The Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation Respectfully Acknowledges the Yalukit Wilam

Mungo…

The Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation respectfully acknowledges the Yalukit Wilam clan of the Boon Wurrung who are the traditional owners and custodians of the land.

This newsletter is supported by a Community Grant from the City of Port Phillip and printed with the assistance of the Member for Albert Park, Martin Foley, MP. July 2014

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FROM THE CO-CHAIR

Forum: “Come with me for the journey is long,” the St Kilda/Elsternwick Baptist Church choir sang as they threaded their way through the guests gathered in the Port Melbourne Town Hall for the ‘Constitutional Reform: The next step’ forum on 29 May - a fitting start to the evening. Local elder Aunty Judith ‘Jacko’ Jackson gave the Acknowledgement to Country. Moderator Richard Frankland, the noted singer, songwriter, film maker, author, poet and activist, introduced the speakers and posed questions. The knowledgeable panellists - Daphne Yarram, Board Member of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples; Ian Hamm, Director, Indigenous Economic Development at the Department of Business and Innovation and Melinda Cilento, Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, responded eloquently, engendering stimulating conversation and audience questions. Why do we need to change the constitution? Will it succeed? Is it a priority for the Aboriginal community? Will it make a difference? What needs to be done to engage the broader community? What is the time frame? It is clear that work needs to be done to educate the public to ensure that the changes are made so that all Australians can benefit from having a constitution that is just, fair and inclusive.

Sputnik TV recorded the event and we will show their film at a future meeting. Thanks to the co-presenters: Sacred Heart Mission, particularly Sylvia Edgar; St Kilda/Elsternwick Baptist Church, particularly Digby Hannah and Helen Hoffman; Reconciliation Victoria,

particularly Emily Chauvel and Erin McKinnon; the City of

Port Phillip, particularly Todd Condie, and PPCfR members including Deb Stewart, all of whom helped create this informative and worthwhile event

Reconciliation Week: Thanks to PPCfR’s Helen Bennett for arranging to have display of material in the St Kilda Library during Reconciliation Week. Helen and I attended a forum about ‘Constitutional Recognition and Indigenous Filmmaking’ at the All Saints Hall, St Kilda, chaired by Bryan Andy speaking with Jack Charles, Genevieve Grieves, Lisa Maza and Richard Frankland.

Schools program: Leila Gurruwiwi and Peter Judda Mackay visited St Kilda Park Primary School last month. This was the first school we approached several years ago. See Gael Wilson’s report below.

NAIDOC Week: This year’s theme is ‘Serving Country: Centenary and Beyond’ with a host of events taking place between 6-13 July, several on our patch. Details inside.

Local Groups forum: Liz Brumer, Helen Bennett and I travelled to Shepparton on 14 June to attend the Winter Local Reconciliation Groups’ forum held at the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative. Report below.

Address change: Please note our new email address - . Other details are unchanged.

Rosemary Rule

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. On 7 July, the City of Port Phillip will host a NAIDOC Week Flag raising; The theme this year is

‘Serving Country: Centenary and Beyond’, which honours all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have fought in defence of country. It will include a welcome to country, Mayor’s speech, minute’s silence for the fallen, smoking ceremony, traditional dancing, and community BBQ lunch at the St Kilda Town Hall, Front Lawn, 12pm-2pm. For more information contact Todd Condie on: 9209 6818, or

Tuesday, 8th July, a Family Fun Day will be held at the Peanut Farm Sporting Pavilion, St Kilda, with Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, Indigenous food, music, kids’ activities and a traditional Marngrook football game with prizes. To find out more, contact Daniel Carter, ph: 9209 6694. Thursday,10 July: Winja Ulupna and Galliamble NAIDOC Celebration featuring children, fun bags, good tucker and entertainment, to be held at 10 Mitchell Street, St Kilda, 12pm-3pm. For further information contact Mark Hammersley, ph: 0408 369 843.

Poster: Torres Strait Islander man Harry Pitt has been announced as the winner of the National NAIDOC Poster competition. The theme for 2014 is Serving Country: Centenary & Beyond. Harry’s poster depicts three brothers with their land behind them and the horizon before them. Their Elders are reflected in the water, giving the brothers the strength to overcome the challenges that may lie over the horizon.

NAIDOC on the peninsula

NAIDOC Week is being celebrated at the Peninsula Hot Springs in Rye with a range of activities taking place. The program includes art workshops, indigenous café food options, LI'TYA spa product demonstrations, meditation classes, didgeridoo performances and a Baluk Artskids' workshops. All activities are complimentary with bath house bathing. Baluk Arts, a non-profit Victorian Aboriginal arts organisation based in Mornington, is owned by Aboriginal artists from Frankston, the Mornington Peninsula and wider south-east Melbourne. Their artists are from diverse Aboriginal backgrounds from all over Australia and artworks created reflect themes of identity in a contemporary cultural context. Through Baluk Arts, family groups and members of the stolen generation have reconnected with their culture and express their histories through strong artistic practices to support their cultural and creative well being. Baluk Arts encourages community development, youth leadership, participation and interaction, and Indigenous governance through innovative arts practice. (Baluk is a local Boonwurrung word meaningmany). Check out Baluk Art, 6 Bruce St, Mornington, ph: 5975 5000 or
www.peninsulahotsprings.com.au

Constitutional reform

Reconciliation Victoria received funding from Recognise in May 2013 to raise awareness about this Constitutional reform agenda in Victoria. RecVic supports the scope and intent of the recommendations made by the Expert Panel, and is working towards community review and understanding of the recommendations and issues, now in the second phase of their program. RecVic sees Constitutional Recognition as a positive step forward, but not an end to the reconciliation journey: it alone is not sufficient to achieve outcomes required of a fully reconciled and fair Australia. There is multi-partisan support to progressing the Constitutional reform agenda, and a Joint Select Committee, Chaired by Ken Wyatt with Nova Peris as Deputy Chair, will release an interim report in September this year outlining a proposed model for change with their final report due in May 2015. No definite timeline has been given as to when a referendum could be called, however there has been some indication that it could be in 2017. The primary concern is to keep the level of awareness increasing across Australia and to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and communities are included in the ongoing conversations in developing the model.

PPCfR’s schools program

On Monday 23 June, we organised Indigenous speakers to visit St Kilda Park Primary School. Emma Stokes, the school’s Indigenous Liaison teacher, wanted the children to have some information about Indigenous Australians and the meaning of NAIDOC Week as it occurred during the school holidays. Leila Gurruwiwi and Peter Judda Mackay were introduced to the whole school at morning assembly where an Acknowledgement of Country is given every Monday. Following this, Leila spent time with two groups of grades 5 and 6 children talking about her life. her work and expelling some of the history behind the significance of NAIDOC Week. Judda worked with some children from grades 1 and 2. He told some dreamtime stories and talked about aboriginal painting, demonstrating with colours and symbols. and played his didgeridoo to represent animals in the stories. Later, all the children had an opportunity to make their own paintings using the techniques that Judda had shown them. We will await official feedback from the school, however all sessions seemed to go well and the children were enthusiastic and interested in the different activities. Judda stayed a little longer at the request of the kids to play more didge.

We are now receiving requests from schools from time to time for speakers and this is encouraging. My colleague, Deb Stewart and I will continue to approach the local schools and set up more programmes where we can.

Gael Wilson. Schools Programme Coordinator

RecVic News

The RecVic Council and staff welcome Deb Chapman who will take on the role of Acting State-wide Coordinator while Erin McKinnon is on maternity leave for the next 8-9 months. Deb is involved in the Moreland Reconciliation Advisory Committee, and in recent years, has been working at Brimbank Council in their Learning & Libraries area. Prior to that Deb worked with Oxfam and the International Women's Development Agency.We also all wish Erin the very best as she embarks on this exciting new adventure for her and her family. Erin has played an integral part in the resurrection of RecVic over the past few years and we value her work highly.

Local Groups forum: On behalf of PPCfR, Liz Brumer, Helen Bennett and I travelled to Shepparton on 14 June to attend the Winter Local Reconciliation group’s forum held at the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative. This impressive venue overlooking a forest of gums provided the perfect backdrop for some informative and frank discussions led by local Elders Uncle Leon Saunders, Uncle Bobby Nicholls along with Gene and Donna. Topics included the need for a Treaty and/or Constitutional Reform – and in which order; a greater need for consultation; racism –covert and overt; a preference for being referred to as First Nations People rather than Indigenous - with connotations of flora and fauna, or as Aboriginal; and the history of the area. After lunch, Leon brought some of this to life, with a tour for the group of around 35 people. We saw a humpy replicated from one of many erected up beside the river as well as its successor– a concrete bunker-style house later provided by the Government for everyone regardless of the size of the family. We were shown the magnificent architect-designed Medical Centre, facilities for men’s and women’s activities, offices and the beautifully landscaped grounds within the Cooperative that caters to around 7000 First Nations people living in the area. Grateful thanks to Reconciliation Victoria, particularly Emily Chauvel and Erin McKinnon, and to ANTaR Victoria, for arranging this very worthwhile out-of-town meeting.

ANTaR News

Treaty Workshop - It's Personal is a workshop on the nature of Treaties and agreements and how you can makea powerful personal commitment to reconciliation by making your own personalagreement being organised by ANTaR. Guest Speaker: Richard Frankland, renowned activist, playwright, musician,community worker and author. WHEN: Thursday, 10th July, 6pm, WHERE: Father Tuckers Room, Brotherhood of St Laurence. Access is next to 128 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy; look for the directional signs. GETTING THERE: Catch Yarra Trams route 11, 86 or 112 to Cnr Brunswick and Gertrude St Fitzroy, or the 24, 30, 42, 109 to St Vincent's Plaza, 5 mins walk away, or the 96 to Melbourne Museum, 5 mins walk, or Metro train services to Parliament Station 10-15 mins walk away. There will be pizzas for dinner, donations accepted to cover cost of food.RSVP essential by 8th July. Email to .

ANTaR has had a noticeable increase in councils ordering acknowledgement plaques and engaging with ANTaR Victoria. Banyule, for example, has been very proactive thanks to the efforts of the Banyule Local Reconciliation Group. Others include Marybinong, Darebin and Wyhndam. Do the kindergartens, community centres, infant health centres, libraries etc. in your area have acknowledgement plaques, or RAPs. Amongst other issues we would like to learn more about what’s happening on the ground within your council area when we visit your group soon. Phone: 9483 1363 to find out more.

Homeless Memorial

PPCfR gave a donation to the event and several members attended this year’s Memorial at the Peanut Farm, St Kilda on 18 June. ISCHS’s Mark Williams performed a memorable smoking ceremony, Peter Judda Mackey played the didge and Aunty Judith Jacki Jackson gave the Acknowledgement to Country before the Rev John Tansy spoke about those who have experienced homelessness and acknowledged those who have passed on. Among the singers was Hayley Briggs Penrose from ISCHS in St Kilda.

Smith Street Dreaming Festival

The Smith Street Dreaming Festival line-up has just been announced and it is HUGE. Archie Roach, Joe Geia Music and Art, Uncle Jack Charles (MC), Deline Briscoe, Crystal Mercy and Nikki Ashby. These world class musicians will be performing on Saturday 19 July from 1-5pm on the corner of Smith and Stanley Streets. Everyone is welcome and entry is FREE. Spread the word, but most importantly - get this huge celebration of Aboriginal music and culture into your diary.

Exhibition

Beyond the Surface is an exhibition of recent work by Indigenous artists from South-eastern Australia,co-curated by the Incinerator Gallery andHannah Presley. It includes recent works by Vicki Couzens, Vicki West, Bronwyn Razem, Glenda Nicholls, Arika Waulu, Steven Rhall, Josh Muir and Cassie Leatham Harrap. The exhibition of contemporary and traditional Indigenous art forms draws on the idea of deep listening, which can be understood as ‘listening from the heart’: a form of meditation or contemplation that is an integral part of Indigenous culture. It includes a curator talk, a spoken word and poetry night and an accompanying children’s workshop. Incinerator Gallery, 180 Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds. Open 11am - 4pm until 27 July.

The Journey Cycles of the Boonwurrung

The newly updated edition of this book features stories from the Boonwurrung Nation as told by Elder Carolyn Briggs. The book creates awareness of connection to country, language, history and heritage for those living on Boonwurrung land. Price $29.95; available from the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, 03 9600 4277 or email:

Elders Report

The recently published ‘The Elders Report into preventing Indigenous Self-Harm and Youth Suicide’ attracted media interest - and public comment. It was produced by Peter McConchie, director of social justice organization, People Culture Environment under the auspices of its Culture is Life campaign. The report contains community-led ways to reduce the Aboriginal youth suicide rate, which is the highest in the world. The fundamental finding is that policy makers need to listen to the elders of Indigenous communities and help them teach traditional culture to youth. Under the direction of 32 Indigenous Elders and community leaders, People Culture Environment (PCE) facilitates the intergenerational transfer of cultural knowledge. We also work closely with Elders in the South East of Australia producing traditional lore and initiation Men's camps, an important cultural foundation for young Indigenous Men. PCE's broader focus is to help end significant health and social issues within Indigenous communities for at risk youth. To learn more visit: www.cultureislife.org. Contact the People Culture Environment office. Email - , phone: 0419 898 777 or write to PO Box 2277, St Kilda West 3182, and/or check out Our Generation - www.bepartofthehealing.org