Newsletter date: 9 July 2012
Contents:
* NIT: Japarta Ryan’s plan to stop Intervention
* Emma Purdy: Labor lays the groundwork for another apology
* ABC Video: Bankstown residents oppose income management
* More 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Aboriginal elder Ossie Cruse: An Australian identity starts with a "Treaty"
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Interview with Tent embassy fire man, Robert Corowa
* Tracker: PM’s Australia Day staffer 'acted within scope of duties' inquiry finds
* Background to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy 40th Anniversary, Canberra, ACT
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Mel Barnes: Locals keep fighting to save the Kimberley
* Bardi elder Roy Wiggan: Old Country New Country
* Other articles
* NIT: JAPARTA RYAN'S PLAN TO STOP INTERVENTION
- News
National Indigenous Times: Japarta Ryan’s plan to stop Intervention
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1382-japarta-ryans-plan-to-stop-intervention....
6 Jul 12: " ... The First Nations Party plans to storm the upcoming Northern Territory election and seize the balance of power after announcing this week their first six candidates who will stand for election. The award-winning high profile musician and highly respected Warren H Williams has been joined by Ken Lichleitner, Ben Pascoe, Bill Risk, Valda Shannon and Daniel Fejo as First Nations Party candidates for the August poll. Party founder Maurie Japarta Ryan said he had high hopes the large Indigenous population in the Northern Territory would be enough to win the party enough seats to hold the balance of power in the new Territory parliament. ... "
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
5 Jul 12: "The co founder of Australia’s first Aboriginal political party says he is surprised with how many of his people want to represent themselves and their own political party at the upcoming Northern Territory elections."
* EMMA PURDY: LABOR LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR ANOTHER APOLOGY
- Analysis / Opinion
Treaty Republic: Labor lays the groundwork for another apology
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/labor-lays-groundwork-another-apology
July 2012: "The spin doctors did an impressive job distracting from the hypocrisy of former prime minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations in February 2008. ... Many hoped the long-overdue expression of contrition, promptly delivered by the new parliament on its second day, represented a turnaround in Australia's treatment of its Indigenous population. Most were unaware that the previous day, on which it was originally planned to hold the apology, almost 2000 people had gathered in the rain and marched to Parliament House to protest their government's racially discriminatory policies." By Emma Purdy, Irish journalist who recently spent considerable time in Australia researching Indigenous issues, including the Intervention and Aboriginal deaths in custody
- Related Analysis / Opinion
National Indigenous Times: Stronger Futures Bill passes Senate: Questions & Answers
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/1356-stronger-futures-bill-passes-senate-q...
6 Jul 12: "PART 1: Questions. By Emma Purdy. The spin doctors did an impressive job distracting from the hypocrisy of former prime minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations in February 2008. Hundreds of thousands tuned into the live broadcast to watch Rudd apologise "for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering... "
* ABC VIDEO: BANKSTOWN RESIDENTS OPPOSE INCOME MANAGEMENT
- Video
ABC: Bankstown residents oppose income management
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-06/bankstown-residents-oppose-income-...
6 Jul 12: "Locals in the south-west Sydney suburb of Bankstown have protested against the Federal Government's income management scheme."
* MORE 'STRONGER FUTURES' LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
National Indigenous Times: Stronger Futures Policy reaffirms government’s need to control us
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/1354-stronger-futures-policy-reaffirms-gov...
6 Jul 12: "By National Indigenous Times Editor Stephen Hagan. Indigenous Australians are aware of the brutal conquest of our continent at the hands of British boat people over 200 years ago. Sadly the visitors with large swords and bigger guns did more than just rape and pillage the land and her people, they fell in love with it and never left. I wish our people at the time had adopted... "
- News
ABC: Macklin booed at NAIDOC night
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-07/macklin-booed-at-naidoc-night/4116240
8 Jul 12: "Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has been booed at an official function in Hobart because of her support for the Northern Territory intervention. Ms Macklin was presenting the national NAIDOC awards at the annual Ball on Friday night. Parts of the crowd booed and heckled as she took the stage. The Chairman of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania Clyde Mansell said he was not surprised the Tasmanian aboriginal community had reacted angrily to Ms Macklin."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Amnesty to continue fight against Stronger Futures
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7361-amnesty-to-continue-fight-a...
6 Jul 12: "A peak international human rights group says it'll continue its campaign against the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation despite it passing Federal Parliament. Amnesty International's Manager for Indigenous Rights Monica Morgan says the legislation is a punitive measure and the policies are not based on credible evidence. She says the consultation process was too brief and was rushed through Parliament without the human rights scrutiny it should have received."
National Indigenous Times: Macklin fails the test
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1381-macklin-fails-the-test.html
6 Jul 12: "By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. Northern Territory Aboriginal communities have reacted with anger and despair, declaring a Day of Mourning after the Federal Government pushed through its Stronger Futures legislation with the support of the Liberal/National Coalition last week. Yolngu National Assembly spokesman Dr Djiniyini Gondarra said... "
National Indigenous Times: A day of mourning for our people
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1380-a-day-of-mourning-for-our-people.html
6 Jul 12: "Aboriginal leaders declared a day of mourning after Federal Parliament passed legislation to continue the Northern Territory Intervention for another 10 years. Labor and the Opposition Coalition parties teamed up to pass the controversial laws in the Senate in the early hours of last Friday morning after a marathon debate which started early last Thursday evening."
National Indigenous Times: A sad day for the Aboriginal people but we’ll fight for justice: Mundine
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1379-a-sad-day-for-the-aboriginal-people-but-...
6 Jul 12: "The Executive Director of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney Archdiocese, Graeme Mundine has lamented the Senate's passing of the Stronger Futures legislation. "This is a sad day for all Aboriginal people in Australia and it is a sad day for democracy," Mr Mundine said. "The Stronger Futures legislation has now passed through both Houses of Parliament despite comprehensive opposition from... "
National Indigenous Times: Welcome to Jenny Macklin’s way of fixing Northern Territory housing
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1372-welcome-to-jenny-macklins-way-of-fixing-...
6 Jul 12: "Ms Macklin told an international housing conference in Canada Australia had "turned the corner" in fixing the chronic housing shortages in remote communities but the people left to live in Macklin's $1.7 billion "housing solution" are in no doubt the housing program she promotes to mainstream Australia and overseas is a sham. By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall"
SNAICC News: Lawyers alliance brands Stronger Futures as 'apartheid-style' and 'racist' legislation
http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=823
5 Jul 12: "The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has branded the Stronger Futures package of bills as "racist legislation that sets the rights of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory back decades." The legislation was passed by Federal Parliament on 29 June and will extend the Australian Government’s intervention in NT Aboriginal communities for 10 years. The legislation has attracted strong opposition from some Aboriginal people and organisations in the NT. And SNAICC is part of a wide section of the community to express serious concerns about measures contained in the legislation, ... "
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 8 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 4 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* ABORIGINAL ELDER OSSIE CRUSE: AN AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY STARTS WITH A "TREATY"
- Audio Interviews
Sovereign Union: An Australian identity starts with a "Treaty": Aboriginal elder Ossie Cruse
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/australian-identity-starts-tr...
"During local celebrations to mark NAIDOC Week 2012, the idea of a treaty between Aboriginal people, the British Crown and the Australian Government has been raised by Paster Ossie Cruse. Talk of a treaty has been around for decades, but in recent history it has fallen from coverage with mainstream media. The NSW South Eastern Aboriginal elder, Ossie Cruse believes that Australia's future could be built with a treaty. He spoke about it on Sydney Radio 702 ABC, Breakfast with Ian Campbell. The Paster of Eden, believes such a document would create the Australian identity that the republican debate often talks about. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 4 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* INTERVIEW WITH TENT EMBASSY FIRE MAN, ROBERT COROWA:
- Audio Interview
Treaty Republic: Original Australians Tent Embassy: fire man's reflections
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/aboriginal-australians-tent-embassy-fi...
6 Jul 12: "A sacred fire is at the heart of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and Robert Corowa is one of the men who keeps it burning*. Robert Corowa is an Aboriginal Tent Embassy fire man. Now living in Lismore, he was just a child when the embassy was created, but he has camped there many times over the years and has been charged with keeping the site's sacred fire burning. "We have a scared healing fire which we try to keep going," he said. "We try to make people understand the Aboriginal Tent Embassy loves Australia and we try to heal everyone in Australia with that fire. ... ""
- Related News
Green Left: Hobart NAIDOC march defends Aboriginal sovereignty
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51576
7 Jul 12: "HOBART - To mark the end of NAIDOC week, Aboriginal people and their supporters marched through the streets and rallied at Tasmania’s parliament house lawns on July 6 to show that they always have been and always will be a sovereign people. Speakers at the rally included the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s (TAC) Nala Mansell-McKenna, TAC's Legal Secretary Michael Mansell and Aboriginal activist Jim Everett."
National Indigenous Times: Jenny Munro calls for umbrella tribute to Tent Embassy heroes
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1376-jenny-munro-calls-for-umbrella-tribute-t...
6 Jul 12: "By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. An Aboriginal women's group has called for every Aboriginal community in Australia to set up an umbrella to remember the Tent Embassy heroes of 1972 as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations. "The idea is for every Aboriginal community to put up an Aboriginal Embassy for Aboriginal Week, and if they can go for two weeks, the second week of... "
* TRACKER: PM'S AUSTRALIA DAY STAFFER 'ACTED WITHIN SCOPE OF DUTIES' INQUIRY FINDS
- News
newsTracker: PM’s Australia Day staffer 'acted within scope of duties' inquiry finds
http://tracker.org.au/2012/07/pms-australia-day-staffer-acted-within-sco...
6 Jul 12: "NATIONAL: A former member of Julia Gillard’s staff acted "within the scope of his duties" when he passed on information about Tony Abbott’s whereabouts that led to this year’s Australia Day protest. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has previously announced there was no evidence a criminal offence was committed when protesters were tipped off about the opposition leader’s presence at the Lobby Restaurant in Canberra. But more details of the investigation into media adviser Tony Hodges’ role have now been revealed in documents released to News Limited under freedom of information laws. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY 40TH ANNIVERSARY, CANBERRA, ACT:
Aboriginal Tent Embassy 40th
40 Years Stronger - Sovereignty Never Ceded
http://aboriginaltentembassy40th.com/
[Canberra, ACT]
YouTube: Aboriginal Tent Embassy 40 years stronger march, Sovereignty Day, 26 Jan 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWXVlpjrcMw&list=UUGMThr0oYK7DgSm_-6-lqGw...
[Canberra, ACT]
WGAR News: Eyewitness accounts of the Tent Embassy protest on Invasion Day / Sovereignty Day (2 Feb 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/02/wgar-news-eyewitness-accounts-of-the-...
[Canberra, ACT]
WGAR News: More on the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protest on Invasion Day (8 Feb 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/08/wgar-news-four-actions-to-help-stop-t...
[Canberra, ACT]
WGAR News: Tent Embassy protest interviews with Michael Anderson, Jeff McMullen, Chris Graham, etc (9 Feb 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/09/wgar-news-tent-embassy-protest-interv...
[Canberra, ACT]
WGAR News: "The tent embassy: fact v fiction, black v white" by Chris Graham (20 Feb 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/20/wgar-news-the-tent-embassy-fact-v-fic...
[Canberra, ACT]
WGAR News: MJA: The spirit of the tent embassy: 40 years on (3 Jul 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/03/wgar-news-rev-dr-djiniyini-gondarra-s...
[Canberra, ACT]
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 4 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* MEL BARNES: LOCALS KEEP FIGHTING TO SAVE THE KIMBERLEY
- News
Green Left: Locals keep fighting to save the Kimberley
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/51585
7 Jul 12: "The pending approval for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub at James Price Point in Broome has come under fire after four of the five Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board members responsible for assessing the project stood aside due to conflicts of interest. Two of the EPA board members hold shares in Woodside Petroleum, the operator of the $35 billion project. Peter Tucker, chair of local campaign group Save the Kimberley, told Green Left Weekly his group was not surprised by the news: "The lack of transparency is what we’ve come to expect in this campaign."" By Mel Barnes
- Related News
Save the Kimberley: Gas hub bungle embarrassing: Dodson
http://www.savethekimberley.com/2012/03/26/gas-hub-bungle-embarrassing-d...
8 Mar 12: "The man known as the "Father of Reconciliation", Pat Dodson, says a proposed gas precinct north of Broome that has split the local community, looks less and less likely to go ahead. The Aboriginal leader was speaking in Perth last night before a forum on recognising indigenous Australians in the Constitution. Mr Dodson described the recent bungling of the process to compulsorily acquire the land for the LNG hub at James Price Point as embarrassing for the State Government and the company, Woodside."
* BARDI ELDER ROY WIGGAN: OLD COUNTRY NEW COUNTRY
- Video
YouTube: Old Country New Country - 2009 GAIA Media Aus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gykFOvEQh8Y
19 Oct 11: "OLD COUNTRY NEW COUNTRY - THE JOURNEY OF A RAFT is the poignant and politically powerful story of Bardi elder Roy Wiggan passing onto his nephew Albert the traditional aboriginal craft of raft-making. In the process they travel from their country - the rugged and ancient beauty of the Kimberley region, one of the few remaining wildernesses on the planet - to the once pristine, now industrialised Pilbara to the south. As Roy instructs Albert in Bardi raft-making, the land of their people is being destroyed by mining developments."
See:
Save the Kimberley
http://www.savethekimberley.com/
Hands Off Country
http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/
Kimberley Campaigner
http://www.kimberleycampaigner.com/
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: New Qld Government to be pushed on Stolen Wages
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7363-new-qld-government-to-be-pu...
6 Jul 12: "Aboriginal elders and the Queensland Council of Unions say they'll continue their fight for justice over stolen wages with the new State Government. In 2002, $55.6 Million was offered by the Queensland Government as reparation for stolen wages. Council Townsville President Les Moffatt says the scheme is unfair as elders have to show sufficient evidence for a claim when paperwork may not exist and not all the money has been returned. Mr. Moffatt told 98.9fm in Brisbane they'll pressure the Government to keep former Premier Peter Beattie's promise of full compensation."
- - -
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http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
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