Article by National Indigenous Times

Aboriginal Elders and allies will again gather in Canberra on Saturday to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Frontier Wars, despite not being permitted to march alongside veterans honoured in the official Anzac Day commemorations.

For the 16th year, supporters will assemble at the foot of the parade route leading to the Australian War Memorial in a silent march recognising First Nations people killed defending their Country during colonisation.

The march’s organiser, Ghillar Michael Anderson, said the violence of colonisation helped pave the way for the “ongoing subjugation of peoples in Australia”.

The convenor of Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia said many fought to protect their lands and waters, with “tens of thousands” losing their lives “in wars to defend Country across this continent”.

“The British Crown rewarded those responsible for these criminal mass killings by granting them title to the lands of those they had murdered,” he said.