Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June: Let’s talk recognition
A great chance to celebrate, appreciate and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
National Indigenous Youth Parliament
The first National Indigenous Youth Parliament is on this week in Canberra and Steph Pollard (year 12) has been chosen as an ACT representative, along with 50 participants from all around Australia. The program develops youth-led advocacy & community leadership and includes debating bills written by teams. It marks the 50th anniversary of the Indigenous right to vote in federal elections. http://www.aec.gov.au/voting/indigenous_vote/niyp.htm
NAIDOC & Reconciliation Week Assembly 18 June
Guest performer is Owen Campbell, a local indigenous singer and guitarist who has reached the semi-finals of Australia’s got talent. The assembly falls 2 weeks before NAIDOC Week and after Reconciliation Week so it’s a celebration of both.
Info, resources & news about reconciliation
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home
Animated video for Reconciliation Week (1 min.): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN2zVEWZPUw
Online video competition: Shoot a 45 second video on a handheld device & win an ipad or lunch with chef Mark Olive. Choosea key action for reconciliation such as Change the future, Praise people, Look through different eyes… Entries close 21 June.
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home/latest/video-competition-launch
NAIDOC Week 1 – 8 July
This year’s theme is Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on.
http://www.naidoc.org.au/celebrating-naidoc-week/2012-national-naidoc-week-theme/
The Sapphires film gets standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival
Based on the play by Tony Briggs, the true story of an all-girl singing group from a remote Aboriginal community in Victoria who play for Australian troops in Vietnam. The feel-good musical comedy stars Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell and Deborah Mailman; directed by Wayne Blair. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/sapphires-supreme-effort-all-set-to-dazzle-cannes-20120519-1yxto.html
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sapphires-cannes-review-326980
Mabo: Sunday 10 June ABC1, 8.30pm
Docudrama – the story of Eddie Koiki Mabo and his fight for justice and Native Title. Directed by Rachel Perkins (Bran Nue Dae; Radiance; The first Australians). Stars Jimi Bani & Deborah Mailman.
The ABC website has good resources including teacher notes and activities for Years 7-12. Includes videos from the 480:Mabo series which celebrates 20 years since the Mabo decision. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/mabo/videos/
Timeline of Native Title with short videos: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/mabo/timeline/
Amnesty International 2012 human rights report
Amnesty says that Australia continues to violate the rights of Indigenous people, and is driving them from their homelands through policies & inadequate funding. http://www.amnesty.org.au/report/comments_2012/28734/
Amnesty and Indigenous rights http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/
In March, the Commonwealth Government committed long-term funds to support Homelands, but more is needed. Homelands are communities established so that Aboriginal people can maintain connection with their traditional, ancestral land. These communities have lower levels of social problems and significantly better health outcomes, and are home to around a third of the Aboriginal population of the Northern Territory. http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/homelands/