Wednesday, April 27, 2005

WEDNEDSAY 27 April - 7-8pm

Perth Indy Radio - interviews this week with:

MICHAEL ANDERSON - the Euahlay-i nation Elder:

Gumilaroi Aboriginal Elders seek a head count for nation building
Also: Union of Aboriginal Nations Meeting

Goodooga, in April: The meeting held in Moree on the 22nd of April was a success. The founding of the modern-day Gumilaroi Nation was a significant step towards asserting the right of self-determination by the Gumilaroi people. We are no longer seeking charity nor will we accept feel-good programs for the sake and political convenience of the government and their bureaucrats.

Over the coming months we will complete the definitions of our nations’ boundaries and we will be asking all persons who have a family connection to the Gumilaroi Nation to make themselves known in order for us to determine our population and the distribution of our families within Australia. All families are being asked to identify themselves so that they can be incorporated into our nations’ planning.

The identification of the Gumilaroi families is one of the most important outcomes from the Moree meeting. The delegates agreed that our identity as a Nation and Peoples is vital for our future. Over the coming three months we will consolidate what we are building. This is our initiative and we will always own it.

We will rebuild our pride as a people and show how great this Nation can and will be. The Gumilaroi have a long and proud history of fighting for our rights. The early settlers found that out and the modern historians fail to tell the truth of this Nation’s resistance to the invaders. The land of the Gumilaroi was not peacefully settled. It will be this fact that will dictate our future discussions with the governments, both state and federal. The interim leaders of the Gumilaroi Nation declared that it is time to reach a peaceful settlement where the Gumilaroi people can live on their lands without prejudice. The next three months will witness the development of a peace package that will see a proposal from the Gumilaroi Nation for presentation to the state and federal governments

This is an exciting time in our history. What we seek to achieve as a Nation and People is long over due. We will not be entering into any form of paternalistic and/or condescending arrangements such as having to wash our children’s faces before we can gain a benefit. It is time to end this racist paternalism. We want a meaningful and substantive way to achieve proper bi-educational programs and to develop a way for uplifting our low socio-economic position.


ADAM JANALI:
Postcards from detention: CARAD art fundraisera display or artwork produced in detention by Afghan refugee Adam Janali. A number of paintings and cartoons will be on display and limitted edition prints will be availiable for sale.

Adam began painting whilst in Port Hedland detention centre as a way if expressing his own pain and suffering as well as sending a message to the Australian community about the situation all refugees were facing inside detention centre. You can view his story and a few pictures
at Vibewire.

LIAM and BELINDA

Refugee Rights Action - Perth Detention Centre Protest Vigil - Saturday 23 April


BEC

WA Activist Skillshare weekend - 29 April:
The WA uni environment officers, NUS and The Wilderness Society are holding an Activist Skillshare weekend from April 29-May 1. The WA uni environment officers, NUS and The Wilderness Society are holding an Activist Skillshare weekend from April 29-May 1. Only $30 for students, this is going to be an excellent opportunity to meet fellow activists, chill out and learn some important skills that can be applied to environmental or social justice issues that interest YOU.
Contact: 0429143749 enviro@guild.uwa.edu.au

THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL! Increase your knowledge on key environmental issues in WA, meet people from different universities, groups and organisations, share your ideas, and build relationships so that we are well skilled and connected to create change and make WA a better environment to live in!
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