We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Camp Sovereignty is sacred. It is a place for ceremony, truth-telling, resistance, healing and survival. Located in the heard of Naarm, Camp Sovereignty was first established in 2006 and re-established in January 2024.
Camp Sovereignty is sacred. It is a place for ceremony, truth-telling, resistance, healing and survival.
It is located at a burial site for the remains of unknown First Nations people from 38 Nations who were repatriated from the Museum of Victoria – where they were once treated as research specimens. They were buried on 22 November 1985.
In the heart of Naarm at Kings Domain on Boon Wurrung Country – Camp Sovereignty was first established in 2006 and operated for two months in protest of the Commonwealth Games.
Reigniting the flame by re-establishing on 26 January 2024, Camp Sovereignty stands strong for the sovereign rights of First Nations people against colonial occupation.
Led by Robbie Thorpe (Krauatungalung/Djapwurrung) and other community members and groups – today it is a place to gather in unity, for First Nations people and broader community members.
Camp Sovereignty was born from the Black GST movement which was established in Naarm in early 2005 by activists Gary Foley, Robbie Thorpe and Marg Thorpe.
Part of the Black GST movement’s core goals were to get First Nations rights back on the agenda by raising awareness to the issues of Genocide to end, Sovereignty acknowledged and Treaty to be made.
The movement has continued throughout the years through activism, protest and advocacy by its leaders and broader community.
Camp Sovereignty was first established on 6 March 2006 in response to the Commonwealth Games – rebranded as the StolenWealth Games by Robbie Thorpe.
This first iteration of Camp Sovereignty existed for 60 days until 10 May 2006 – closing due to legal threats and protest.
While the fire at Camp Sovereignty was extinguished in May 2006, several fires were lit to continue its fight in other places including Redfern.
Neo-nazi attacks on Camp Sovereignty on 31 August 2025, following the ‘March for Australia’ events across the continent, demonstrated an attack on First Nations sovereignty.
'Australia' was built on the lands of many nations 80,000+ years in existence – however these marches commemorate colonial systems and white supremacy that started with the first fleet in 1788 and enacted genocide and assimilation across the continent.
Further to this, these demonstrations of racist and unsafe behaviours towards First Nations people and migrant communities presented ulterior motives of a growing neo-Nazi, fascist regime across the continent.
To reclaim the Camp Sovereignty space violated through recent events, Sovereign Day Out on 7 September brought 3000 people together to connect, reflect and heal collectively.
To address recent events of racism and fascism head-on, a National Day of Action has been declared on 13 September. It invites everyone who rejects racism to stand united.
Find out more information on how you can support here.
We are a First Nations not-for-profit that exists to centre First Nations people, Country and truth-telling. We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
