Newsletter date: 27 December 2013
Contents:
* Trevor Stockley, Reconciliation Australia Blog: Yirrkala celebrates 40 years of bilingual education
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools
* CAEPR: Call for Papers - Engaging Indigenous Economy Conference
* SBS Living Black Radio: Kuradji Embassy Celebrates 13 Years
* Background to the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, north of Wollongong, NSW
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Amnesty International Australia: Recognition for a tireless Indigenous Rights Campaigner [Featuring Rodney Dillon]
* SBS Living Black Radio: Federal Budget Cuts to Aboriginal Affairs
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Government avoids scrutiny by cutting Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services
* WGAR News: First Peoples Voice will not be Silenced: Statement from Congress National Board (23 Dec 13)
* WGAR News: NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (22 Dec 13)
* TREVOR STOCKLEY, RECONCILIATION AUSTRALIA BLOG: YIRRKALA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION
- Analysis / Opinion
Reconciliation Australia Blog: Yirrkala celebrates 40 years of bilingual education
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/blog/2013/11/yirrkala-celebrates-40-yea...
26 Nov 13: "The recent celebration of 40 years of bilingual education at Yirrkala was a strong display of Yolngu pride and recognition of Yolngu resistance to the domination of English language and culture in the education of their children. The celebration was a time for Yolngu to remember the insightful vision and strength of their Elders, but it was also an important marker in the continuing battle for Indigenous language rights in Australia. ... Through the vision and strength of the Yirrkala Elders and forty years of hard work the Yirrkala community (and Australia) now proudly have the Yirrkala Community Education Centre; a Yolngu bilingual and bicultural school, ... " By Trevor Stockley
"Trevor Stockley: Trevor is a Gumatj speaker and worked for 14 years at Yirrkala and Laynhapuy Homeland schools (NT), focusing on Yolngu control, the inclusion of Yolngu knowledge in a balanced curriculum, implementing Yolngu ways of working and community-based teacher training. He currently works in North Queensland as a specialist Aboriginal languages teacher and program writer for the Warrgamay and Gudjal language revival programs."
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
Last updated: 21 December 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
* CAEPR: CALL FOR PAPERS - ENGAGING INDIGENOUS ECONOMY CONFERENCE
- News
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR): Call for Papers - Engaging Indigenous Economy Conference
http://caepr.anu.edu.au/announces/anc13_11_04_5813.php
[scroll down page] http://caepr.anu.edu.au/
http://caepr.anu.edu.au/seminars/conferences/EIE2014.php
"On 4 and 5 September 2014, CAEPR will host the Engaging Indigenous Economy: Debating Diverse Approaches Conference at the University Commons, ANU. Coinciding with the retirement from CAEPR of its founding Director, Professor Jon Altman, the Conference will engage with the themes of Jon's research across a variety of disciplines, including comparative modern hunter-gatherer studies; economic hybridity and alternate development; land rights, native title and mining; and sustainable land-based indigenous livelihoods."
"Potential presenters are invited to submit a paper abstract before 31 January 2014. For full details, please see the Conference webpage."
* SBS LIVING BLACK RADIO: KURADJI EMBASSY CELEBRATES 13 YEARS
- Audio
SBS Living Black Radio: Kuradji Embassy Celebrates 13 Years
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/308014/t...
23 Dec 13: "Another milestone solidifying the ongoing push for Aboriginal Sovereignty. ... The Kuradji Embassy - the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy - celebrates 13 years on site at McCauley's beach, on the New South Wales South Coast. The Embassy was set up in 2000, initially to protect the repatriated remains of a Kuradji Man, who had been found at McCauley's Beach two years earlier. It has been an extraordinary time since for the Embassy, its black and white supporters, and for its long time caretaker Uncle Dootch Kennedy. ... " By Michelle Lovegrove
* BACKGROUND TO THE SANDON POINT ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY, NORTH OF WOLLONGONG, NSW
Last updated: 29 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/sandon-point-aboriginal-tent-embassy-...
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT AND THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 15 December 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA: RECOGNITION FOR A TIRELESS INDIGENOUS RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER [FEATURING RODNEY DILLON]
- News
Amnesty International Australia: Recognition for a tireless Indigenous Rights Campaigner
http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/33574/
10 Dec 13: "Amnesty International Campaigner and long-time Indigenous rights activist Rodney Dillon has been recognised for his tireless work at a presentation in Tasmania. Rodney was awarded the Human Rights Individual Award at the Tasmanian Human Rights Awards which mark Human Rights Week. ... Rodney Dillon was commended for ‘his lifelong commitment to promoting the human rights of Aboriginal people at a local, national and international level in areas as diverse as land and fishing rights; the repatriation of Aboriginal artefacts and remains; the Stolen Generations and commercial enterprise’."
* SBS LIVING BLACK RADIO: FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS TO ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS
- Audio
SBS Living Black Radio: Federal Budget Cuts to Aboriginal Affairs
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/308028/t...
23 Dec 13: "A week of funding cuts the federal government says are necessary. ... the peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was told to prepare itself as federal funding looks set to stop from July next year. The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has released a statement saying it will push on to represent communities despite the setback. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has weighed in saying the funding cuts to Congress is disappointing." By Marc Tong
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: GOVERNMENT AVOIDS SCRUTINY BY CUTTING COORDINATOR-GENERAL FOR REMOTE SERVICES
- Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Government avoids scrutiny by cutting Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/government...
17 Dec 13: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Australian Greens say the Federal Government is avoiding scrutiny for its policy making and implementation by cutting the position of Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services.
"This cost cutting measure from the Government is deeply disappointing and will further undermine efforts to deliver on our Closing the Gap commitments," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues.
"The role of Coordinator General is to ‘monitor, assess, advise and drive progress relating to improvements in government service delivery in 29 remote Indigenous communities across Australia'. Removing this role will directly affect the ability of the Government to monitor and report on the implementation of policies. ...
"Decisions such as this make a mockery of Tony Abbott's comments about being the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs, as once again his Government seeks to avoid scrutiny and accountability for its policies," Senator Siewert concluded."
* WGAR NEWS: FIRST PEOPLES VOICE WILL NOT BE SILENCED: STATEMENT FROM CONGRESS NATIONAL BOARD (23 DEC 13)
- Compilation
WGAR News: First Peoples Voice will not be Silenced: Statement from Congress National Board (23 Dec 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/12/22/wgar-news-first-peoples-voice-will-no...
"Contents:
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: First Peoples Voice will not be Silenced - Statement from Congress National Board
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Congress Condemns Cuts
* NATSILS - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services: Government cuts support for National Congress
* Dan Harrison, SMH: Indigenous organisation to defy Tony Abbott funding cut
* Kaye Lee, The Australian Independent Media Network: Putting our First People last
* Mid North Coast Greens: The Government has proposed cuts to the funding for Aboriginal legal services and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples ... "
* WGAR NEWS: NATSILS FACTSHEET: FUNDING CUTS TO ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER LEGAL SERVICES (22 DEC 13)
- Complilation
WGAR News: NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (22 Dec 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/12/21/wgar-news-natsils-factsheet-funding-c...
"Contents:
* NATSILS - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services: Government to defund Aboriginal Legal Services Peak Body and all Law Reform and Policy Positions
* NATSILS Factsheet: funding cuts to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services
* CAALAS - Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service: Cuts to Aboriginal legal aid will silence Aboriginal communities
* NACCHO political health news: Abbott Government cuts to impact on Aboriginal health
* SNAICC News: Media Release 18 December 2013 - Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Services
* ANTaR: Cuts to Aboriginal Legal Services will undermine action on Aboriginal jobs and education
* ANTaR: Take Action: Abbott Government delivers a blow to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice ... "
[NACCHO: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation]
[SNAICC: Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care]
[ANTaR: a grassroots movement of Australians in support of justice, rights and respect for Australia’s First Peoples]
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
About WGAR News:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* Suicide and self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities;
* Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' gives priority to grassroots Aboriginal voices and grassroots voices in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples' rights.
The role of 'WGAR News' is to facilitate the voices of others, and as such, 'WGAR News' rarely writes its own articles.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources.
These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces, news items, audio, videos and events.
Subscribers can expect to receive about 7 e-newsletters each week.
To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
Sample WGAR News e-newsletters:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-sample-wgar-news-e-ne...
WGAR events postings:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings
WGAR background info web-pages:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-background-info-...
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)