Archive for July, 2009

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ANTaR media release – Alice Springs town camps – and online petition

July 31, 2009

Town camps takeover a low point in Indigenous affairs

31 July 2009

The reluctant acceptance of a government take-over of town camps in Alice Springs represents a low point in Indigenous affairs, ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation), said today.

“It’s a sad day when the government feels it’s won a victory by coercing Indigenous people into signing away control over their communities”, ANTaR spokesperson Dr David Cooper said.

The government has achieved its aims, according to Tangentyere’s Executive Director, William Tillmouth, by putting a gun to the head of Tangentyere.

Australians should be concerned at what this indicates about the government’s commitment to re-set its relationship with Indigenous people.

Service providers like Tangentyere Council have worked for generations in the face of government neglect to provide better conditions for town campers.

Sign ANTARs Petition:

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/reinstate-the-racial-discrimination-act-in-the-northern-territory/sign.html

(more…)

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ABC Video, audio and print – Alice Springs town camps

July 30, 2009

Camp protest

Source: ABC News
Published: Monday, July 27, 2009 8:05 AEST
Expires: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:05 AEST
Residents of Alice Springs’ town camps are challenging the federal Government’s compulsory takeover.

Video:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/07/27/2637994.htm

Audio

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2640656.htm?site=news

See also
Two Alice camps likely to be taken over

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/30/2640656.htm?site=news

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If this is native title, bring on real Aboriginal title (includes rights to minerals)

July 30, 2009

Article from: The Australian

Aborigines win 13-year title fight
Natasha Bita | July 30, 2009

ABORIGINES have won a 13-year battle in the Federal Court for native title rights over a massive swathe of Cape York Peninsula that includes Rio Tinto’s giant bauxite mine in Weipa.

The court ruled yesterday that the Wik and Wik Way people have traditional rights — to camp, hunt, gather, fish, protect sacred sites, conduct traditional ceremonies and “erect shelters and other structures” — over 1150sqkm of their traditional land and waters on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula.

But the fine print reveals tight controls on what the Wik and Wik Way peoples may do on the Rio mining leases. Under the deal, they have no rights to minerals or oil deposits. Nor will they be allowed to use guns or light campfires, “other than for safety or in an emergency”.

And Rio will have the right to exclude them from areas it requires to carry out its activities, or “for operational, safety or security reasons or as required by law”. “The native title rights and interests will continue to exist in their entirety but will have no effect in relation to the exercise of rights under the Comalco (now renamed Rio Tinto) or the performance of the Comalco activities,” the court order states.

Full story

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25855681-2702,00.html

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"Indigenous health must be treated as a priority in health reform"

July 29, 2009

Australian Human Rights Commission – Tuesday, 28 July 2009

The Close the Gap Campaign has welcomed release of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission (NHHRC) Report and its recognition of Indigenous health as a priority issue.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma, who chairs the Close the Gap Steering Committee for Indigenous Health Equality, said he was particularly pleased the NHHRC had proactively engaged with Indigenous stakeholders, including the Close the Gap Steering Committee, to refine and develop its Indigenous health proposals.

“Most importantly, the NHHRC’s final report emphasises the need for a partnership between government and peak Indigenous health bodies as the starting point in addressing Indigenous health equality,” Commissioner Calma said.

“The onus is now on the Australian Government to ensure it establishes a partnership approach with Indigenous stakeholders in the next six months, as part of its commitment to ‘road test’ the report’s recommendations.

“Proposals such as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Authority, in particular, have the potential to be a double-edged sword,” he said.

“It is vital that the Australian Government engages from the start with Indigenous stakeholders and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to get it right.

“Together, we must ensure the full potential of such an authority to progress Indigenous health equality, but also to ensure that its establishment is not at the expense of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.”

(more…)

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Aotearoa/New Zealand – hui (meetings) underway for National Maori flag

July 21, 2009

Recognising a National Māori Flag

“Feedback is being sought to identify a preferred flag which represents Māori history, and will carry us forward with our hopes and aspirations for our future.”

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/consultation/maoriflag/

And see the design of one of the options – The Māori Flag (the Tino Rangatiratanga Flag)

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/consultation/maoriflag/tinorangatiratanga/

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Well-Being of Australian First Peoples' Senior Men

July 20, 2009

The well-being of Australia’s indigenous senior men is often marginalised by those pursuing an entirely Western agenda.

Yet the well-being of these senior men is crucial to the well-being of the whole of life.

http://www.openforum.com.au/content/senior-indigenous-men-forgotten

And follow the link at that item to 12canoes ceremony. Highly recommended!

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URGENT REQUEST FOR SUPPORT – ALICE SPRINGS TOWN CAMPS

July 19, 2009

This is a request to support a statement against the proposed compulsory acquisition of the town camps in Alice Springs by the Federal Government. A copy of the statement is appended.


We are calling for public endorsement of the Statement opposing the Commonwealth’s proposal to compulsorily acquire the Alice Springs town camps. It is planned to publish this Statement and endorsements in the national media on 30 July, on the first day of the Australian Labor Party’s national conference and one week prior to the government’s planned takeover date of August 5.

This is a crucial time for Aboriginal people, particularly in the Northern Territory. The NT Intervention has spent more than $1 billion, but led only to increased discrimination and hardship. While new layers of bureaucracy take control of communities, years of inadequate funding and support have left many Aboriginal organisations and programmes struggling to survive.

(more…)

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Uluru – and learning to 'see' and speak Australian

July 11, 2009

See posting on Open Forum at:

http://www.openforum.com.au/content/learning-%E2%80%98see-australia-and-speak-fair-dinkum-australian

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Pacific Economic Bulletin, Volume 24 Number 2 (2009)

July 10, 2009

Contents and download articles:

http://peb.anu.edu.au/peb/current_issue.php

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ULURU DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN – CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

July 10, 2009

MEDIA RELEASE 8 July 2009

“The Director of National Parks today invited public submissions on a draft plan to guide management over the next decade of one of Australia’s most recognised international symbols, the iconic Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. On behalf of the park Board of Management, Director Peter Cochrane today released a draft management plan for a two month public comment period, before revision and presentation to the Australian Government Environment Minister and the Australian Parliament late this year.

“The traditional owners of Uluru, who have majority representation on the Board, agree that we are at a major crossroad in managing this jointly managed national park, so loved by so many Australians,” Mr Cochrane said. “We are confronting the impacts of climate change and invasive species. We also need to think beyond the global economic crisis to longer term visitor travel patterns – who are our next generation of visitors? What experiences are they are seeking and what can we offer?

“Uluru was a touchstone for Aboriginal land rights as a result of the historic decision by the Hawke Government in 1985 to give the traditional owners title to their lands in return for agreeing to lease it back to be managed as a national park. “It has since been globally acclaimed as a World Heritage Area for its natural and cultural values.” Uluru-Kata Tjuta is managed as a cultural landscape because of the thousands of years that it has shaped, and been shaped by, Aboriginal people. Their customs and beliefs underpin park management from traditional burning and protecting sacred sites, to keeping alive the stories that interpret its remarkable desert landscape. Mr Cochrane said the draft plan presented the Board’s views on how the park should be managed, but they wanted feedback on all its aspects.”

Comments are requested by Friday 4 September 2009: Uluru.Plan@environment.gov.au. The draft management plan is available at: www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications/uluru/draft-plan.html For more information www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru

(more…)

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