Antar Newsletter June 2018

 

June eNewsletter
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“We believe that a public holiday would be fitting to honour and recognise my father and his co-plaintiffs, and all Indigenous Australians who have empowered and inspired each other.

[It] would be a celebration all Australians can share in with pride – a celebration of truth that unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and a celebration of justice that overturned the legal myth of terra nullius – Mabo symbolises truth and justice and is a cornerstone of Reconciliation.”

– Bonita and Eddie Mabo Jr (Eddie Mabo’s wife and son)

Reconciliation Week was inspiring and enlightening once again – how was yours? Did you learn something new about First Peoples, or have a chat about Indigenous rights with someone? Whatever you did, we hope it was a positive step towards reconciliation. From little things, big things grow.Speaking of big things ­– on June 3, 1992, Australia’s High Court declared that Australia had not been ‘terra nullius’ prior to colonisation. This decision came after Eddie Mabo and a group of Meriam men fought for the land rights of First Peoples for over ten years. This was the first case in which native title over their homeland was recognised.

Since 2002, this has been known as Mabo Day – so don’t forget to take a moment to pay your respects this week! Click here to find out more.
As for next month, get your diaries out – it’s NAIDOC week soon. The acronym, which originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’, has become the name of a week when celebrations are held across Australia each July, celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Find out more here.

Check out a whole lot more cool things that are happening, and the latest news below!
Inaugural Clan Elders Council on Treaty held on May 14

The very first Clan Elders Council on Treaty was held at the Victorian Parliament on May 14, 2018. The Elders gave a collectively devised, unanimously agreed upon statement regarding Treaty, Sovereignty, and the rights of First Peoples.

Read the full statement and find out more here. You can also donate to help make future Clan Elders Council meetings possible, by clicking here.

Building Aboriginal Cultural Competency: an introductory program

Thursday June 7, 9:30am at Koorie Heritage Trust

Are you interested in building your knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal issues, but don’t know where to start? This program could be what you’re looking for! It’s perfect for individuals who may not have regular contact with Aboriginal peoples and communities, but are keen to learn more.

More dates available during the year. Sessions available for individuals or groups. Find out more here.
Feather Flower Buds Workshop with Glenda Nicholls
Saturday June 9, 10:30am at the Mildura Arts Centre
Feather craft is Glenda Nicholls’ life passion. Her craft carries a storyline handed down by Elders and ancestors connecting her to country. In this workshop Glenda will teach participants the art of making feather flower buds.

Free but bookings essential. Find out more here.

Marramb-ik (I am) 
Until Monday June 11at the Melbourne
The role of storytelling has been an integral part of First Peoples culture since the beginning of time. To this day stories of creation, lore, social and political movements and of ancestors are told.

Visual storytelling has been around for tens of thousands of years, and here Victorian First Peoples storytelling is presented through the medium of comics.

Bunjilaka partners with the Koorie Youth Council for this exhibition of storytelling through pop-culture comics incorporating identity, heroes and language.

Find out more here

Collage Afternoon with Peter Waples-Crowe
Friday June 22, 2:30pm at Koorie Heritage Trust

Peter is an awarding winning artist whose visual and performance practices operate in the intersection of Aboriginal identity, Koorie spirituality and Australia’s ongoing colonisation. Join him for an afternoon of collage!

Influenced by his Ngarigo heritage, his art comments on the contested site, of contemporary concerns with a queer global Indigenous world view. Peter will take participants through his art practise, helping them tell their own stories using his signature technique of collage.

All welcome! Find out more here

Victorian NAIDOC awards
Friday June 29, 6:30pm at Bunjilaka
Think you could be the 2018 Ms or Mr NAIDOC, NAIDOC Patron or NAIDOC Sportsperson? Know someone who should win the award? Want to be a part of the awards ceremony? You can nominate someone here!

For tickets and more info click here.

Bush Mechanics: the exhibition
Until July 15 at the Melbourne Museum

Drawing on images, objects and footage from the hilarious and much-loved Bush Mechanics television series, this exhibition explores Indigenous knowledge and ingenuity, the importance of cars to remote communities, bush life and the humour of the outback.

Through comedyand storytelling, learn more about Warlpiri and Yuendumu communities and contemporary Indigenous issues in the heart of Australia.

Find out more here.

 

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News You Might Have Missed

MAKARRATA THE MAP – NOW IT’S OVER TO YOU

Apr 30, 2018 03:15 pm | Antar Victoria

Reconciliation’s best hope is within the Uluru Statement.  Article written by Galarrwuy Yunupingu, published in The Australian July 31st, 2017.  We have come to a time in our nation’s history when the Australian people have an opportunity to decide whether or not to deal with the relationship between my people and those that came after us and changed our way of life. Either a real process of settlement, or makarrata, will now start, or the nation will turn its back on these issues, leaving these challenges for the next generation.

read more

 

Boroondara Council 10 year plan non-inclusive

Nov 06, 2017 02:47 pm | Antar Victoria

In their recently revealed 10 year drafted plan, the City of Boroondara has failed to mention the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people, in any aspect of the Council’s future. They have since said that the reason being is that Acknowledgement of Country and Cultural support for the Wurundjeri people was not brought to the attention of Council. The Wurundjeri Council have not been consulted.

read more

 

New Victorian council aims to give Aboriginal people more power in government decisions

Oct 02, 2017 12:38 pm | Antar Victoria

A new Victorian council has been created to give Aboriginal people influence over decisions relating to issues such as health care, housing, education, and steps towards Aboriginal self-determination.

Esme Bamblett, who is the chief executive of the Aborigines Advancement League, hopes the council will ensure money spent on Aboriginal programs is more effective. Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins said that this step will give Victorian Aboriginal people more decision-making power, going on to say that the government is also committed to a treaty with Victorian Aboriginals.

read more

 

Forensic study uncovers site of Aboriginal massacre

Oct 02, 2017 12:25 pm | Antar Victoria

A team of archaeologists and forensic scientists from Flinders University have traveled to north WA in order to prove the 1922 Sturt Massacre. The scientists examine bone fragments in order to corroborate stories told by local Aboriginal elders, which have been the subject of political debate for decades.

read more

 

Lidia Thorpe could be the first Indigenous woman elected to Victorian parliament

Sep 14, 2017 01:43 pm | Antar Victoria

Gunnai Gunditjimara woman Lidia Thorpe has been preselected as the Greens candidate for the Victorian seat of Northcote and stands a good chance of taking the seat from Labor if past voting trends repeat themselves. If elected Ms Thorpe, who is the chair of the Victorian NAIDOC Committee, could be the first Aboriginal woman elected to parliament in Victoria.

read more

 

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