Newsletter date: 30 November 2012
Contents:
* APO NT Grog Summit: Grog in the Northern Territory
* APO NT Communiqué: Grog in the Northern Territory: Summit Outcomes
* Grog Summit: Introductory Speech by Priscilla Collins, CEO NAAJA - North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
* Grog Summit: AMSANT Presentation - Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT
* Grog Summit: CAAAPU Presentation - Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit
* Grog Summit: Russell Goldflam - People's Alcohol Action Coalition Presentation
* Grog Summit: Dr Peter d’Abbs, Menzies School of Health Research Presentation
* Grog Summit: Fitzroy Crossing Presentation
* Grog Summit: Anyinginyi Health Service Presentation
* Congress: Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing to help close the gap
* Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Greens Opal Fuel Bill passes the Senate
* ABC Indigenous: Elders' stories to be caught on film
* The Wire: Patchy media coverage of indigenous issues making for poor policy
* To mark International Human Rights Day, STICS will be holding an NT Intervention / Stronger Futures Forum
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles
* APO NT GROG SUMMIT: GROG IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
- Reportback on the Summit
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory - APO NT:
Grog Summit:
Grog in the Northern Territory: Summit on alcohol policy and its impacts on Aboriginal people and communities
http://apont.org.au/index.php/grog-summit.html
23 Nov 12: "On 16 November 2012 APO NT held a summit on alcohol policy and its impacts on Aboriginal people and communities in the NT in Darwin. A media release announcing the summit is below. The agenda and invite flyer for the summit can be found below. Priscilla Collins, CEO of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency opened the summit with a speech entitled 'Our peoples' right to choose on grog' (see below). ...
Some of the presentations made at the Grog Summit are available below:
* AMSANT;
* Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit;
* Russell Goldflam, People's Alcohol Action Coalition;
* Dr Peter d’Abbs, Menzies School of Health Research;
* Fitzroy Crossing;
* Strong Men, Strong Culture - Anyinginyi Health Service.
On 19 November APO NT issued a communique outlining the outcomes of the Grog Summit."
- About APO NT
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory
http://apont.org.au/
"Welcome to APO NT
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. ... "
- Related News
Koori Mail: Grog warning
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
28 Nov 12: "LEADING Indigenous organisations in the Northern Territory have issued a dire warning about risks of allowing more alcohol into remote communities. Aboriginal health, land and law and justice organisations have demanded Indigenous people be included in any decision-making regarding alcohol policy, program development and resourcing following a major summit in Darwin this month. About 150 representatives from Gunyangara, Galiwinku, Yirrkala, Milingimbi, Gapuwiyak, West Arnhem, Bagot community, Tiwi Islands, Katherine, Barunga, Katherine East, Beswick, Kakadu, Borroloola, Alice Springs, Hermannsburg, Jilkminggan, Darwin and Tennant Creek, as well as Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia, took part in the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory (APO NT) summit, which also attracted drug and alcohol experts."
* APO NT COMMUNIQUE: GROG IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY: SUMMIT OUTCOMES
- Media Release
Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory - APO NT:
Communiqué: Grog in the Northern Territory: Summit Outcomes
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/121119%20-%20APO%20NT%20Media...
19 Nov 12: "On Friday 16 November 2012 a summit on alcohol policy and its impact on Aboriginal people and communities was held in Darwin, sponsored by the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory [APO NT]. The summit was attended by around 150 people.
The forum heard from a number of speakers from Aboriginal communities and organisations across the Territory including: Anyinginyi Health Service, East Arnhem night patrol, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, CAAPU, CAAPS, Borroloola, Tiwi Islands, Ntaria, Beswick, Bagot community, SAF,T, Jilkminggan and Katherine. There was also a presentation from representatives from Fitzroy Crossing.
The summit heard also from expert speakers including Professor Peter d’Abbs from Menzies School of Health Research; Associate Professor, Ted Wilkes from the National Indigenous Drug & Alcohol Committee; Professor Dennis Gray from the National Drug Research Institute; David Templeman, CEO of the Alcohol & Other Drugs Council of Australia; Donna Ah Chee, Acting CEO of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Doctor John Boffa, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress; Russell Goldflam, People’s Alcohol Action Coalition and Michael O’Donnell, Chair of the NT Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal. ...
The key messages delivered throughout the summit, included: ...
Aboriginal participants made a number of key resolutions about action to be taken in their communities: ...
Aboriginal summit participants called on both levels of Government to: ...
The outcomes of the summit will be followed up with Government through nominated delegates. ... "
* GROG SUMMIT: INTRODUCTORY SPEECH BY PRISCILLA COLLINS, CEO NAAJA - NORTH AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL JUSTICE AGENCY
- Speech
"Our peoples’ right to choose on grog" Priscilla Collins, CEO NAAJA
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/121115-Speech-PC-Our%20people...
16 Nov 12: "On 24 July 1966 the Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights met at Rapid Creek. They set out their grievances in a document titled 'Program for improved living standards for Northern Territory Aborigines'. Wages and working conditions were only a part of a wider and deeper discontent. The Program also included standards for housing, education, health-care and in relation to racial discrimination. Nearly 50 years on, we are again gathering in Rapid Creek to discuss an issue of vital importance to Aboriginal peoples in the NT. Back then, access to alcohol was seen by many Aboriginal people as a solely civil rights issue. Half a century on, the game is far more complex. ... "
* GROG SUMMIT: AMSANT PRESENTATION - ABORIGINAL MEDICAL SERVICES ALLIANCE OF THE NT
- Presentation
Options for Alcohol Control in the Northern Territory
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT, January 2008
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/AMSANT%27s%20Alcohol%20Policy...
"Donna Ah Chee, Acting CEO, CAAC
APONT Alcohol Summit, 2012"
"Outline of the AMSANT alcohol policy
1. The need for alcohol control
2. Listen to Aboriginal communities
3. Proposed alcohol control measures
- Supply reduction:
- Demand reduction: encourage responsible drinking
- Demand reduction: provide adequate treatment and rehabilitation services
- Harm minimisation: community based services and programs
4. Develop effective alcohol management strategies
5. Develop strong alcohol licensing, control and standards ... "
* GROG SUMMIT: CAAAPU PRESENTATION - CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ALCOHOL PROGRAMMES UNIT
- Presentation
Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit CAAAPU
Eileen Hoosan - Chairperson
Philip Allnutt - CEO
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/CAAAPU%20Presentation.pdf
"CAAAPU VISION:
CAAAPU has a responsibility to provide indigenous people from the Central Australian region to:
* Provide a safe, non-discriminatory healing place that equips clients with the tools with which to live a healthy, sober, active and productive life.
* In recognition of the unique spiritual and cultural strengths of Aboriginal people be a leading advocate in the areas of alcohol and other drug dependency.
* Ensure that it incorporates practices that enable clients to develop their full potential
* Work towards the reduction of the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on individuals, families and the community, thus contributing to the well being of our society. ... "
* GROG SUMMIT: RUSSELL GOLDFLAM - PEOPLE'S ALCOHOL ACTION COALITION PRESENTATION
- Presentation
Russell Goldflam - Alice Springs Peoples Alcohol Action Coalition
Presentation to APONT Alcohol Summit, Darwin
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/Presentation%20to%20APONT%20A...
16 Nov 12: "... About 15 years ago, I helped form the Alice Springs Peoples Alcohol Action Coalition, and we’ve been working hard on what to do about grog ever since. We’ve learnt some important things, and we’ve had some big wins, but we’re not even close yet to knocking this problem on the head. We have two guiding principles: firstly, a whole of community approach - everyone is entitled to the same service - everyone in a community should be subject to the same rules. And secondly, we support what works, whether it’s popular or not. Look at the evidence, and be guided by it. ... "
* GROG SUMMIT: DR PETER D'ABBS, MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH PRESENTATION
- Presentation
Menzies School of Health Research:
What does the evidence show?
Peter d’Abbs,
Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, & School of Population Health, University of Melbourne (Adjunct)
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/Dr%20Peter%20D%27ABBS%20Prese...
[Click on above link to read the presentation]
* GROG SUMMIT: FITZROY CROSSING PRESENTATION
- Presentation
Grog Summit - Darwin
June Oscar, Emily Carter and Patrick Davies
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/Fitzroy%20Cross.%20Presentati...
"BACKGROUND:
* Fitzroy Crossing - 2007
* 40 years of chronic over supply of alcohol on top of ineffective Government Policy
* Rise in deaths in the community
* 13 Suicides
* 50 Deaths, mostly related to alcohol
* Something needed to be done"
"Community Action:
* The women of the valley decided at a Women’s Bush meeting that action needed to be taken so they began to seek approval to bring in Alcohol restrictions to the entire town
* There was much opposition
* The women stood strong and pursued the cause"
[Click on above link to read the full presentation]
* GROG SUMMIT: ANYINGINYI HEALTH SERVICE PRESENTATION
- Presentation
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Coprporation
Prevention is the Solution
HEALTH ABORIGINAL CORPORATION
Culturally Responsive
WELCOME TO PILIYINTINJI-KI STRONGER FAMILIES
http://apont.org.au/attachments/article/62/Strong%20Men%20Strong%20Cultu...
"Piliyintinji-ki (Stronger Families) provides culturally appropriate services for men, women and families of the Tennant Creek Region. We provide a wide range of services for community members to assist with:
* Substance misuse
* Bringing Them Home
* Social & Emotional Well-being
* Family Violence
The counselling services are a part of the solution and we provide a Capacity Building Timetable, for the Men’s and Women’s Centre, that value add to our clients needs and capacity building for their daily lives. The timetable includes:
* Cultural re-connection
* Bush Tucker/Medicines
* Nutrition
* Specialist Education Sessions (diabetes, nutrition, phychology, healthy lifestyle etc) ... "
[Click on above link to read the full presentation]
* CONGRESS: SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING TO HELP CLOSE THE GAP
- Media Release
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples:
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing to help close the gap
http://nationalcongress.com.au/supporting-mental-health-wellbeing/
27 Nov 12: "Congress Co-Chair Jody Broun has welcomed the first national mental health report card and its recommendation that that mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples be included in 'Closing the Gap' targets.
"The report’s chapter on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples stresses the importance of mental health and wellbeing to extending life expectancy and in reducing early deaths," said Co-Chair Broun.
"The necessity of a more holistic approach to Aboriginal health has been a consistent message I have heard during the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan consultations during the past two months.
"That is, that health and wellbeing, culture and family are all linked with our physical health. ... " [said Co-Chair Broun]"
See:
Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
Last updated: 5 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
- Related Audio Interviews
SBS Living Black: Australia's First Mental Health Report Card Released
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/243779/t...
28 Nov 12: "Australia has failed in its delivery of mental health services and the situation needs urgent attention - according to Professor Alan Fels, Chair of the National Mental Health Commission. This follows the release of Australia's inaugural "report card" on mental health services. ... One of the Comissioners involved in the report card is Professor Pat Dudgeon, a Bardi woman from the Kimberley, a psycholoigst for many years, and the first identified Aboriginal psychologist in Australia. Professor Dudgeon tells Michelle Lovegrove, this report card focuses on people and community first."
SBS Living Black: Mental Health Report Card - Julie's Story
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/243783/t...
28 Nov 12: "The Mental Health Report Card also includes the experiences of a number of courageous people, on the impacts of mental health issues, and lack of services - on their lives. Shock, loss and grief are three byproducts of mental health trauma, particularly when loved ones self harm or commit suicide. The bereavement and loss Wakka woman and school teacher Julie Turner went through is a parent's worst nightmare. Her daughter suffered from depression and committed suicide at just 17 years of age. Julie tells Marc Tong, there's a critical need for culturally appropriate support groups in remote communities."
* GREENS SENATOR RACHEL SIEWERT: GREENS OPAL FUEL BILL PASSES THE SENATE
- Media Release
Greens Rachel Siewert: Greens Opal Fuel Bill passes the Senate
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-opa...
27 Nov 12: "Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Issues
The Australian Greens Low Aromatic Fuel Bill 2012 has passed the Senate this evening, with a commitment from Government that existing problem spots will be addressed by mid year 2013.
The Bill will now move to the House of Representatives.
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, who has worked on the issue since entering Parliament in 2005, told the Senate that the Bill was an important step towards ending the harm caused by petrol sniffing.
"The voluntary rollout of non sniffable fuel has been an important strategy, but is one that has had a big hole in it – this Bill helps resolves that issue and ensures the rollout can be completed," Senator Siewert said today.
"I am pleased the Government has supported this Bill to progress work to end the life threatening harm caused by petrol sniffing. ... " [Senator Siewert said]"
- Related News
newsTracker: Opal fuel bill passes upper house
http://tracker.org.au/2012/11/opal-fuel-bill-passes-upper-house/
28 Nov 12: "NATIONAL: A Greens bill aiming to force retailers to stock Opal Fuel has passed the Senate, after Labor reversed its opposition. The Low Aromatic Fuel Bill will mandate the supply of Opal Fuel in an effort to eradicate petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities. It will now go to the House of Representatives. The non-sniffable fuel, subsidized by the federal government, was rolled out on a volunteer basis in 2005, and resulted in a reduction in petrol sniffing of up to 70 percent in selected communities." By Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, editor of Tracker
* ABC INDIGENOUS: ELDERS' STORIES TO BE CAUGHT ON FILM
- News
ABC Indigenous: Elders' stories to be caught on film
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-26/elders-stories-to-be-caught-on-fil...
26 Nov 12: "A team of filmmakers has arrived in the East Kimberley to record the stories and memories of Aboriginal elders at a remote community. The Indigenous Community Stories project was started up by the Film and Television Institute four years ago, to capture the stories of Aboriginal elders across Western Australia. The Djaru people, who live in the remote Ringer Soak community, have asked to have their oral histories, songs, dances and rituals recorded for future generations. Project manager Mandy Corunna says the recording will help the region retain its ancient history."
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/am-27.11.12-.mp3
27 Nov 12: "The stories and memories of elders in East Kimberley are to be recorded on Film."
* THE WIRE: PATCHY MEDIA COVERAGE OF INDIGENOUS ISSUES MAKING FOR POOR POLICY
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Patchy media coverage of indigenous issues making for poor policy
Produced by Tim Roxburgh
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9903
27 Nov 12: "The way indigenous issues are covered in the media is sometimes leading to bad policy, according to a group of academics studying how these topics are reported. They say some indigenous issues get no coverage, while other issues receive short bursts of intense media interest. These periods of acute media attention can lead to quick policy responses that don’t take account of the existing evidence in the field. ...
Featured in story:
Kerry McCallum - Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Canberra"
* TO MARK INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, STICS WILL BE HOLDING AN NT INTERVENTION / STRONGER FUTURES FORUM:
- Upcoming Event
Event: Thu 6 December 2012, 6:30pm: Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW
To mark International Human Rights Day,
STICS will be holding an
NT Intervention / Stronger Futures Forum
Forum: After the NT Election:
The Struggle Against the NT Intervention
Aboriginal leaders speak out:
"Stronger Futures" means Stolen Futures
Special guest speakers:
* Rosalie Kunoth Monks &
* Amelia Pangarte Kunoth-Monks
from Utopia community, Central Australia
* Jeff McMullen,
CEO (Honorary) Ian Thorpe's Foundation for Youth
"Join us to hear voices in the fight for Aboriginal
rights discuss the shifting terrain in the struggle
against the NT Intervention: a new government
in the NT, community attempts to evict Intervention
and Shire bosses from their land and the fight
to stop the national expansion of income management.
All welcome."
Hosted by STICS:
Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney
Note: New location:
Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/29/public-forum-%E2%80%9Cstronger-future...
Event details: http://www.amnesty.org.au/nsw/event/30474/
Event details: [scroll down page] http://stoptheintervention.org/
Poster: http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Stronger-Future...
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 11 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 26 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* OTHER ARTICLES
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Yagan doco tells chapter of nation's "shared story"
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7653-yagan-doco-tells-chapter-of...
28 Nov 12: "The director of a new film celebrating the famous Nyoongar warrior Yagan says the first screening will be held in Perth next month for free. The film documents the conflicts between Nyoonger people and Swan River colonialists in the early 1800s where Yagan was a central figure of resistance, as well as the challenges of repatriating his remains back from the UK more recently. Spear Point Productions' Kelrick Martin says the story is significant for Nyoongar culture and history and also for Australia's overall history."
National Indigenous Radio Service: NAPLAN's cultural relevance under scrutiny
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7652-naplans-cultural-relevance-...
28 Nov 12: "A linguistics researcher from the University of Melbourne says there's evidence the national literacy and numeracy test, NAPLAN, discriminates against Indigenous children. NAPLAN testing assesses Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 children in Reading, Writing, Language and Numeracy. Dr. Debbie Loaks told CBAA's The Wire program research has found the test's content could be more culturally-inclusive of Indigenous students."
National Indigenous Times: Treaty and sovereignty "still on the cards"
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2295-treaty-and-sovereignty-still-on-the-card...
28 Nov 12: "by Callum Clayton-Dixon (Anawayn). Emotions ran high on Monday morning when Black activists blockaded the entrance to Brisbane's Stamford Plaza in an act of protest against the Native Title conference being held at the hotel. Police were unsuccessful in removing the protestors and met an irate response from veteran sovereign rights campaigner Wayne 'Coco' Wharton... "
National Indigenous Times: Child abuse inquiry must include Indigenous Royal Commissioners
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2297-child-abuse-inquiry-must-include-indigen...
28 Nov 12: "The Royal Commission into child sexual abuse must include a dedicated Indigenous space with Indigenous commissioners according to a former senior public servant. Assistant Professor Tjanara Goreng Goreng sees the current Royal Commission as a great opportunity for Indigenous Australians. "I believe there have been a lot of abused Aboriginal people who have never had the... "
Koori Mail: Outrage grows over taser use
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
28 Nov 12: "OUTRAGE over police misuse of tasers – too often against Indigenous people – is growing across Australia. In recent weeks police have copped criticism in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and other jurisdictions for incidents where tasers have been used unnecessarily to ‘torture’ and subdue victims, in some cases followed by death."
National Indigenous Times: Review of NSW’s Land Rights Act offers 47 major recommendations
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2292-review-of-nsws-land-rights-act-offers-47...
28 Nov 12: "Among 47 recommendations contained in an historic review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA) tabled in New South Wales Parliament include proposals on housing, land claims, regulatory powers and incentive models, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello said. The statutory review of the ALRA, which is required every five years, began in December 2011 with the establishment of a Working... "
- - -
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 tent embassies;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'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 and events. Subscribers can expect to receive about 4 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.
- - -
You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which focuses on activities and events and provides a point of contact.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/