Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 11 – The Barunga Declaration – June 2023

In June 2023 the four Northern Territory Aboriginal land councils met to sign the Barunga Declaration which addresses all Australians and urges them to support a Voice to Parliament. More than 200 representatives of the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa land councils gathered on the traditional lands of the Bagala clan group at Barunga, south-east [...]

By |2024-02-16T17:03:01+09:30June 23rd, 2023|Australian politics, Essential Documents, Fun stuff, Indigenous land management, Northern development, Northern Territory politics, Some places I've been, The Law, The Northern Myth|Comments Off on Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 11 – The Barunga Declaration – June 2023

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 10 – Prime Minister Paul Keating’s Redfern Park Speech, 10 December 1992

There is one thing today we cannot imagine. We cannot imagine that the descendants of people whose genius and resilience maintained a culture here through fifty thousand years or more, through cataclysmic changes to the climate and environment, and who then survived two centuries of dispossession and abuse, will be denied their place in the modern Australian nation. We cannot imagine that. We cannot imagine that we will fail.

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 9 – The Original Wave Hill Mob Letter of 1967

From the rich man’s table, by John Frith, The Herald, July 1968 The Original Wave Hill Mob Letter of 1967 To: His Excellency The Right Hon. Lord Casey Governor-General of Australia 10 April, 1967 We, the leaders of the Gurindji people, write to you about our earnest desire to regain tenure of our tribal lands in [...]

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 8 – The 2018 Barunga Agreement

On the 8th of  June 2018 the Northern Territory Government and the NT’s four Aboriginal Land Councils signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding paving the way for consultations to begin with Aboriginal people about a Treaty. The MoU was signed on the first day of the Barunga Sport and Cultural Festival and the 30th anniversary [...]

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 7 – the 2008 Yuendumu Petition

Supporti-ki karlipa wangkami, tala manu nyiya kanti-kanti yungungurlu ngalpa yinyi nyampurla ngurungka. Nyampurla Yurntumu-rla panu karlipa madarni nyiya-ningki-jarra ngula karliparla yulkami. Madarni karlipa jana Mt Theo program, kurdu kurdu kurlangu, Warlpiri-rli ngulpa karlipa jana tiji-mani, PAW, Mampumaninja-Kurlangu jarlu patu ku, WarlukurIangu arts centre, manu yangka ngula kalu jana mardarni wiri-wiri-rli kurdu-kurdu. Ngulalparlipa mangu pungkalayi, Yungurlu ngalpa nyanyi nguru kari wardingki-rli pirrdiji ngula karlipa mardarni.

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 6 – the 1972 Larrakia Petition

The battered document was later mailed to Buckingham Palace with a covering letter of apology, signed by Larrakia leader Bobby Secretary and four others, who claimed that there had been no reply to a note they gave to an aide with the Royal Couple, leaving the Larrakia’s last hope to try and break through the police barrier. The letter noted: ‘We are sorry to send the petition in this condition. We hoped and planned to present it personally to Princess Margaret.’

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 5 – the 2008 Yirrkala Statement

Dhuwalanydja rom wawungu wanga-wuy ngandarryunmarama Australian-gala bapurrulili. Nganapurru marrliliyama nhukula ngurru-warryun-narayngu, marr yurru Commonwealth Parliament ngurru warrwun ga dharangan dhuwala rom ga marryuwak gumana dhayutakumana lukunydja rom.

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 4 – the 1998 Kalkaringi Statement

In addition to Aboriginal resistance, key reasons given for voting ‘No’ at the 1998 referendum included ... inadequate information and understanding about statehood, inadequate consultation, concerns about the Constitutional Convention process, a lack of trust in those responsible for the statehood processes of 1998, and antagonism towards the Chief Minister and politicians.

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 3 – the 1993 Eva Valley Statement

At a media conference, an angry Keating attacked the Eva Valley statement and Mick Dodson in particular for a critical speech Dodson had made in Geneva a few weeks earlier. He at the same time praised Sol Bellear and Noel Pearson for their 'supportive comments': Gary Foley, 2001.

Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 1 – the 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petitions

Bukudjulni gonga’yurri napurrunha Yirrkalalili yulnunha malanha Balamumu, Narrkala, Gapiny, Miliwurrwurr, nanapurru dhuwala mala, ga Djapu, Mangalili, Madarrpa, Magarrwanalmirri, Djambarrpuynu, Marrkulu, Gumaitj, Galpu, Dhaluangu, Wangurri, Warramirri, Naymil, Riritjingu malamanapanmirri djal dhunapa.

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