Darwin swelled with protesters yesterday as more than 1500 people took to the streets to march in solidarity with Indigenous people.
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Invasion Day events have been a quiet affair in Darwin for the past five years in contrast to capital cities across Australia, where rallies have been bringing thousands of people together for years.
But 2021 is the start of a new uprising.
"Down south, Aboriginal people have had to live under white supremacy for 230 years, whereas in the Territory colonisation only started 150 years ago, so we are about 100 years behind in learning," Larrakia woman and co-organiser of the event Mililma May said.
This year was the first time a march had been organised in Darwin by UP: Uprising of the People, an Indigenous activist group.
"It was a very healing day for us," Ms May said.
"It was a very safe and comforting environment given we were there in honour of a day of mourning."
The mass turnout was a welcome surprise for the organisers May, Sharna Alley and Jessie Bonson.
"We've had events for the past five years, but this year we needed people walking on the street, to really get the message out there," Ms May said.
Protesters with banners in hand listened to speeches from Indigenous leaders, while Ms May provided a Welcome to Country.
An emotional poem was read by T'ara Cole who spoke about her own struggles walking between two worlds and her unique experience of being an Indigenous person living in the Northern Territory.
"In the Territory we are trying to do things differently, down south it's all fiery passion, but we want to focus on art, and music, and poetry to get our message across," Ms May said.
She has a message for government too: "it is just a matter of listening," she says.
"The Chief Minister, the Australian Government, needs to properly sit down with all Aboriginal people and listen.
"All the answers are there on how to solve youth incarceration, drug and alcohol issues.
"They need to take on board the wisdom Aboriginal people have and step back and allow self determination."
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