Hosta

The Wiradjuri Central West Republic is an unrecognized Aboriginal nation of Wiradjuri people, one of several such micronations that have asserted their autonomy within Australia as part of a separatist movement named the Sovereign Union.^[1] Declaring independence on 22 January 2014, at Wellington council chambers,^[1] the declaration served to assert the Wiradjuri people's inherent sovereignty, challenging the Australian government's authority and advocating for self-determination.^[1] It is the latest of a string of aboriginal declarations of independence on the continent, the others being: the Murrawarri Republic on March 30, 2013, the Euahlayi Peoples Republic on August 3, 2013, and the Republic of Mbarbaram.^[2]

The Wiradjuri Central West Republic asserts its claim over vast territories that include large numbers of non-aboriginals, insisting that the microstate would be cooperative and inclusive towards them.^[2]

Background

Indigenous sovereignty movements

Since late 2013, separatist aboriginal movements have sprung up on the Australian continent, all under the name of a certain organization called the Sovereign Union–Interim Unity Government, initially known as the Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia.^[2] Instead of being part of a broader pan-indigenous effort like such as the Aboriginal State proposed by the Aboriginal Provisional Government in the 1990s, these declarations are being made under the behalf of individual Aboriginal nations.^[2]

Causes

The declaration of independence by the Wiradjuri Central West Republic and by the broader Sovereignty Movement stem from perceived views that the Australian government is autocratic and colonial, designed to control the Aboriginal people and perpetuate racial discrimination and inequality.^[1] Also highlighted is the hampering of Aboriginal economic self-determination by the government as Aboriginal-owned organizations are closed down or co-opted by state bodies while white-run ones receive funding from the national budget.^[1] Additionally, the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) maintains control over Aboriginal assets, making it difficult for Aboriginal groups to fully manage their own economic activities without government approval.^[1]

Objectives and motivations

The Wiradjuri Central West Republic's declaration was motivated by a range of objectives, including the restoration of land rights, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the establishment of a governance system that aligns with Wiradjuri values. The Wiradjuri people sought to assert their autonomy in the face of historical dispossession and marginalization.

References