to the destructive, colonial, extractive way of doing things. We can move into a different narrative of care and respect and relationality, we can do things differently, we can demonstrate the precedence of Aboriginal Law over colonial laws, and we can do this as allies, alongside and supporting Aboriginal people.

– Liz (BBF forest defender), January 2005

3 April 2025: Ruth Langford Tipruthanna arrested again protecting Country. Police evicted forest defenders and arrested Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Ruth Langford during a protest condemning native forest logging in Tasmania’s ancient yellow gum stands on the western side of Kunanyi / Mt Wellington range. In Ruth’s words:

I am acting to uphold my cultural obligation to protect Country. Country that encompasses the natural systems and cycles that provide for us all. I am choosing to not simply stand by and watch the destruction of one of the few intact native forests left in south east Lutruwita.
It’s imperative that we change the archaic logging practices to ensure that we protect our water catchments and that we choose a way that makes better economic sense.
Law in Country continues to exist across this continent. It has never been extinguished and never ceded. If you live on this Country you are obligated, under this pre-existing Law, to protect nature. No colonial law can alter this truth and responsibility.
We are all obligated to uphold this Law and protect Country. I am simply honouring my responsibility.

Photo Tipruthanna, Carleeta Thomas and Wuratji Truwala-ta Cody Gangell (BBF)

“This arrest shows how flawed the current colonial system is.

The real criminals are the government agencies who are destroying our precious waterways, exposing us to potentially catastrophic fires and failing to protect endangered species in their homes.

I am devastated to be arrested under colonial law. However, I am heartened to feel the strength of Palawa Law in Country.

It’s time to find another way that acknowledges our cultural obligation to protect a living life force.

The minister, police commissioner and prosecutor should not be wasting public funds by charging Aboriginal people who are protecting Country.

The colonial courts and institutions have no jurisdiction over Aboriginal people protecting Law in Country.

Carleeta, Cody and I are grateful for the support from the Bob Brown Foundation and for all frontline activists who hear the call of Uncle Jim.

It’s time to act now.

As we draw close to Invasion Day, we must all ask ourselves – what Law/Lore and ways of being do we as a society want to follow?”

Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Ruth Langford Tipruthanna recorded these reflections on the way back to Nipaluna following her release from Swansea Police Station after being arrested in Eastern Tiers forest for protecting Country.

21 January 2025

Photo Ramji Ambrosiussen/BBF

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Spiritual Places

There's just the trees and rocks and ground,

with maybe a creek come bubbling down.

The grass and flowers, the sky and clouds,

and sometimes the spirits in darkish shrouds,

A sacred place of all our ways,

of all our spirits at this one place.

Yet over there, not far from here,

and even further in this sphere,

are other sites our spirits dwell,

for all time our people’s will.

But those who are not of our kind,

who drain our knowledge with white minds,

and take it all and give back nought,

yet call themselves the experts taught,

are thieves who take a heritage ours,

and twist it so we lose our powers.

So onward comes the desecration,

ruining the churches of our nation.

For the whites they are resource,

with no spiritual sacred source.

But to us they’re trees, rocks and ground,

with maybe a creek come bubbling down.

The grass and flowers. the sky and clouds,

And sometimes the spirits in darkish shrouds.

Jim Everett, 1987

More of Uncle Jim Everett's poetry

Tell The Truth

The government must tell the truth and acknowledge that our First Nations have never ceded our Law in Country.

We are calling on the government to:

TELL THE TRUTH!

photo Jillian Mundy

Read 'First Nations Law in Country’

We Are Country, Country Is Us

Jim Everett puralia meenamatta

Tell The Truth

Tell the Truth