WGAR News: 25th, 26th & 27th January 2015: National Freedom Summit - National Convergence on Canberra events

Newsletter date: 17 January 2015

Last updated: 29 January 2015

Contents:

* 25/26/27 January 2015 Freedom Summit Canberra events:

-- Sun 25th January - Last Day of Freedom
--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

-- Mon 26th January - National Day of Mourning
--- Community Walk 26th Jan 10:30am: Assembly at Garema Place Civic to walk to Aboriginal Tent Embassy
--- Early Afternoon - The 2015 Isabell Coe Memorial Sovereignty Lecture
--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

-- Tue 27th January - First Day of Resistance
--- National Convergence on Canberra Sit-In Protest: Assembly at Aboriginal Tent Embassy to walk to Capital Hill Parliament House
--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

* National Freedom Movement - lead-in forums to the January 27 Sit-In, Canberra:

-- Thu 15th January 2015: Adelaide Community Forum
-- Sun 18th January 2015: Redfern Community Forum
-- Tue 20th January 2015: Brisbane Community Forum

* Background to Aboriginal Sovereignty Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day and Day of Mourning
* WGAR Background to the National Freedom Movement
* WGAR Background to 'The Freedom Summit'

 

- 25/26/27 January 2015 Freedom Summit Canberra events:

 

-- Sun 25th January - Last Day of Freedom

--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!events/co3d

Side Events - 3 days of workshops complementing the Freedom Summit
Canberra 25-26-27 January 2015 @ Aboriginal Tent Embassy
A Convergence on Canberra to fight back & make positive change happen.
http://sovereignunion.mobi/content/gatherings-events
http://sovereignunion.mobi/images/2015/features/flyers/pdf/flyer-invasio...
"Sunday 25th January:
Community Forum - Raising issues
Ethnic Cleansing of Homeland Communities
Treaty(ies) v Constitutional Recognition
Monday 26th January - Afternoon:
Healing Trauma, Grief & Loss
Asserting Sovereignty
Tuesday 27th January:
Sovereignty - Unilateral Declarations of Independence (UDIs)
Self-determination & other options
Land Rights v Native Title
Media Communications - Dealing with media blackout"

-- Mon 26th January - National Day of Mourning

--- Community Walk 26th Jan 10:30am: Assembly at Garema Place Civic to walk to Aboriginal Tent Embassy

--- Early Afternoon - The 2015 Isabell Coe Memorial Sovereignty Lecture

--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!events/co3d

https://www.facebook.com/340478969357448/photos/ms.c.eJw1zLkRwDAMA7CNcpJ...

-- Tue 27th January - First Day of Resistance

--- National Convergence on Canberra Sit-In Protest: Assembly at Aboriginal Tent Embassy to walk to Capital Hill Parliament House

--- Workshops on the Urgent Issues: Aboriginal Tent Embassy

http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!events/co3d

https://www.facebook.com/340478969357448/photos/ms.c.eJw1zLkRwDAMA7CNcpJ...

National Freedom Movement What's it about?
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!about_us/c14e3
"We came from the north, south east and west to form a new body of legitimately nominated representatives of our communities. Together, united we stand strong in the face of the adversity that has been thrust upon us from every consequence of colonisation. United we stand strong and will build the freedom movement at the grass roots levels of our communities. ... "

Freedom Summit - The Delegates
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!delegates/csh4
"In a bid to build a new national, non-government body to accurately represent the voices, concerns and needs of the First Peoples of Australia, ... an initial 20 delegates were nominated at the Summit For Freedom in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). ... Next step is Canberra on January 27 2015 where the delegates, communities and supporters will sit-in at Parliament house until the voices of the Original People's are heard."

- National Freedom Movement - lead-in forums to the January 27 Sit-In, Canberra"

- Media Release

National Freedom Movement - lead-in forums to the January 27 Sit-In, Canberra
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement
14 Jan 15: " ... Convoys are leaving from around the country and heading to Canberra for the Freedom Movement’s Sit-In outside Federal Parliament. They will first gather at ​the ​Old Tent Embassy. In the context of the last 50 years it has never been worse for far too many of our People - our children ​are ​removed from their families at the most horrific rates yet known, our people imprisoned at the highest rates known, more of our people ​are ​homeless than ever before, more of our people​ are​ living in extreme poverty than ever before, land rights have become land grabs by non-Aboriginal ​corporate ​Australia, hundreds of our homeland communities have been threatened with closure and our people ​are relentlessly threatened with assimilation. Our people are dying of suicide at the highest rates ever known. Professor Sam Watson said that the Aboriginal rights struggle began to collapse in the "mid-1970s when we went from the streets to the suits… we have to go back to the streets."
Starting tomorrow there are 3 major lead-in forums - in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane - to inform our people of why as many of us as possible must journey to Canberra to support the Sit-In by our Elders. ... "

-- Thu 15th January 2015: Adelaide Community Forum

Event: Thu 15 January 2015: Adelaide, SA
Adelaide Community Forum
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
6:00pm-8:30pm
"Come, Listen and speak with the delegates for South
Australia. Listen to the outcomes at the Summit For Freedom
in Alice Springs and ask questions. Be ready to get revved
up for the Canberra Sit-In on the 27th January,
First Day of Resistance, to reclaim the First Peoples freedom
rights struggle."
Event details: http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement

Read about how the Adelaide forum went:

Mobilising for Canberra 2015-our chance at history, to reclaim the Aboriginal rights struggle and the justice
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!events/co3d
16 Jan 15: "Last night, a powerful array of speakers delivered their say to a packed auditorium at Tandanya Centre in Adelaide. The Freedom Movement organiser, Tauto Sansbury spoke of the urgency to not for First People to not miss the opportunity to make history in Canberra.
Freedom Movement delegate Christine Abdulla delivered an eloquent speech on racism. Christine urged that people journey to Canberra for the Sit-In.
Freedom Movement delegate John Singer delivered beautifully articulated all the issues that blight the rights of First Peoples. John urged that people journey to Canberra for the Sit-In.
Freedom Movement delegate Roxley Foley spoke of the opportunity to truly heal the nation and to unite all the people of this continent. Roxley urged that people journey to Canberra for the Sit-In.
Guest speaker Gerry Georgatos, a relentless social justice campaigner, a suicide prevention researcher, and correspondent with Indigenous media, delivered a speech for the ages. Gerry urged that people journey to Canberra for the Sit-In. ... "

-- Sun 18th January 2015: Redfern Community Forum

Event: Sun 18 January 2015: Redfern, Sydney, NSW
Redfern Community Forum
The Block, Redfern Aboriginal tent Embassy
3:00pm-5:00pm
"Come and speak with the delegates for NSW and listen to
the outcomes of the Summit for Freedom in Alice Springs and
get revved up for the January 27 Canberra Sit-in to reclaim
the Aboriginal freedom rights struggle."
Event details: http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement

Read about how the Sydney forum went:

'The Opportunity for real change'
http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement#!events/co3d
19 Jan 15: "The opportunity for real change, for the reclaiming of our voices, for the reclaiming of the Aboriginal rights struggle is at hand. We have the choice of reclaiming or giving the game away. If we do not make the move now to reclaim it in Canberra there will be much damage done, irreparable damage. This is what was said yesterday at Redfern at the second of three lead-in forums to the Canberra Sit-In, on the 27th.
Following on from the Adelaide forum which galvanised another convoy to head to Canberra, similarly so the Redfern forum. A bus will be leaving from The Block for Canberra. ...
The Brisbane lead-in Summit is tomorrow (Tuesday), 3pm at Musgrave Park (Brisbane Tent Embassy). ...
Convoys are now leaving Western Australia for the journey across the continent to Canberra for the Sit-In. There are few excuses that we cannot drop everything, and many reasons why we should, to be in Canberra." National Freedom Movement​

Videos on how the Sydney forum went:

Respect and Listen: National Freedom Movement [Includes excerpt from the Communique from The Freedom Summit]
http://www.respectandlisten.org/freedom-movement.html

National Freedom Movement - Sydney Forum: Respect and Listen vimeo
http://vimeo.com/117165236
"Summit for Freedom - National Freedom Movement ... Support the Sit-In in Canberra, all peoples need to stand solid with the cause, support the Sit-In and be part of the Sit-In. We are converging on Canberra from all over the continent."

Aunty Jenny: http://vimeo.com/117175484

Jeff McMullen: http://vimeo.com/117247034

Gerry Georgatos: http://vimeo.com/117250765

-- Tue 20th January 2015: Brisbane Community Forum

Event: Tue 20 January 2015: Brisbane, Qld
Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy Community Forum
Musgrave Park, Brisbane Aboriginal Embassy
3:00pm-7:00pm
"National Freedom Movement & WAR (The Warriors of the
Aboriginal Resistance) will be hosting a forum for the
community to come, listen and speak with the delegates for
Queensland. Listen to the outcomes of the Summit For Freedom
in Alice Springs and ask questions. Be ready to get revved
up for the Canberra Sit-In on the 27th January,
First Day of Resistance, to reclaim the First Peoples freedom
rights struggle. Late dinner will be provided."
Event details: http://freedommovement2014.wix.com/freedommovement

- Background to Aboriginal Sovereignty Day, Invasion Day, Survival Day and Day of Mourning

Event: Mon 26 January 2015: various locations in Australia
Sovereignty Day / Invasion Day / Survival Day / Day of Mourning
"The meaning of Australia Day for Aboriginal people:
To many Aboriginal Australians there is little to celebrate
and it is a commemoration of a deep loss.
Loss of their sovereign rights to their land,
loss of family, loss of the right to practice their culture. ...
Aboriginal people call it 'Invasion Day',
'Day of Mourning', 'Survival Day' or,
since 2006, 'Aboriginal Sovereignty Day'.
The latter name reflects that all Aboriginal
nations are sovereign and should be united
in the continuous fight for their rights."
Jens Korff, Creative Spirits
"Australia Day - No time to celebrate:
Australia Day is traditionally the most racist
day of the year for Aboriginal people.
When people celebrate on January 26,
there is no escaping the fact they are celebrating
the day that one race of people invaded another
race of people’s country and took control of
Aboriginal lands and tried to dominate Aboriginal
people. Invasion Day, as it should be called,
celebrates the dispossession of land, culture,
and way of life of Aborigines." Jay McDonald,
an activist with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
Event details: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/australia-day-...
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/46475

 

- Background

WGAR Background to the National Freedom Movement
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/26/wgar-background-to-the-national-free...
(last updated: 10 January 2015)

- Background

WGAR Background to 'The Freedom Summit'
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/11/29/background-to-the-freedom-summit-ali...
(last updated: 26 December 2014)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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