For the second time this year Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, Uncle Jim Everett-Puralia Meenamatta has been arrested for trespass in a Tasmanian forest.
On his 82nd birthday, Uncle Jim was arrested in a Bradys Lake logging coupe in Tasmania's Central Highlands on Tuesday for "defending forests", according to the Bob Brown Foundation.
The Plangermairreenner Elder said "his birthday gift to the forests was asserting Palawa law in Country".
"The Palawa have been under colonialism now for 221 years and have never had any agreements with the colonial governments of Australia or Tasmania to become Australian citizens," Uncle Jim said.
"Colonial Australia has no jurisdiction to arrest me or try me on charges for defending Palawa law in Country and my action is to challenge the lie of assumed citizenship."
Uncle Jim was previously arrested for trespass after defending native forests in southern Tasmania's Styx Valley in March.
He refused to attend court for the matter in June with a warrant for his arrest subsequently issued, however after being arrested again and given a new September court date he continued to refuse to attend court.
Prior to his arrest on Tuesday, Uncle Jim said the ongoing destruction of native forests in Tasmania must stop.
"Enough is enough, the destruction of our ancient native forests is an attack on our law in country, which is pre-eminent to the colony's alien sovereign from Britain," Uncle Jim said.
"Until an agreement is made between the government and First Nations, so-called Australia will remain a colony."
The poet, writer and filmmaker said colonial Australia has been a failure since the invasion of First Nations lands in 1788.
"It has taken the colony a blink of an eye in First Nations' history to cause immense destruction to our entire environment's relational ecosystem and our people," Uncle Jim said.
"Colonialism continues its cultural genocide of habitat and people. We have no power to stop the destruction of our cultural heritage.
"Our people are increasingly incarcerated in colonial prisons. The governments are still stealing our children, and the colonial assimilation program to remove our identity continues to cause trauma in our communities nationally."
After being released from custody later on Tuesday, the Tasmanian Greens offered their "strong support" for Uncle Jim who they say was arrested after "defending precious native forests that are on Forestry Tasmania's chopping block".
"Uncle Jim has spent his life fighting to assert his people's sovereign rights and protect lutruwita/Tasmania's special places. Incredibly he's still at it – even on his 82nd birthday," the Greens said.
"Uncle Jim has made such a huge contribution to the fight for justice for Aboriginal people, and for this island's precious environment. His dedication and courage have inspired many – and he's still going strong.
"We are proud to support him, and like many Tasmanians we offer him our solidarity and deepest thanks."
Uncle Jim said he is "sick of this failed colony and its destructive practices for profits regardless of the negative impacts on our law in Country and its impacts on all people of the colony".
"To end this destruction the colony should firstly make an agreement with First Nations to be Australian citizens and negotiate the conditions of citizenship to allow us to get on with healing our Country," he said.
Following his arrest, Tasmania Police said Uncle Jim was one of more than a dozen protestors present at the Bradys Lake demonstration.
"An 82-year-old man from Cape Barren Island has been charged with Trespass," a Tasmania Police spokesperson said.
"He was bailed to appear in court on 11 December. 12 other protestors complied with directions to leave."
