Newsletter date: 21 July 2013
Contents:
* NIT: Your Say: Treaty, sovereignty, empowerment the key factors for meaningful Recognition
* Let's Talk - NAIDOC Day Constitutional Symposium featuring Panel Members Prof. Megan Davis, Dr Robert Anderson OAM and Aunty Mary Graham
* Jim McIlroy, Green Left: Forum debates Aboriginal rights constitution change [Journalist Jeff McMullen chaired the event.]
* NIRS: NLC Chair suggests Land Rights Act be protected in the Consitution
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: National Congress elects Kirstie Parker and Les Malezer
* SBS Radio News: Kirstie Parker, new co-chair of the National Congress, tells Ildi Amon what she's hoping to achieve
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* APO NT: Governance Summit: Strong Aboriginal Governance: Our Decisions, Our Action, Our Future
* Background to APO NT: Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory
* Let's Talk interviews Dr Dale Kerwin about his research into Aboriginal Trackers who fought in the Boer War and did not return home
* Notice of Condolence: Human Rights Advocate will be sadly missed says ALSWA
* Other articles
* NIT: YOUR SAY: TREATY, SOVEREIGNTY, EMPOWERMENT THE KEY FACTORS FOR MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION
- Analysis / Opinion
National Indigenous Times: Your Say: Treaty, sovereignty, empowerment the key factors for meaningful Recognition
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
Indymedia Australia: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/16/treaty-sovereignty-empowerment-the-ke...
"We fear the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and the leader of the Coalition, Tony Abbott are missing the most important point about recognition of Australia's First Peoples. Perhaps they are doing so deliberately, perhaps they believe by promoting recognition of Indigenous Australians in the constitution it takes people's mind from the real issues - we hope that is not the case. But Mr Rudd's address at Yirrkala to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famous bark petitions of the Yolngu people and the spat between him and Mr Abbott later, dishonours what the Yolngu people were calling for 50 years ago and what the Yolngu people and vast majority of Indigenous Australians still want to see today - a Treaty, sovereignty, empowerment."
See:
WGAR News: ... (19 Jul 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/18/wgar-news-inaugural-meeting-of-the-pe...
"Contents: ...
* Jeff McMullen, The Stringer: A New Democracy "Imagine a country where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised as the sovereign owners of lands ... "
* Michael Anderson: A Sovereign Treaty is the only constitutional reform with the potential of justice for Aboriginal Nations and Peoples
* Michael Anderson: Proposed constitutional reforms are treasonous and fraudulent
* Celeste Liddle, The Guardian UK: Indigenous recognition debate deserves better than this political jostling
* Katharine Murphy, The Guardian UK: Indigenous Australians deserve recognition, not posturing"
WGAR News: Land rights are empty, Yolngu elder tells Rudd on bark petition anniversary: Oliver Laughland, The Guardian UK (14 Jul 13 NAIDOC Week)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/14/wgar-news-land-rights-are-empty-yolng...
WGAR News: Rudd hails 'Aboriginal Magna Carta': Kathy Marks, The New Zealand Herald (15 Jul 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/14/wgar-news-rudd-hails-aboriginal-magna...
* LET'S TALK - NAIDOC DAY CONSTITUTIONAL SYMPOSIUM FEATURING PANEL MEMBERS PROF. MEGAN DAVIS, DR ROBERT ANDERSON OAM AND AUNTY MARY GRAHAM
- Audio
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - NAIDOC Day Constitutional Symposium
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
15 Jul 13: "The topic of the UQ Yarn "Considering Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples" present us with a highly controversial and contested debate. The aim of the forum is not to simplify or endorse a particular viewpoint, rather open up the discussion and engage in the messiness of the issues facing our community."
"Panel Members:
* Prof. Megan Davis
* Dr Robert Anderson OAM
* Aunty Mary Graham"
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/naidoc-day-constitutional-sym...
* JIM MCILROY, GREEN LEFT: FORUM DEBATES ABORIGINAL RIGHTS CONSTITUTION CHANGE [JOURNALIST JEFF MCMULLEN CHAIRED THE EVENT.]
- News
Green Left: Forum debates Aboriginal rights constitution change
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54502
13 Jul 13: "More than 100 people attended a lively forum at Glebe Town Hall on July 9 on the topic of "Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution." ... Journalist Jeff McMullen chaired the event. He told the audience: "Our Australian constitution is still stained with racism. [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] voices and perspectives are denied and excluded." The proposal for a constitutional referendum to include recognition of Aboriginal rights is currently under consideration, he said." By Jim McIlroy, GLW author, Sydney
Jeff McMullen
Reporter. Author. Speaker.
Advocate for Human Rights, Education & Health.
http://www.jeffmcmullen.com.au/
"Jeff McMullen has been a journalist, author and filmmaker for the last 45 years, including long-running positions as ABC Foreign Correspondent and reporter for Four Corners and Sixty Minutes. Throughout his professional life, Jeff has written, filmed and campaigned around the world to improve the health, education and human rights of Indigenous people."
* NIRS: NLC CHAIR SUGGESTS LAND RIGHTS ACT BE PROTECTED IN THE CONSTITUTION
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: NLC Chair suggests Land Rights Act be protected in the Consitution
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29577/NLC-Chair-suggests-Land-R...
17 Jul 13: "By Michelle Tuahine: In a statement today, Wali Wunungmurra says he'd also like to see the Land Rights Act itself inserted into the Constitution, he says "… to protect it from people watering it down and tearing it apart.""
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 19 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: NATIONAL CONGRESS ELECTS KIRSTIE PARKER AND LES MALEZER
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: National Congress elects Kirstie Parker and Les Malezer
http://thestringer.com.au/national-congress-elects-kirstie-parker-and-le...
18 Jul 13: "The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has elected Kirstie Parker and Les Malezer as co-chairs of the Congress. Ms Parker is the long-time editor of the Koori Mail and Mr Malezer has been returned for a second term. The Congress has a female co-chair and a male co-chair. Ms Parker is a Yawullarai woman from NSW and Mr Malezer is a Gubbi Gubbi Butchulla man from Queensland, both have exemplary credentials and have been involved in various activism in Aboriginal affairs and in unfolding social justice. Ms Parker replaces Jody Broun, a Yindjbarndi woman from Western Australia." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
- Related News
Koori Mail: Congress names new leaders
http://www.koorimail.com/
"THE National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has announced the election of its Co-Chairs. They are Kirstie Parker, a Yuwallarai woman from New South Wales, and Les Malezer, a Gubbi Gubbi-Butchella man from Queensland. Congress CEO Lindon Coombes congratulated both winners, saying they, along with the National Board, would lead the organisation into its next phase. The Congress Co-Chairs will serve a two-year term, beginning next month. Three of the six National Board Directors will be elected by delegates at the annual National Congress meeting in Cairns this weekend. ... "
newsTracker: Parker, Malezer new co-chairs elect for Congress
http://tracker.org.au/2013/07/parker-malezer-new-co-chairs-elect-for-con...
18 Jul 13: "NATIONAL: The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has announced the results of its recent elections – with co-chair elect Kirstie Parker and co-chair elect Les Malezer winning the most votes. 807 people voted in the election for the male co-chair and 805 voted in the election for the female co-chair, out of an eligible 5942 members, according to the Australian Electoral Commission. A Yuwallarai woman, Ms Parker is the editor of the Koori Mail and has a long history in the Aboriginal media and PR sector. She takes over from Jody Broun, ... " By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, editor of Tracker
SNAICC News: The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples 2013 Co-Chair election results
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
http://www.snaicc.org.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=1128
17 Jul 13: "The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has announced the results of the 2013 Co-Chair elections. Ms Kirstie Parker has been announced as the female Co-Chair elect and Mr Les Malezer has been announced as the male Co-Chair. Ms Parker is a Yuwallarai woman from New South Wales and Mr Malezer is a Gubbi Gubbi - Butchulla man from Queensland. The National Board along with the Co-Chairs elect will guide the organisation through the next stage of its future."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/am-19-7-13-Final.mp3
19 Jul 13: "The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has announced the results of the 2013 Co-Chair elections."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Co-Chair-elect Kirstie Parker outlines key issues
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29599/Co-Chair-elect-Kirstie-Pa...
19 Jul 13: "The Co-Chair-elect of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples says she's looking forward to working on her core nomination issues."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Parker, Malezer elected as Congress Co-Chairs
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29583/Parker%2C-Malezer-elected...
18 Jul 13: "By Warren Barnsley: The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has announced the results of its Co-Chair elections. Kirstie Parker will join the re-elected Les Malezer to take up the two most senior positions on the National Congress Board."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Congress Co-Chairs Announced
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29592/Congress-Co-Chairs-Announ...
18 Jul 13: "By Michelle Tuahine: A Yuwallarai woman from NSW and a Gubbi Gubbi-Butchulla man from Qld have been announced as the successful co-chairs of Congress - our peak representative body."
* SBS RADIO NEWS: KIRSTIE PARKER, NEW CO-CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS, TELLS ILDI AMON WHAT SHE'S HOPING TO ACHIEVE
- Audio Interview
SBS Radio News: 'Dig deeper' to find Indigenous solutions
By Ildi Amon
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/278042/-Dig-de...
18 Jul 13: "Kirstie Parker says as the new co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, she'll be digging deeper for solutions to Indigenous problems. Australia's main Indigenous representative organisation has a new leadership team. The editor of the Koori Mail newspaper, Yuwallari woman Kirstie Parker has been elected co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, defeating the incumbent co-chair Jody Broun. The Congress re-elected its male co-chair, Les Malezer, from Queensland. The pair will serve a two-year term starting next month. Kirstie Parker tells Idi Amon what she's hoping to achieve."
* BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
Last updated: 22 May 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
* APO NT: GOVERNANCE SUMMIT: STRONG ABORIGINAL GOVERNANCE: OUR DECISIONS, OUR ACTION, OUR FUTURE
- Summit
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory - APO NT: Governance Summit
Strong Aboriginal Governance: Our Decisions, Our Action, Our Future
http://apont.org.au/index.php/governance-summit.html
"On 18-19 April 2013 APO NT held a summit in Tennant Creek. ...
There were over two hundred representatives in attendance at the forum from a wide range of organisations and communities."
- Report on Summit
The APO NT Governance Summit 2013 report is now available. To view the report, please follow this link: http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/68/APONT%20Governance%20Summit%2...
"The Governance Summit was focused on Aboriginal processes. It was a call for Aboriginal people to reconcile conflicts, to take responsibility for community and organisational governance, to start now and not wait for government, and to start where you are at and with what you do have - even if this is simply the support of family. The Summit was a call to undertake personal and collective actions and make decisions which demonstrate practical sovereignty. It was also about political maturity, about building on rights already won and turning them into outcomes. It was about translating community will and authority into sustained, organised action, and about Aboriginal organisations making and implementing good decisions. Ultimately it was about the things that create self-determination on a daily basis."
* BACKGROUND TO APO NT: ABORIGINAL PEAK ORGANISATIONS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
Welcome to APO NT
[scroll down page] http://apont.org.au/
"Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory-APO NT-is an alliance comprising the Central Land Council (CLC), Northern Land Council (NLC), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT). The alliance was created to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including through advocating practical policy solutions to government. APO NT is committed to increasing Aboriginal involvement in policy development and implementation, and to expanding opportunities for Aboriginal community control. ... "
* LET'S TALK INTERVIEWS DR DALE KERWIN ABOUT HIS RESEARCH INTO ABORIGINAL TRACKERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BOER WAR AND DID NOT RETURN HOME
- Audio Interview
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Dale Kerwin
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
9 Jul 13: "Dr Dale Kerwin, Lecturer at Griffith University in Studies in Sociocultural Understanding and Indigenous Australian Studies. Dale speaks about his research into Aboriginal Trackers who fought in the Boer War and did not return home."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/dale-kerwin-2/
* NOTICE OF CONDOLENCE: HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE WILL BE SADLY MISSED SAYS ALSWA
- Notice of Condolence
Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (ALSWA): Human Rights Advocate will be sadly missed says ALSWA
http://www.als.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=281:n...
15 Jul 13: "The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA) Executive Committee, Management and staff extend their sincere condolences on the passing of Neil Gillespie, a passionate advocate for human rights and the advancement of our people. CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) in South Australia for ten years, Neil worked tirelessly to address discrimination and seek solutions to the injustice faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ALSWA CEO Dennis Eggington said that Neil contributed greatly to highlighting this injustice and speaking out about key issues of importance and would be sadly missed."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Media Release
Australian Human Rights Commission: Commission welcomes South Australia's proposal to recognise Aboriginal Regional Authorities
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/media-releases/commission-welcomes-s...
5 Jul 13: "Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has welcomed the South Australian government’s initiative that will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the chance to have direct input in the design and delivery of policies and programs.
"Governance is a key factor in the realisation of human rights and sustainable development by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The plan to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the development of regional governance structures in SA has the potential to not only empower our communities, but to offer genuine change in terms of the community working in direct partnership with government. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are experts in knowing what policies and programs best suit them so it makes sense to engage the community in the very early stages of the design of those policies and programs," said Commissioner Gooda. ... "
- Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Historian wants acknowledgment of massacres
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29587/Historian-wants-acknowled...
18 Jul 13: "By Warren Barnsley: An expert in far north Queensland history says a new map of the state he's produced shows massacre sites of our people over its history that haven't been fully acknowledged."
- - -
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