Songlines

From Working Group Indigenous Rights (WGAR)

Aboriginal sovereignty to go to the Senate

Canberra, 1 February 2010 – The Aboriginal assertion of sovereignty is to be put to the Federal Parliament by the Greens Senator Rachel Siewert at the request of the New Way Summit convened here.

Senator Siewert made the pledge to about 120 Aboriginal delegates from across the continent.

Sovereignty was the main issue at the gathering, convened in the Australian National University by Michael Anderson.

The summit elected a task force to examine options like international and domestic sovereignty

(see WGAR website for full story posted by Drew)

New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body

Canberra, 31 January 2010 –The New Way Summit of 150 Aboriginal people has unanimously opposed the proposed Rudd government sponsored national Aboriginal representative body to be known as ‘The First Nations Congress’ being organised by the former Human Rights Commissioner, Tom Calma.

The summit heard angry comment that it would be just a perpetuation of white government control of Aboriginal lives.

The summit heard that this so-called representative body will have the power to deny Aboriginal people the right to determine their leaders.

There was strong objection to a so-called ‘Ethics Council’ having been hand-picked and putting candidates through highly stringent character checks that do not apply to non-Aboriginal politicians.

(See WGAR website for full story posted by Drew)

http://wgar.info/

From website (url below):

“Background

The National IKC Project grew out of the 2020 Summit that was held in Canberra in April 2008. At the Summit, 1000 Australians were invited by Prime Minister Rudd to address the challenges facing our country. Delegates from all walks of life gathered to exchange ideas and develop options across several core areas identified by the Government. Options for the future of Indigenous Australians was one of these core areas. Participants in each policy area developed ideas and produced recommendations for shaping the direction of Australia. The Government undertook to consider all recommendations and to report back to the Australian people.

The Prime Minister released the Responding to Australia 2020 Summit Report in April 2009. This response stated that Indigenous culture is a critical part of Australia’s identity and that strengthening it is a core element in sustaining a strong Indigenous community. The Government considered that the celebration of Indigenous cultures will play a significant role in the development of policies and programs for Indigenous Australians. Specifically, the Government supported an examination of the concept of an Indigenous Knowledge Centre

The project is headed by senior Indigenous leader and academic, Dr. Jackie Huggins AM, and will:

* seek the views of Australians about ways to strengthen, support and promote Indigenous cultures,
* examine the world’s “best practice” local and international cultural management, and
* “identify how proposed models relate to existing institutions, services or practices.

An extensive information gathering and consultation program will be undertaken over several months in early 2010 to inform the project. Cultural and collecting institutions will be canvassed for their insights and opinions on the potential elements of a National Indigenous Knowledge Centre. Indigenous leaders and organisations will be similarly engaged and Indigenous communities will be consulted on country as to their aspirations for, and requirements from, such a Centre.”

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/about/ppp/initiatives/nikcproject

Australian Human Rights Commission:

“Incoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, has welcomed the first public hearing of the House of Representatives Standing Committee inquiry into the high level of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system.

Commissioner Gooda said the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs inquiry which starts today in Canberra, provided an ideal opportunity to put the spotlight on real alternatives to incarceration.

“For too long now we have accepted the over representation of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in our prison and court systems as normal,” Commissioner Gooda said.

“This inquiry could really help to turn the tide by looking into the life-saving and cost-saving potential of approaches such as justice reinvestment which diverts a portion of funds earmarked for imprisonment expenditure to local communities with a high concentration of offenders.”

Commissioner Gooda said juvenile detention should be the last resort for Indigenous young people who, if locked up, often escalated to a life of adult crime.

He said more money should be spent on prevention, early intervention and diversion instead of automatically reverting to a ‘lock them up’ approach.

“The federal government has already been applauded for its commitment to social inclusion and improving access to justice for vulnerable Australians, so let’s really try to make a difference here by trying a different approach,” Commissioner Gooda said.

“Clearly, when we have 25 per cent of the total prisoner population comprising Indigenous peoples and a staggering 82 per cent of the Northern Territory prison population comprising Indigenous people, we need to do things differently.

“Justice reinvestment gives us hope; by reinvesting funds from our existing imprisonment model to preventative programs and community services at the local level where there are acute problems, we have a chance to get in early and address the underlying causes of crime,” he said.

“I look forward to the inquiry outcomes and urge all policy makers and governments to seriously consider any recommendations for alternatives to incarceration, particularly justice reinvestment which has had demonstrated success in some states of the USA and in the United Kingdom.”

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

WGAR website: http://wgar.info/

Live Streaming of New Way Summit

Next broadcast 9 am Monday 1 February

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wgar

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Friday, 22 January 2010

Commissioner Calma said the Social Justice Report 2009 focussed on: justice reinvestment to reduce Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system; protection of Indigenous languages; and sustaining Aboriginal homeland communities.

“Nationally, Indigenous adults are 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous people and Indigenous juveniles are 28 times more likely to be placed in juvenile detention than their non-Indigenous counterparts,” Commissioner Calma said.

“I have been advocating for some time now for Australian governments to consider a tried and tested approach known as ‘justice reinvestment’, which diverts a portion of the funds planned to be spent on imprisonment to local communities where there is a high concentration of offenders.

“The money that would have been spent on imprisonment is reinvested in programs and services in communities where these issues are most acute, in order to address the underlying causes of crime in those communities.”

“Indigenous languages are critically endangered and they continue to die out at a rapid rate,” he said.

“Prior to colonisation, Australia had 250 distinct languages which expanded out to 600 dialects. Today only 18 Indigenous languages are fully intact - and even these are endangered.

“Without intervention, Indigenous language knowledge will cease to exist in Australia in the next 10 to 30 years.

“Without targeted action and cooperation from the state and territory governments, we will see Indigenous languages continue to die out.”

Commissioner Calma said the Report was also vital reading for anyone interested in the perilous state of Indigenous languages in Australia.

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/Social_Justice/sj_report/sjreport09/community_guide.html

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Making the Declaration Work
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Eds: Claire Charters and Rudolf Stavenhagen

IWGIA 2009
EUR 20.00 + postage
Order via:
http://www.iwgia.org/sw40005.asp#516_31530

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Latest news on trying to remove neo-colonial governmental controls over the lives of First Peoples in the NT:

see

http://antar.cmail2.com/T/ViewEmail/y/6F2112ABEFA43096/CA3AC2CDB0288E7DC5EC08CADFFC107B

Social Justice and Native Title Reports

The Australian Human Rights Commission cordially invites you to the launch of the Social Justice Report 2009 and the Native Title Report 2009.

When: Friday, 22 January 2010
10.00 for 10.30 am

Where: Redfern Community Centre,
Level 3, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern, NSW

The venue is accessible for people using wheelchairs.

For other access requirements please contact (02) 9284 9835.

At the request of the venue stilettos are not to be worn in the venue. (Things must be looking up for some, then - Songlines.)

RSVP: By Monday, 18 January to: socialjustice@humanrights.gov.au

Due to limited seating, RSVPs are essential.

Phone: (02) 9284 9835

The launch will include:

* Introduction by The Hon Catherine Branson QC, President, Australian Human Rights Commission
* Keynote Address by Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

Garrett to allow Uluru climbs
LINDSAY MURDOCH Sydney Morning Herald
January 9, 2010

“DARWIN: Tourists will be able to climb the World Heritage-listed Uluru for at least 18 months after the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, backed away from a move to ban it.

Mr Garrett, who as a rock singer for the band Midnight Oil sang about land rights at the base of rock 20 years ago, supported the view of Aboriginal traditional owners who regard it as a sacred site and wanted climbing banned.

There were also concerns that some of the 100,000 tourists who climb the rock each year were defecating on it.

But under a new 10-year management plan announced by Mr Garrett yesterday, the 348-metre rock will remain open to climbers until its popularity dwindles or new visitor experiences are developed.

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, were among the people who said the rock should be kept open to climbers.”

Full story

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/garrett-to-allow-uluru-climbs-20100108-lyvi.html

Australian Human Rights Commission
e-Update
04 january 2010

Members of the Ethics Council responsible for developing and maintaining standards of the new representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have been announced today by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.

“I have been nominated to be the Steering Committee representative on the Ethics Council.

“It is with great pleasure that I can announce the remaining five members of the Council as Professor Larissa Behrendt, Mr Wesley Enoch, Ms Mary Graham, Ms Nalwarri Ngurruwutthun and Professor Lester Irabinna Rigney,” Mr Calma said.

Commissioner Calma, who chairs the independent Steering Committee that has been guiding development of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, said the Ethics Council would apply a merit-based process to shortlist candidates for election as members of the National Executive and then be responsible for ensuring the ethical conduct of representatives of the organisation, based on the Nolan principles.

“Appointment of the Ethics Council members takes us one step closer to having a representative voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the first time in five years,” Commissioner Calma said.

“The Steering Committee has decided that the Ethics Council should be comprised of six Indigenous people of high standing, with one chair, and a gender balance among their members.

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