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Friends, We're still here, and no still means no. We continue to resist Adani's proposal  [to open Australia's and one of the world's biggest open cut coal mines along the Great Barrier Reef]. The stakes are huge for us. In the spirit of our ancestors, we will continue to fight for justice and protection of our homelands until this project falls over. Since we said no to Adani in October 2014, we have been taking our fight to the world - to the community, to our Indigenous brothers and sisters, to the banks, the media and in the courts. Your support is crucial to our success so far.

And we are now lifting our campaign to a whole new level. It is a defence of country against the destruction wrought by coal mining and the unleashing of dangerous climate change. But more – it is a fight for our dignity as first nations people with rights under international law, which we will pursue through the courts and parliaments, and in the community, until change comes.

We welcome your ongoing support. Please stay strong with us and watch for further updates and actions. Any support you can give us will help in our long journey ahead.

Thanks,

Adrian Burragubba and Murrawah Johnson,

For the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Family Council

• More info: our website and facebook page: facebook.com/WanganandJagalingou?t=w1QPRFp1N&utm_content=15615&utm_campaign=No%20still%20means%20no&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email
• To donate: click here.
• To buy a Culture before Coal t-shirt.

See our story so far…

- 2014 -

October 4th

The Wangan and Jagalingou people vote "no" to a proposal from Adani mining for the Carmichael coal mine on our traditional country, after previously rejecting a deal in 2012.

Later in October

In response, Adani Mining applies to the National Native Title Tribunal to override our decision and allow the Qld Government to ignore our rights and issue the mining leases.

- 2015 -

February

Backed by the Wangan and Jagalingou family council's vote to oppose Adani, traditional owner, elder and cultural leader, Adrian Burragubba, makes a statement to the Tribunal asserting his right to speak for country and asking that the Tribunal take into account Wangan and Jagalingou's stories, dreaming and totems; and the destruction that would be laid upon our lands and waters, and laws and culture, if the mine proceeds. The Tribunal rejects our submissions and is supported by Adani and the Queensland Government.

May

After the Tribunal gives the go ahead to the Queensland Government, the family council supports Adrian Burragubba to launch a Federal court challenge to the decision; and sends its spokespeople on an international advocacy tour.

September

After meeting with international lawyers in the US, we make a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous peoples - Victoria Tauli Corpuz. She agrees to take up our concerns about the denial of our rights with the Federal Government.

March

The Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Family Council takes our cause to the QLD Parliament and we launch our campaign to fight Adani and their Carmichael coal mine. Our spokespeople deliver the council's Declaration in Defense of Country to the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Peter Wellington MP. The Queensland Government refuses to meet with us.

June

We meet with international banks who may finance Adani in New York, Washington, London, and Zurich. While in Turtle Island (North America), we meet with Traditional Custodians of the Bay area – the Elone People – and First Nations people from 'Idle No More'. And in Canada we extended solidarity with Beaver Lake Cree and Athabasca Chipewyan first nations fighting the toxic and destructive oil-sands projects on their lands in Alberta.

November

The Judicial Review brought by Adrian Burragubba against the Queensland Government, Adani and the Native Title Tribunal commences. Adrian's case makes it clear that the Tribunal should have taken his statement of claim into account; that the impacts on country of the mine would be devastating; and that Adani had engaged in conduct 'analogous to fraud'. The case was extended into February 2016 and the Commonwealth Attorney General was asked if he wished to make a submission based on the implications for native title law.

- 2016 -

March

While the case is proceeding, Adani and the Government keep pushing to get Wangan and Jagalingou to sign away their land and rights. So our family council leaders call a meeting of our people and say "No" to Adani a third time. This meeting lays the ground for further legal actions as Adani continues to undermine our right to self-determination and to protect our land and culture from destruction.

May - September

Our family council leaders file a judicial review of the Mines Minister's decision in the Qld Supreme Court, and Adrian files an appeal to the full Bench of the Federal Court. Against the weight of the State, the Native Title System and a ruthless mining company, we stand strong.

April

Despite having said he would wait for the Federal Court proceedings to conclude, and in the knowledge that our people had once again said no to the Adani mine, the QLD Mines Minister issues leases to Adani, while Adani yet again tries to engineer a native title deal without our consent. A press conference is held in front of the Executive Building to announce that further legal action is being taken.

October - and for as long as it takes...

More action is planned. The campaign continues. No means no. And with your support we will continue to fight this destructive proposal.

Original art © by Adrian Burragubba.
The story in this painting is one of Water Dreaming. It is the springs, streams and rivers—ancient and sacred life-giving water—that the Wangan and Jagalingou Family Council is fighting to protect from destruction. If you would like a copy of the original artwork please email info@wanganjagalingou.com.au