On Wednesday the 8th of February 2012, a Tent Embassy was established in Market St Portland with the support of the Dindama Yinna Inna National Woman’s Council and the Canberra Tent Embassy.
Organiser Sandra Onus was quoted in the Portland Observer stating:
“We are here to show to the State Government they must deal with the right people from country in regard to Native title,” Ms Onus said. “What we are asking is not hard, we are asking for the State Government to be aware of clan areas and to deal with the right people.”
Sandra was also quoted in the Warnabool Standard stating
“We want the state to meet with us and discuss the problems in the Koori community in what’s been delivered in land rights,” she said. “Native Title is supposed to be according to custom and tradition — that is not happening here." “The Native Title process is not delivering to traditional owners. We expect the state government to at least come along and meet with us.”
She said the protesting tribes faced inequality in housing, employment, education and social services compared to other more powerful groups. “We’re very upset because we have no say over our country. “We can go to as many meetings as we want but we’re totally outnumbered by other people from other clans. “We’ve never had any real assistance in our struggle from any other indigenous people in this community. “We’ve fought for our cultural rights as Aboriginal people and we’re the ones who get the crumbs for the master’s table, and others who run the show get the roast dinner.”
According to the article in the Warnabool Standard, the six tribes from the Portland and Heywood region who have arranged the tent embassy at Portland’s Market Square are the Yigar, Gilga, Kerrup-Jmara, Kilcarer, Cart Gundidj and Euroite
http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/tent-embassy-set-up-i...
http://www.spec.com.au/blog/2012/02/15/tent-embassy-open-to-the-public/