Its labels have included ‘dysfunctional’ to ‘violent war zone’, yet more than 3,000 Indigenous people living in near poverty refuse to leave Palm Island and have instead united in fights for justice and ultimately a fight for their home. The death of Mulrudji Doomadgee, nearly two years ago, marked the 147th black death in custody since the handing down of the Royal Commission in 1990. It brought Palm Island into the national and international spotlight, yet again. The world watched as an angry community reacted to the suggestion the death was accidental - they torched the police station and police residences. What followed was a ‘terrorist’ style operation where a ‘battalion’ of hooded police arrived in helicopters, to arrest the rioters and ‘secure’ safety to the island. From the Message Stick series.