Newsletter date: 18 September 2012
Contents:
* 'Our Land Our Languages': Report on inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities
* Greg Dickson: Parliament reports on indigenous tongues: can they be saved?
* Aidan Wilson: First language education is a matter of common sense
* Charis Palmer: Action needed to help preserve Indigenous languages
* Claire Bowern: The chance of a lifetime to save Indigenous languages
* More on the 'Our Land Our Languages' Report
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools (bilingual education)
* Paddy Gibson: Country Liberals cynically tap anger at Intervention to topple Labor in the NT
* Selena Black: Income management trials punish welfare recipients twice
* More 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* ISJA: Sovereign Aboriginal nations consider sanctuary for Julian Assange
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Living Black: Walkatjurra Walkabout In Leonora!
* The Wire: Government calls for submissions to Indigenous Health Plan
* 'OUR LAND OUR LANGUAGES': REPORT ON INQUIRY INTO LANGUAGE LEARNING IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
- Report
House of Representatives Committees: Inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities
Our Land Our Languages
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Represe...
"On Monday 17 September 2012, the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs tabled its report on the inquiry into language learning in Indigenous communities entitled Our Land Our Languages."
* GREG DICKSON: PARLIAMENT REPORTS ON INDIGENOUS TONGUES: CAN THEY BE SAVED?
- Analysis / Opinion
Crikey: Parliament reports on indigenous tongues: can they be saved?
http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/09/17/parliament-reports-on-indigenous-ton...
17 Sep 12: "Today federal Parliament releases the Our Land, Our Languages report, stemming from the recent inquiry into Learning Languages in Indigenous Communities. Our Land, Our Languages draws on 154 submissions and 23 public hearings held throughout Australia over the course of a year. The report comprehensively argues for greater recognition and resourcing of indigenous languages and calls for action to halt the embarrassing rate of loss and endangerment of native languages. It is a thorough, measured, yet still ambitious document arguing for indigenous languages to be elevated into a position of greater prominence and prosperity." By Greg Dickson of Crikey blog Fully (sic). Greg Dickson is a contributor to Fully (sic) and has worked in indigenous language documentation, research, training and resourcing for 10 years.
* AIDAN WILSON: FIRST LANGUAGE EDUCATION IS A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE
- Analysis / Opinion
Fully (sic) - Crikey's language blog: First language education is a matter of common sense
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2012/09/18/first-language-education-...
18 Sep 12: "The committee found heavily in favour of the proponents of bilingual education as the substantial evidence submitted clearly shows that rather than being deleterious, the use of the child’s first language in early childhood education had widespread benefits. ... Recommendation 14 therefore calls for the provision of adequately resourced bilingual education programs in areas where the child’s first language is an indigenous language, whether that language is a traditional language such as Warlpiri or Murrinh Patha, or a contact language such as Kriol, Gurindji Kriol or Light Warlpiri." By Aidan Wilson
* CHARIS PALMER: ACTION NEEDED TO HELP PRESERVE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
- News
The Conversation: Action needed to help preserve Indigenous languages
http://theconversation.edu.au/action-needed-to-help-preserve-indigenous-...
17 Sep 12: "Language and Indigenous experts have welcomed a government report that recommends bilingual school education programs for Indigenous communities, saying it will benefit all Australians and help get some Indigenous languages off the endangered languages list. The "Our Land Our Languages" report follows a 12-month inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs." By Charis Palmer
* CLAIRE BOWERN: THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME TO SAVE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
- Analysis / Opinion
The Conversation: The chance of a lifetime to save Indigenous languages
http://theconversation.edu.au/the-chance-of-a-lifetime-to-save-indigenou...
18 Sep 12: "It is not often that the opportunity comes along to make a real difference, but a new report into Indigenous languages in Australia has the potential to do just that. Our Land, Our Languages has already been likened to the momentous Mabo decision. But where Mabo helped change our legal and cultural understanding of Indigenous land rights, this report highlights the fiction of a monolingual Australia and calls for recognition of Australia’s Indigenous linguistic diversity." By Claire Bowern, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Yale University. Claire's research focuses on the Indigenous languages of Australia.
* MORE ON THE 'OUR LAND OUR LANGUAGES' REPORT:
- News
Australian: Bilingual tack gains traction for indigenous children
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bilingual-tack-gains-tr...
18 Sep 12: "FEDERAL School Education Minister Peter Garrett has declared he will talk to state governments about adopting bilingual education for indigenous children, arguing school attendance rates would improve if they were taught in their first language. Parliament's standing committee on indigenous affairs released a bipartisan report yesterday calling for more action to protect endangered indigenous languages, revealed by The Australian, and recommending bilingual education."
ABC: Indigenous students need bilingual education
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-17/senate-committee-recommends-biling...
17 Sep 12: "A Federal Parliamentary committee says it received crystal clear evidence that school attendance rates would improve if Indigenous children were taught in their first language. Parliament's Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs has released a bipartisan report calling for more action to protect endangered Indigenous languages. Among the committee's 30 recommendations is a call for more money to be spent on bilingual education for Indigenous children and an interpreting service for Indigenous languages."
- Video
SBS World News: Preserve Indigenous languages: Inquiry
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/2279945714/Action-required-to-preserve-...
17 Sep 12: "A federal parliamentary inquiry has called for sweeping changes to ensure Indigenous languages are maintained and revived. Those involved in the new report claim reforms will lead to better social outcomes, including higher school attendance and better service delivery in health and justice. "
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS (BILINGUAL EDUCATION):
Last updated: 18 September 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
* PADDY GIBSON: COUNTRY LIBERALS CYNICALLY TAP ANGER AT INTERVENTION TO TOPPLE LABOR IN THE NT
- Analysis / Opinion
Solidarity: Country Liberals cynically tap anger at Intervention to topple Labor in the NT
http://www.solidarity.net.au/49/country-liberals-cynically-tap-anger-at-...
September 2012: "The Country Liberals (CLP) have swept to power in the Northern Territory elections, ... The CLP ran a cynical, yet devastatingly effective campaign in bush electorates. Their election platform here had two components, both central demands of the campaign against the NT Intervention. First, the break-up of the hated Super Shire councils, which the Henderson Labor government introduced in 2008. ... Second, an end to the "Working Futures" policy which has seen investment focussed on 20 "growth towns", at the expense of the hundreds of smaller communities and outstations on Aboriginal land." Paddy Gibson
* SELENA BLACK: INCOME MANAGEMENT TRIALS PUNISH WELFARE RECIPIENTS TWICE
- News
Green Left: Income management trials punish welfare recipients twice
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52244
15 Sep 12: "Compulsory income management must be opposed: this was the consensus from a lively August 29 community meeting hosted by the Socialist Alliance in Playford, northern Adelaide, where income management is being "trialled" for some welfare recipients. This meeting included activists, locals, and representatives from community and welfare groups. ...
Presentations from Pas Forgione from the Socialist Alliance and Left Unity, and Mike Williss, a research officer with the Australian Education Union (AEU) South Australia, explored the controversial policy, which was first applied to Aboriginal welfare recipients under the Northern Territory intervention." Selena Black
* MORE 'STRONGER FUTURES' LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/am-17-09-update.mp3
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
17 Sep 12: "The Federal Oppositions spokesman for Indigenous Affairs Territory Senator Nigel Scullion says the majority of Aboriginal people who voted in the recent Northern Territory election voted in favor of the Howard co-alition governments Intervention."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 7 September 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 1 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* ISJA: SOVEREIGN ABORIGINAL NATIONS CONSIDER SANCTUARY FOR JULIAN ASSANGE
- Media Statement
The Indigenous Social Justice Association: Sovereign Aboriginal nations consider sanctuary for Julian Assange
Sovereign Union: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/384
Green Left: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52227
14 Sep 12: "Several sovereign Aboriginal nations are considering giving Julian Assange refuge and sanctuary in their nations.
It was argued that as Julian is an Australian citizen he should be allowed to seek sanctuary in one of the sovereign Aboriginal nations in the lands known as Australia.
Whilst the federal government is held in thrall to the dictates of the US, we are not and are therefore quite free to support Julian in every way we possibly can. Offering safe refuge is but one way. Why should Julian be forced to seek refuge in a South American country and not his own?"
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/am-17-09-update.mp3
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
17 Sep 12: "The Indigenous Social Justice Association has provided WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange with an Aboriginal Nations passport claiming Assange has been abandoned by Australian authorities."
Living Black: An Aboriginal Passport For Julian Assange
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/232861/t...
14 Sep 12: "Aboriginal Passport Ceremony in Redfern, Saturday September 15."
- Related Past Event
Event: Sat 15 September 2012:
New location: The Settlement, Darlington, NSW
Welcome to Aboriginal Land and Passport Ceremony
"Over 200 people, including newly arrived
asylum seekers will receive an Aboriginal Passport
which will be issued by:
* Robbie Thorpe, Treaty Republic and
* Ray Jackson, President,
Indigenous Social Justice Assocation."
"Ray Jackson says that "the issuing of the
Passports cover two important areas of interactions
between the Traditional Owners of the Lands and
migrants, asylum seekers and non-Aboriginal citizens
of this country. Whilst they acknowledge our rights to
all the Aboriginal Nations of Australia we reciprocate
by welcoming them into our Nations.
It is a moral win-win for all involved in the process"."
Event details: http://aboriginalpassportceremony.org/
Event details: http://www.mediafire.com/view/?oss29z2m94lokis#
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 15 September 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* LIVING BLACK: WALKATJURRA WALKABOUT IN LEONORA!
- Audio Interviews
Living Black: Walkatjurra Walkabout In Leonora!
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/232865/t...
14 Sep 12: "270 long kilometres later, the Walk For Country arrives in Leonora. ... Traditional owners are questioning the Western Australian government's motives, in pushing for the development of a uranium project labelled by mining giant BHP Billiton as "uneconomically viable". This follows the recent sale by BHP of land at Yeelirrie, to Canadian uranium miner Cameco for 430-million dollars. The WA Premier Colin Barnett had urged BHP to relinquish the area to a miner who would be prepared to mine uranium there. Traditional owner Kado Muir says although his people are united in opposing uranium mining on their land, BHP had been a reasonable company to deal with."
Living Black: Walkatjurra Walkabout
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/232867/t...
14 Sep 12: "Yeelirrie site sold to Canadian uranium mining company. ... Marcus Atkinson from Footprints For Peace speaks with Michelle Lovegrove about BHP Billiton's sale of the Yeelirrie site to Canadian uranium mining company Cameco."
- Past Event
Event: 20 August to 14 September 2012: Yeelirrie-Leonora, WA
Walkatjurra Walkabout – Walking for Country
A one month walk from Yeelirrie to Leonora
" ... is a celebration of Wangkatja country, a testament to
the strength of the community who have fought to stop
uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years, and a
chance to come together to continue share our commitment to
a sustainable future without nuclear. It is a chance to
reconnect with the land, and to revive the tradition of
walking for country."
"This walk will be lead by the Walkatjurra Rangers,
in partnership with Footprints for Peace,
Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA),
the Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia (ANAWA)
and the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA)."
Event details: http://walkingforcountry.com/
Event details: http://www.nuclearfreefuture.com/
Event details: http://nffcampaign2011.footprintsforpeace.net/?p=69
News: http://www.nit.com.au/news/1703-walkatjurra-walkabout-a-journey-to-stop-...
* THE WIRE: GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS TO INDIGENOUS HEALTH PLAN
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Government calls for submissions to Indigenous Health Plan
Produced by David Thornhill
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9596
12 Sep 12: "The Federal Government is calling on the public to help close the gap in Indigenous and non-indigenous health. Submissions will be used to develop a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. A new discussion paper released by the Department of Health And Ageing is asking communities and health providers to detail what services are most needed for Indigenous Australians. We spoke to Justin Mohamed, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, about the organisations hopes for the health plan. ...
Featured in story: Justin Mohamed, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation"
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http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
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