An arrest warrant has been issued for Uncle Jim Everett-Puralia Meenamatta after the Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, writer and activist failed to appear in court earlier this week.
Uncle Jim, 82, was due to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday after being arrested for trespassing at a forest protest organised by the Bob Brown Foundation in southern Tasmania's Styx Valley earlier this year.
Uncle Jim has previously said he would refuse to attend court to face the charges as he doesn't consider himself an Australian citizen.
The Pakana/Palawa activist said Tasmania's "colonial court" had no jurisdiction over his intention to protect Country.
"Palawa law is in Country, and I am obligated to protect Country as a law-keeper," Uncle Jim said.
"Palawa law in Country is pre-eminent to Tasmanian and Australian law because no government has made any agreements with First Nations to become Australian citizens. Because of this, the colonial court of Tasmania has no jurisdiction over my actions to protect Palawa law in Country."
Following his non-appearance in court, Tasmania Police confirmed Uncle Jim has a new warrant out for his arrest, with the possibility of authorities travelling to his residence on Cape Barren Island, a remote Indigenous-owned island south of Flinders Island in the Bass Strait, in search of him.
Tasmania Police are yet to confirm whether they will attempt to retrieve Uncle Jim from Cape Barren or consult the island's Indigenous land managers before doing so.
In confirming he would not attend court willingly, Uncle Jim said he did not appear on Monday as doing so would be an act of accepting its jurisdiction.
"The court has no jurisdiction over me as a First Nation law keeper, and the government must eventually acknowledge that First Nations are not Australian citizens, and that the ongoing destruction to our lands, seas, waterways, and sky country must be addressed in a treaty," he said.
"The profit-driven, and huge taxpayer costs to maintain the forest industry, and the costs in terms of destroying natural ecosystems and the life therein, is a serious issue at this time of climate change, and it has to stop immediately.
"Our Palawa community is very alarmed at how the destruction to country continues, and are preparing to campaign hard during the summer season."
Former Australian Greens leader Dr Bob Brown defended Uncle Jim's actions.
"Jim's a wise old man and is sheeting home the twin facts that First Australians never ceded this country and so logging of native forests is for the them illegal," Dr Brown told The Australian.
