WGAR News: Aboriginal 'recognition' - a cover for assimilation: Paddy Gibson, The Stringer

Newsletter date: 18 March 2015

Contents:

* Analysis / Opinion: Paddy Gibson, The Stringer: Aboriginal 'recognition' - a cover for assimilation

* Media Release: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: Governments are attempting to steal our original sovereign citizenship and independence

* Media Release: Callum Clayton-Dixon (Nganyaywana), Aboriginal Provisional Government: Let's vote for independence, not assimilation!

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Forced to dance to the White Man's song - Australia, steeped in racism

* Media Release: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: Governments attempting to counter Sovereignty Movement: Understanding when we are winning!
* Media Release: Michael Mansell, Aboriginal Provisional Government: Sovereignty is the foundation of Aboriginal rights

* Media Release: Sovereign Union: Anderson calls on 'Expert Indigenous Working Group' on land to take a firm stand for justice and our true and legal rights

* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement

WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Aboriginal 'recognition' - a cover for assimilation
The Stringer: http://thestringer.com.au/aboriginal-recognition-a-cover-for-assimilatio...
Solidarity Online: http://www.solidarity.net.au/best/aboriginal-recognition-a-cover-for-abb...
15 Mar 15: "Constitutional recognition is a farce designed to divert attention from the decimation of Aboriginal life through funding cuts and the closure of communities, argues Paddy Gibson ... Abbott wants Aboriginal people to accept some flowery poetry in a preamble of the constitution, which will recognise that their ancestors did in fact exist when the British military dictatorship arrived in 1788, but will not recognise the attempted annihilation of those ancestors by the state or their right to a single square inch of the continent. Meanwhile, the Liberal government has been continuing with their historic process of decimation." By Paddy Gibson

- Media Release

Sovereign Union: Governments are attempting to steal our original sovereign citizenship and independence
http://sovereignunion.mobi/governments-attempting-to-steal-our-original-...
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/pdf/2013/Governments-attempting-to-st...
16 Jun 13: "Michael Anderson said from his home today that research analysis has now shown the real nature of the contemporary Australian Assimilation policies. ...
"Now there is the move to have Aboriginal people recognised in the Australian constitution by referendum. There will be no rights granted as a result. Just simple recognition so that the Government can run around the world saying look at us, look how good we are, and Aboriginal people have consented to be governed by us. ...
"They are doing it by engaging deceitful covert policies. The Government seeks to erase our Aboriginality and make us Australian, and then we will have no connection to our land, or our spirituality. All that will be left are tourist exhibitions of our songs and dance; our art will be museum pieces; our Law, customs and song-lines across country will become folklore; our knowledge of Country will be used only as tourist adventures. ... " Michael Ghillar Anderson, Convenor, Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia

- Media Release

Aboriginal Provisional Government: Let's vote for independence, not assimilation!
http://www.apg.org.au/lets-vote-for-independence-not-assimilation.php
23 Feb 15: "The Aboriginal Provisional Government (APG) deems the multimillion dollar campaign for Constitutional recognition to be nothing more than a flashy distraction and yet another attempt to politically assimilate Aboriginal people. Reconciliation was used by the Australian government to pacify Aboriginal activism in the 1990s and 2000s, to drown out calls for a treaty and national uniform land rights legislation. Recognise is their latest ploy to sell our people superficial appeasement, policy based in symbolism rather substance.
The Recognise campaign, backed by both the Coalition and Labor, operates on the assumption that Aborigines are Australians and that we want to be Australians. We never agreed to become Australians, to become citizens of the colonial nation built upon the genocide of our people and theft of our land. ... " Callum Clayton-Dixon (Nganyaywana), chairperson, Aboriginal Provisional Government

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Forced to dance to the White Man’s song - Australia, steeped in racism
http://thestringer.com.au/forced-to-dance-to-the-white-mans-song-austral...
15 Mar 15: "A Wiradjuri Elder once said to me, "There is a sickness in this country, and it is called racism - we stand in it knee deep." Whether you are Black, Brown or Yellow, the only way you can majorly get ahead in the ways White Australians do is to sing the White man’s song, and dance to the White man’s song - do as they do or be damned. This is what assimilation means - do as they do, be as they are, deny who you are, betray truths, turn against your own (heritage)." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

- Media Release

Sovereign Union: Governments attempting to counter Sovereignty Movement: Understanding when we are winning!
http://sovereignunion.mobi/content/governments-attempting-counter-sovere...
http://sovereignunion.mobi/pdf/2015/150218-MA-SU-Electoral%20Roll.pdf
18 Feb 15: "After 227 years of military occupation by the British, we have reached a highly significant position in our history. The invaders never thought the day would come when Aboriginal Nations and Peoples would be such a powerful force in the Australian politics. We must understand that, as affirmed by the High Court Mabo (No. 2) judgment, our ancient cultures and Laws have survived British sovereignty and remain the Law of the Land, as they have never been ceded. We are now challenging more than ever the power and authority of the colonial governments." Ghillar Michael Anderson, Convenor of the Sovereign Union and co-founder of the 1972 Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra

- Media Release

Aboriginal Provisional Government: Sovereignty is the foundation of Aboriginal rights
http://www.apg.org.au/sovereignty-is-the-foundation-of-aboriginal-rights...
30 Jan 15: "The APG is fully in support of the Aboriginal delegates who met with Minister Scullion in Canberra on February 9, and of the delegates who protested outside the Parliament to raise awareness of Aboriginal issues.
APG Secretary Michael Mansell said the delegates were right to raise sovereignty as a key issue. Mansell claimed Aboriginal sovereignty was the "foundation" for Aboriginal rights and entitlements in the twenty-first century.
"We had absolute control over ourselves and our lands before the invasion. Those rights may have been absolute then but because things have changed over the last two hundred years the rights we are entitled to today are tempered only by today’s circumstances." Michael Mansell, National Secretary

- Media Release

Sovereign Union: Anderson calls on 'Expert Indigenous Working Group' on land to take a firm stand for justice and our true and legal rights
http://sovereignunion.mobi/content/anderson-calls-expert-indigenous-work...
27 Feb 15: "It is very clear that the members of the Australian government are themselves desperate to hold onto power in order to maintain their dominance over Aboriginal people, while at the same time knowing that their time is limited, because Aboriginal Peoples throughout Australia do realise that what was done during the colonial period and up to the modern day was done by deceit and by fraud. Their colonial courts said that we are, and were, British subjects and now Australian subjects, but it seems this is purely a convenience, because in reality, if we were British subjects, then why weren't we offered, and why are we now, denied the same rights as British subjects and non-Aboriginal Australians, ... " Ghillar Michael Anderson, Convenor and Joint Spokesperson of Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia and Head of State of the Euahlayi Peoples Republic

- Background

WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-the-aboriginal-so...
(last updated: 11 March 2015)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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* The Freedom Summit's National Freedom Movement;
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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WGAR Background to Treaties with Aboriginal Sovereign Nations of Australia

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/03/26/wgar-background-to-treaties-with-abo...

WGAR News: Decolonisation: to be or not to be included in the Constitution?: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union

Newsletter date: 16 June 2015

This newsletter: https://indymedia.org.au/2015/06/15/wgar-news-decolonisation-to-be-or-no...

Contents:

* Survey Results: IndigenousX: Constitutional Recognition Survey [Data Analysis by Celeste Liddle and Survey Conducted by IndigenousX] http://indigenousx.com.au/constitutional-recognition-survey/

* Media Release & Discussion Paper: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: Decolonisation: to be or not to be included in the Constitution?

* Timeline: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: For the record: Sovereignty Never Ceded: http://www.sovereignunion.mobi/content/sovereignty-never-ceded

* Media Release: Ghillar Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: Finding solidarity in the core of the resistance to 'recognition' in the racist constitution.

* About: Sovereign Union and our Organisational Structure
* Support: Donations - Sovereign Union: http://www.sovereignunion.mobi/node/2

* News Analysis: Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Aboriginal And Party Leaders To Discuss Recognise Campaign As Activists Call For More Radical Agenda
* Bio: Amy McQuire - New Matilda: https://newmatilda.com/users/amy-mcquire

* Analysis / Opinion: Michael Mansell, New Matilda: A 7th State: Michael Mansell On Another Way Forward For First Nations Self-Rule
* More articles: Michael Mansell - New Matilda: https://newmatilda.com/category/tags/michael-mansell

* About: New Matilda - About Us: https://newmatilda.com/about-us
* Subs Offer: Chris Graham, New Matilda: Subscribe Then Pick An Aboriginal Business Or Charity To Receive Free New Matilda Advertising

* About the Aboriginal Provisional Government: http://www.apg.org.au/about.php

* WGAR Background to Treaties with Aboriginal Sovereign Nations of Australia
* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement

WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

WGAR News: Online Poll Finds Majority Of Black Australia Opposed To Recognise Campaign: Amy McQuire, New Matilda

Newsletter date: 17 June 2015

This newsletter: https://indymedia.org.au/2015/06/17/wgar-news-online-poll-finds-majority...

Contents:

* Survey Results: IndigenousX: Constitutional Recognition Survey [Data Analysis by Celeste Liddle and Survey Conducted by IndigenousX] http://indigenousx.com.au/constitutional-recognition-survey/

* News Analysis: Amy McQuire, New Matilda: Online Poll Finds Majority Of Black Australia Opposed To Recognise Campaign

* Bio: Amy McQuire - New Matilda: https://newmatilda.com/users/amy-mcquire
* About: New Matilda - About Us: https://newmatilda.com/about-us
* Subs Offer: Chris Graham, New Matilda: Subscribe Then Pick An Aboriginal Business Or Charity To Receive Free New Matilda Advertising

* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement
* WGAR Background to Treaties with Aboriginal Sovereign Nations of Australia

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

WGAR News: Aboriginal women on why Australia needs a treaty: Rachel Evans & Richard Fan, Green Left

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/04/11/wgar-news-aboriginal-women-on-why-au...

Contents:

* Voices from the Treaty Forum: Rachel Evans & Richard Fan, Green Left: Aboriginal women on why Australia needs a treaty

* Videos: Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS): Videos from the Treaty Forum
[Videos include: Compilation, Introduction by Jeff McMullen, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, Brenda Croft, Natalie Cromb, Amala Groom, Discussion & Community Voices]

* Audio Interview: Dom Vukovic, The Wire: First Nation's Women calling for a Treaty
[Featuring Aboriginal Elder Rosalie Kunoth-Monks]

* Audio: Dom Vukovic, 2SER - Real Radio: Indigenous recognition in the Constitution, what does it mean?
[Featuring Paddy Gibson, Brenda Croft & Rosalie Kunoth-Monks]

* Background Video: SBS On Demand: Opinion Piece: First Nations Women On Treaty 1 [expires 26 Apr 15]
[Featuring Jeff McMullen, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, Brenda Croft, Natalie Cromb & Amala Groom]
* STICS Background: NITV Video clips of the Treaty Forum
[Featuring Jeff McMullen, Brenda L Croft, Natalie Cromb, Amala Groom, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks & Malcolm Fraser]

* STICS Updates on the Treaty Forum: http://stoptheintervention.org/past-events/20-mar-2015-treaty-forum
* Respect and Listen Background to the Treaty Forum: http://www.respectandlisten.org/

* WGAR Background to Treaties with Aboriginal Sovereign Nations of Australia
* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement

WGAR News: Radioactive racism in the Wild West - WA takes aim at remote communities: Mia Pepper, Eco-Shout

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/04/26/wgar-news-radioactive-racism-in-the-...

Contents:

* Analysis / Opinion: Mia Pepper, Eco-Shout: Radioactive racism in the Wild West - WA takes aim at remote communities

* Video Special report back: Paddy Gibson, Stop the Intervention: First Nations Peoples and Australian Government Policy - What happened to the Intervention?
[Paddy also discussed of how the policy architecture of the Intervention is expanding across the country to include the threat of closure of WA homelands]

* Photo Essay: Alex Bainbridge, Green Left: Perth rally resists closure of Aboriginal communities, police harassment

* Audio Interview: CAAMA Radio: Maori leader shows his support for Aboriginal people [Featuring Hone Harawira, the leader of New Zealand's Mana Party]

* Analysis / Opinion: Jack Wilkie-Jans, The Age: Learn from history, forced closure of remote communities not the solution
* Analysis / Opinion: Alex Bainbridge, Green Left: Stand up against community closures
* Analysis / Opinion: Scott Mitchell, VICE News: Australian Aboriginal Communities Under Threat of Closure Take Their Case to the UN
* Analysis / Opinion: Tyson Baird, Green Left: Why health care in remote communities is not a 'lifestyle choice'

* Upcoming Event - 26 May 2015, Perth: Jemma Nott, Green Left: Convergence to help Aboriginal communities fight against communities' closure [Featuring Grandmothers Against Removals]

* Upcoming Event Info: Locations of 1 May 2015 Protests, around Australia and Internationally, against forced closure of Aboriginal communities, as of 23 Apr 15: #SOSblakaustralia: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58824
* Upcoming Event Poster: Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia, facebook: "We would like to confirm that that 2nd National Call of Action will be held Friday 1st May 2015."
* Facebook: Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia: https://www.facebook.com/sosblakaustralia

* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA

* WGAR Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* WGAR Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws

WGAR News: Anzac Day 2015 - Undeclared Frontier Wars Remembrance March - Canberra: Indymedia Australia

https://indymedia.org.au/2015/04/20/wgar-news-anzac-day-2015-undeclared-...

Newsletter date: 20 April 2015

Contents:

* Frontier Wars Homepage: Sovereign Union: The Undeclared Frontier Wars: http://sovereignunion.mobi/content/frontier-wars

* Upcoming Event: Indymedia Australia: Anzac Day 2015 - Undeclared Frontier Wars Remembrance March - Canberra - ACT
* Upcoming Event Flyer: Sovereign Union - Gatherings / Events: http://sovereignunion.mobi/content/gatherings-events
* Current Event: Peacebus: Frontier War Storytelling Camp 2015 at Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra

* Media Release: Michael Anderson, Sovereign Union: ANZAC Day - for those who served in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations

* Videos: Sovereign Union: Undeclared Frontier Wars Anzac Day Commemoration Videos [Anzac Day Marches 2011, 2012 & 2013]
* Video: akaWACA, YouTube: Frontier Wars Remembrance, Aboriginal ANZAC day, Canberra 2014
* Event Analysis: Ray Jackson, Sovereign Union: ANZAC day: Black Diggers buck the given history of "white men's business"

* Analysis / Opinion: Padraic Gibson, Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Journal, UTS: Imperialism, ANZAC nationalism and the Aboriginal experience of warfare
* Audio & Video: Sovereign Union: 50 Aboriginal trackers left behind after the Boer War

* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement