Songlines

From HREOC “The 7th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is currently underway in New York. Key issues being discussed include the impact of climate change on Indigenous communities, and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

HREOC has provided some funding support for Indigenous participants and has also entered into a partnership with National Indigenous TV to cover the forum. Information, including statements, daily reports and other documentation is available online at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/internat_develop_PFII.html

This is updated regularly by the Commission for the duration of the Forum.”

GetUp! 2020 Ideas Forum
These contributions are based on ideas and comments taken from GetUp’s 2020 Ideas Forum. They reflect the intent of the contributors – but not necessarily GetUp!

“Sorry was the first step, but now we need to consider how we are going to move forward with the reconciliation process. One option is a treaty between white and black Australia that settles questions of land ownership, self-determination and reconciliation.”

Read on for more …

(more…)

The Australian newspaper April 25 2008
Natasha Robinson and Patricia Karvelas

“TWO of the nation’s most powerful Aborigines have dismissed the treaty movement as apolitical “dead horse” and have urged their fellow indigenous leaders to embrace the mainstream push towards the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal people.

Cape York leader Noel Pearson and Arnhem Land powerbroker Galarrwuy Yunupingu warned a historic opportunity to unite the nation through constitutional reform would be squandered unless indigenous leaders advocated universal national citizenship ahead of a treaty.

However, the symbolic reform of the constitutional preamble should not come at the expense of practical measures to combat endemic Aboriginal disadvantage, the leaders warned.

full story
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595724-2702,00.html

Join the ANTaR campaign to restore well-being to us all by restoring it to Australia’s First Peoples:

http://www.antar.org.au/racism

ABC website Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:41am AEST

An Indigenous youth representative at this weekend’s 2020 summit says a new national Aboriginal body should be created to avoid some of the add-hoc policies surrounding the federal intervention.

National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia deputy chair Tim Goodwin says issues like domestic violence and alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities can only be tackled properly with proper consultation with Aboriginal people.

“You need to build those foundations properly before you can build policies and programs which attack those immediate issues, such as child protection and domestic violence.”

…

He says a treaty should be signed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians because the agreement would be good for our the county’s national identity.

Full story

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/19/2221649.htm

AM – Academic fears closing Indigenous gap could take 100 years

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2219240.htm]

You can also listen to the story in REAL AUDIO and WINDOWS MEDIA and MP3 formats.

AM – Thursday, 17 April , 2008 08:10:00
Reporter: Tony Eastley
TONY EASTLEY: During the John Howard years, government was able to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians better than many people thought.

But according to a leading academic who’s just finished a study of the gap between black and white Australia, further improvements could be difficult.

Professor Jon Altman, is Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the ANU.

(To Jon Altman) Professor Altman, do we know why there was more progress in the John Howard years than others?

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PM on hand to hear youth 2020 visions – (Posted ABC website 13 April)

The Youth 2020 Summit in Canberra has delivered its ideas for inclusion in next week’s 2020 national gathering.

The issues covered include refugees, childcare and the environment and despite his overnight flight from China, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was there to accept the proposals personally.

“You’re the youth of the nation, you’re the nation’s tomorrow and so the process has to begin with you,” he told the summit’s participants.

From 40 main ideas, the list has been narrowed down to just 10, including a paid parental leave program available to everyone.

They also proposed a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“I’d really like to see that brought forward and get a treaty signed,” summit delegate Kenneth Torres said.

full story http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/13/2215550.htm

Indigenous Affairs tops list at Canberra 2020 Summit (Posted ABC website 6 April)

The Canberra 2020 Summit has been hailed a success by organisers and delegates.

More than 300 delegates participated in the talk-fest, which represented a cross section of Canberra’s academic, sporting, cultural, youth and political community.

Chief Minister John Stanhope says one of the major issues to emerge from the summit was the plight of Indigenous Australians.

“We covered eight areas today from Indigenous affairs through health, sustainability, education and skills. There’s no area about the future of our city that wasn’t covered,” he said.

“There were some big issues in relation to Indigenous affairs and very strong commitment to a treaty with Indigenous people within Australia.”

full story http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/06/2209016.htm