Indigenous Australians have responded with a mix of sorrow, criticism and reflection to the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday night.
The Queen died aged 96 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, with her eldest son, Charles, now assuming the role as King.
Reactions from prominent Indigenous Australians and on social media spanned from sorrow to mockery spurred on by her family's historically destructive influence on First Nations people.
Gamilaroi and Torres Strait Islander actor Nakkiah Lui took to Twitter to say the Queen "went Lean Out Feminism", and earlier joked she would be happy to say the Queen was "alright" if it Australia agreed to ditch the monarchy.
At the other end of the spectrum, Federal politicians such as Linda Burney and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price paid their respects to the late monarch.
"Thank you Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth II may you now Rest In Peace," Ms Price said on Facebook. Ernie Dingo took to Facebook to thank the Queen for her service.
"A beautiful Lady passed this morning, leaving wonderful memories all over the world, especially to these beautiful Mullewa Mob," he said.
"Walk her out Paddington and keep her spirit safe."
Many of those who took to Twitter following the news used the moment to remind followers of her role the colonialism which stripped Indigenous people of their lands across the world.
For those saying we should be magnanimous about the passing of the queen, a reminder that the queen inserted herself into the lives of Indigenous people here multiple times. She wasn't a bystander to the effects of colonisation and colonialism, she was an architect of it.
— IndigenousX (@IndigenousX) September 8, 2022
It's amazing; the amount of wealth you can accumulate when your family steals and enslaves half the world.
— Senator Briggs (@Briggs) September 8, 2022
Sad news. RIP. pic.twitter.com/pfIoLty0tn
— Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO (@nyunggai) September 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/peta_ivy_/status/1568026420999503872
Just landed in London to learn of the Queen's passing.
An extraordinary moment in history.
— Ben Wyatt (@benwyatt) September 9, 2022
Good morning only to all Indigenous people and descendants of enslaved people who continue to endure all types of violence, displacement and dispossession sanctioned by member states and former member states of the Commonwealth.
— irreconcilable (@MelindaMann01) September 8, 2022
The reactions of Indigenous Australians were largely similar to those from other nations which had been stolen on behalf of the Crown.
Black and brown people around the world who were subject to horrendous cruelties and economic deprivation under British colonialism are allowed to have feelings about Queen Elizabeth.
After all, they were her "subjects" too.
— Karen Attiah ON MASTODON @[email protected] (@KarenAttiah) September 8, 2022
I wish I was as petty as Irish Twitter. This level of savagery is unmatched in the history of the whole ass world…#IrishTwitter pic.twitter.com/fsnDowI86u
— Plunder Bunny (@AuthorNNBrown) September 8, 2022
my sister lives in North Ireland & just texted saying the neighborhood has started lighting fireworks lmaoooooo
— Jess Whitney (@Jessica_Whitney) September 8, 2022
Pictured here, in Elizabeth's crown and sceptre, are shards of the Star of Africa diamond. The stone was stolen from South Africa in 1905, and is worth $400M
These fragments alone could cover the cost of higher education for nearly 75,000 South African students pic.twitter.com/214F5qTws1
— Star Plátano (@Qban_Linx) September 8, 2022
MY CARRIBEAN BRETHREN STAND UPPPP pic.twitter.com/OVhFBQnG2D
— suri day (@blkcomictwit) September 8, 2022
