ANTaR ACT Newsletter – October 2025

Our 2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture is not far away now. This year we have the important theme ‘Time for Truth-telling’.

We are delighted that the ANTAR National Director, Blake Cansdale, is joining us as the key note speaker. Blake is a proud Anaiwan man. His background is in legal practice with experience in public policy, lecturing, Aboriginal affairs, business management, Aboriginal land planning and development, land acquisition and land management.

Blake will be joined by Prof Chris Cunneen and Dr James Beaufils, the authors of the Jumbunna Institute report into the Review into the Over-representation of First Nations People in the Criminal Justice System.

Please join us on Thursday 23 October, at 6pm at St Marks if in person, or 6.30pm online. Details below.

2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture: Time for Truth-telling

Join us for the 2025 David Hunter Memorial Lecture: Time for Truth-telling. Explore the transformative practice of truth-listening, which is an essential part of truth-telling, reconciliation and justice in Australia.

When: Thursday 23 October

Time: lecture starts at 6.30pm, refreshments for in person attendees from 6pm.

Where: Durie Room, St Mark’s National Theological College, 15 Blakall St, Barton and online.

Our MC will be Paula McGrady. Speaking on the theme of Truth Telling will be:

• Keynote speaker: Blake Cansdale, ANTAR’s National Director
• With: Prof Chris Cunneen and Dr James Beaufils from the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney.

Register now: https://bit.ly/4naj7po (required for either in person or online attendance).

For more information, see: DHML 2025: Time for Truth Telling – ANTaR ACT.

ANTaR ACT Organising Group

The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 10 November (in person – venue to be confirmed). If you would like to join us and be involved in our ongoing advocacy and actions, please RSVP to: info@antaract.org.au.

Events coming up

LOCAL Politics in the Pub – Progress on the Beyond the Talk – Indigenous-led solutions NOW campaign

Monday 20 October, 5.30-7.30pm, Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, Weston

Join Active Democracy Bean to hear about progress on five key Indigenous justice issues identified in a Scorecard developed by ANTAR ahead of the last ACT election:

• Community control
• Justice and incarceration
• Child removals
• Aboriginal housing
• the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Three great speakers will provide their perspectives:

• Suzanne Orr, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Natalie Brown, Chair of the Our Booris Our Way Implementation Oversight Committee
• Paula McGrady, Joint Council on Closing the Gap representative for the ACT, former Deputy Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, and an independent candidate for Murrumbidgee at the last ACT election.

This is an informal locally focused event on the third Monday of the month. People gather from 5.30pm, with formal proceedings from 6pm, and the option of dinner afterwards for those interested.

For more information and registration (free event, registration preferred): https://events.humanitix.com/progress-on-the-beyond-the-talk-indigenous-led-solutions-now-election-campaign.

2025 NAIDOC Family Day

Saturday 25 October, 11am (gates open at 10.30am) to 4pm, Boomanulla Oval, Narrabundah

Bring the family to enjoy a day of free entertainment and activities, enjoy a feed from the fundraiser BBQs, barista coffee, free jumping castles, petting farm and reptile displays. Shop at the deadly Blak markets and pick up some merchandise and information from our community services stalls.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A4BZYukWc/

Canberra Writers Festival

For full program see: https://www.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/.

Events with a First Nations focus include:

• Roach and Hunter
  Saturday 26 October, 3pm Patrick White Lawns, National Library of Australia
  An event to celebrate the release of an incredible anthology Rivers Flow and honour the profound music, culture and leadership legacy of Archie Roach – a Gunditjmara, Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung and Bundjalung man – and Ruby Hunter – a Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Pitjantjatjara woman. First Nations writers that have contributed to this wonderful work will pay tribute to these giants of songs and storytelling, and share personal reflections, words and poems.
  Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Roach-and-Hunter.
• Working with First Nations’ Stories and Story Owners with Craig Cormick and Darren Rix
  Sunday 26 October, 10am, Marie Reay Teaching Centre, Australian National University
  Craig Cormick is an award-winning author, science communicator and long-time supporter of the Canberra and broader writing community across Australia.  Darren Rix is an author, musician and cultural leader and guide, a Gunditjmara-GunaiKurnai man with Ngarigo bloodlines. Together they will introduce you to some of the great cultural guides that exist for writers and researchers, and highlight principles using different types of consultations and engagements they undertook for Warra Warra Wai as case study examples.
  Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Working-with-First-Nations-Stories-and-Story-Owners-with-Craig-Cormick-and-Darren-Rix.
• Mervyn Bishop in Black, White and Colour
  Friday 24 October, 6pm, Liangis Theatre, National Portrait Gallery
  The image of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring earth into Vincent Lingiari’s hands is seared into the national consciousness. But few know the story of the man behind the lens: Mervyn Bishop, Australia’s first Indigenous professional newspaper and government photographer. Now his story is brought to amazing life in Black, White + Colour, the illustrated biography by Tim Dobbyn. Join Mervyn and Tim, in conversation with Professor Brenda L. Croft, ANU Professor of Indigenous Art History and Curatorship, to hear how Mervyn’s life and work helped Australians more clearly see themselves.
  Bookings and more information: https://tickets.canberrawritersfestival.com.au/Events/Mervyn-Bishop-in-Black-White-and-Colour.

Story Ground Professional Learning

29 October, 12 November, and 26 November (3 workshop series), 4-5.45pm, University of Canberra
A TQI-registered professional learning opportunity for teachers. Story Ground uses storying and writing to provide participants with opportunities to engage with contemporary and traditional Indigenous knowledge, cultural experience, and creative practice.

For more information and enrolment (closes 24 October): https://www.canberra.edu.au/discover-fad/story-ground-professional-learning

Indigenous Art Market (IAM) 2025

Friday 7 November – Sunday 9 November, the lawns beside AIATSIS Maraga building, Acton Peninsula

Friday: 12pm to 8pm; Saturday: 10am to 4pm; Sunday 10am to 3pm

Experience the vibrancy and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the AIATSIS Indigenous Art Market (IAM), bringing together artists and art centres from across the country to showcase a diverse range of artworks including paintings, textiles, sculptures, jewellery, and much more. Importantly, 100 per cent of sales from the art market goes back to participating art centres, artists and their communities.

More than just a market, IAM is a cultural experience. Visitors can meet and connect with artists and art centre representatives, hear the stories behind the artworks, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world’s oldest living culture. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply curious, IAM is a welcoming space for all to enjoy and learn. It’s also a rare opportunity to purchase museum and gallery-quality artworks direct from the source.

Across the weekend, you can enjoy live performances by First Nations artists, explore a variety of delicious offerings from local food trucks, and soak up the atmosphere on the beautiful Acton Peninsula.

For more information: https://aiatsis.gov.au/whats-new/events/indigenous-art-market-2025.

Exhibitions

New First Nations exhibitions at the National Gallery

Five displays celebrating First Nations art and culture opened at the National Gallery of Australia in October. These displays feature the Hermannsburg School pioneered by Western Arrarnta artist Albert Namatjira, the story of the Seven Sisters, the art and culture of the Aurukun Community, life in the Hot Tropics, and the activism and resistance of Talking Blak.

Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa

To 29 March 2026, Level 1, Gallery 15, National Gallery of Australia

Kulata Tjuta is an ongoing cultural maintenance project that shares the skills of carving and making the punu kulata (wooden spear) across generations. Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa is the largest and most significant installation of the culturally important and visually spectacular Kulata Tjuta (Many Spears) Project. Like others in the series, it is rooted in age-old traditions, knowledge and skills that are designed around keeping Country and culture strong. The artistic outcomes take the form of large-scale, multi-disciplinary installations which incorporate film, sound, live performance and other artistic collaborations.

For more information, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/kulata-tjuta-tirkilpa/.

Yankee Hat Walking Track – reopened

The ACT’s only publicly accessible Aboriginal rock art site has reopened. Extensive upgrade works are now complete on the Yankee Hat Walking Track at Namadgi National Park.

Yankee Hat Walking Track is one of Namadgi’s highlights. This 6.5km (3-hour return) track crosses gorgeous open grasslands to the heritage-listed cave paintings, which are believed to be over 3,000 years old.

The walk begins at the Yankee Hat carpark on Old Boboyan Road, 31km south of the Namadgi Visitor Centre. Please note that Old Boboyan Road is recommended for 4WD only. This is a remote alpine walk recommended for experienced bushwalkers. Please come prepared by following the safety advice at https://www.parks.act.gov.au/…/safety-in-and-around-the…

Plan your visit at https://www.parks.act.gov.au/…/namadgi-national-park…

ANTaR ACT acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which Canberra is situated, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We also acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may visit this area.