Activists at a campground teeming with mountains of trash, rancid food, abandoned dirty bedding, and broken furniture will charge $180 for attendees at a weekend event.
The Wangan and Jagalingou – Standing Our Ground (WJSOG) Indigenous protest group marks their two-year occupation of land next to the Carmichael Coal Mine, about 460 km west of Mackay in northern Queensland in the Galilee Basin.
The group strongly opposes the site run by the Adani Group, which changed the name of its operations in Australia to Bravus Mining & Resources in 2020, and has called on the company to stop mining on Aboriginal land.
The Waddananggu Bularu or Two Year Celebration runs from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 with weekend festival tickets depending on the work status of the attendees.
“Waged” ticket holders will have to cough up $180, but those between jobs can opt for a “pay what you can” option.
Bravus Mining and Resources shared photos of an activist camp (above) set up next to the Carmichael mine
The camp (above) was created by the Wangan and Jagalingou indigenous protest group – Standing Our Ground
Pictured is a map made by Bravus Mining and Resources showing where the camp is in relation to the mining pit
The campsite photos (above) come just two weeks before WJSOG’s Waddananggu Bularu – Two Year Celebration
Photos posted by Bravus Mining & Resources show the campground in disarray.
WJSOG is expected to be joined by activists from other organizations, such as Mackay Conservation Group and Frontline Action on Coal.
The face of WJSOG is proud Indigenous activist and rapper Coedie McAvoy.
Mr McAvoy is a regular at the camp and is sometimes the only resident.
He is currently facing two assault charges at Emerald Magistrates Court after allegedly assaulting an Indigenous environmental guard and a Bravus guard.
A Bravus Mining and Resources spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the company is calling on activists, including Mr McAvoy, to clean up the mess they have made at the mining site.
“The anti-coal activists need to do the right thing and clean up their shameful mess, then completely abandon our mining contract,” the spokesman said.
“Instead, groups are spending their time on social media inviting other activists to come to our mining site in a few weeks to celebrate the camp’s two-year anniversary, it’s outrageous.
“Mr McAvoy stands shoulder to shoulder with these climate activists who are helping fund and organize this protest camp.
“The anti-fossil fuel movement regularly uses photos and videos of the camp, McAvoy and his associates in their international PR campaigns to harm Australia’s coal export industry – but deliberately keeps the mounds of rubbish out of the picture.”
Photos of the activist camp site (above) show piles of trash, rancid food, abandoned dirty bedding and broken furniture
The activist camp (above) was established in August 2021 and will be used for the upcoming biennial celebration
Wangan and Jagalingou – Standing Our Ground plans to charge visitors to the anniversary party $180 to stay at the campsite (above)
Mine workers, including indigenous workers hired to preserve the country’s cultural heritage, have repeatedly clashed with protesters.
Footage shared by Bravus shows activists yelling swear words at female workers, helicopters delivering large supplies of alcohol to the camp and cars driving dangerously around the mine site.
WJSOG has shared photos and videos of volunteers preparing the campground for the upcoming two-year anniversary.
It described the event as an opportunity to “learn about the power and importance of reoccupying land to protect culture.”
“In August 2021, we set up a Bora stone ring and ceremonial ground opposite Adani mine and since then we have continuously reoccupied our land, asserting our human rights as Wangan and Jagalingou people to practice culture and in our homeland,” the event description reads.
“Despite Adani’s efforts to eliminate and oppose us, we continued our cultural ceremony unimpeded.
‘We made history – our rights to practice our culture on a mining contract are now recognized under the Queensland Human Rights Act.
“Join us for a very special three-day celebration in Waddananggu to mark two years of strength, determination and resilience of Wangan and Jagalingou.”
Bravus Mining and Resources has denied allegations it mistreats cultural land (pictured, a truck at the Carmichael mine)
A ‘stone Bora ring and ceremonial ground’ (above) has been created at the campsite by Wangan and Jagalingou – Standing Our Ground
The face of WJSOG is proud Indigenous activist and rapper Coedie McAvoy (pictured right), who is sometimes the only resident of the camp
Mine workers have faced several clashes with protesters (pictured, a 2020 roadblock protest)
There are four ticket options for those who want to attend the Waddananggu Bularu – Two Year Celebration.
Concession tickets are available for $80, while working attendee tickets cost $180 each.
Tickets for children 12 and under are $50 and those who wanted to join but can’t afford full price tickets are encouraged to “pay what you can.”
All meals for the weekend are provided, but participants have been instructed to bring their own camping equipment for accommodation.
The event will feature live performances from special guests – including a musical act from Mr. McAvoy himself, workshops and traditional ceremonies.
Bravus Mining and Resources responded to allegations that it mistreats cultural land with the results of a poll of local indigenous peoples.
The traditional owners of Wangan and Jagalingou voted 294 to one in favor of an indigenous land use agreement for the mine.
Elsewhere said the mine would provide an opportunity for jobs and training in the industry.
There are four ticket options for those wanting to go to the Waddananggu Bularu – Biennial celebration at the campsite (above) – includes a $180 employee ticket
The campsite is shown in disarray
The campsite (above) is directly across from the Carmichael mine quarry and is on land under the Bravus mining contract
A spokesman for Bravus Mining and Resources said the company is calling on activists including Mr McAvoy to clean up the mess they made at the mining site (above)
“Cultural heritage in Carmichael is managed under legally binding agreements between Bravus Mining and Resources and the Wangan and Jagalingou people,” said a Bravus spokesperson.
“The Elders on the Cultural Heritage Committee are the First Nations authority on cultural heritage at the Carmichael Mine.
“They both approve the cultural heritage clearance works and designate one or more of the 70 traditional owners to carry out and monitor these activities.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wangan and Jagalingou – Standing Our Ground for comment.