We start our newsletter with national issues, and the upcoming Federal Election on 3 May. ANTAR National is providing analysis on the priorities of First Nations communities and the policy platforms of the parties and candidates seeking election. You’ll find all the election related resources and ways to take action, get involved, learn more and support us here on this page: https://antar.org.au/2025-federal-election.
For now, you can take action by using ANTAR’s letter template to write to candidates standing for election in your Federal electorate. Coming up, ANTAR will hold a Federal Election webinar, and are putting together a scorecard for the major parties. Details coming soon.
Locally, in April there are two local annual events featuring First Nations perspectives: the National Folk Festival over Easter, and the ACT Heritage Festival. More information below.
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
In March, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Dr Albert Barume, visited Canberra, where he gave a public lecture at ANU and met with local Aboriginal community members and organisations and ANU staff and Indigenous students. He talked about the central concepts of rights, equality and self-determination. ANTaR ACT committee member Janet Hunt wrote this report on his lecture: https://antaract.org.au/un-special-rapporteur-on-rights-of-indigenous-peoples-visits-canberra/.
On 1 April, as part of our ongoing advocacy, members of ANTaR ACT met Marisa Paterson, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Gaming Reform, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Minister for Women. There are many ways her responsibilities cover issues related to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Canberra. In particular, a focus was the current review into the over-representation of First Nations people in the ACT criminal justice system by the Jumbunna Institute. The Jumbunna report should be presented to the government in the next month. ANTaR ACT will seek to meet with the Minister again after the report is released publicly.
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 14 April at King O’Malley’s, Civic, in the Snug Room (behind the main bar). 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
National Folk Festival
Thursday 17 to Monday 21 April, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)
The National Folk Festival is on over Easter and will include a number of First Nations performers including: Stiff Gins, Sassi Spirit, Richie Allan, Wiradjuri Echoes, Us Mob Writing Group, Suga Can Mamas and Stuart Joel Nuggett.
For the full program and tickets, see: https://www.folkfestival.org.au/.
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
Friday 18 April to Sunday 11 May, various venues
The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival includes a number of events highlighting First Nations heritage and history in the region.
For more information about the Festival, see: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival
Hanging Rock Guided Walk
Sunday 13 April, 10-11am, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Join our Ranger guided walk through wet eucalyptus forest to unearth the geological and natural wonders of Hanging Rock, a large granite tor that served as an ancient rock shelter for the Ngunnawal People. This short and easy 500m loop trail is suitable for visitors of all ages and fitness levels.
Bookings essential: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hanging-rock-guided-tour-tidbinbilla-nature-reserve-tickets-1118446907809
Ngunawal Language Workshop: Children’s Session
Thursday 24 April, 10-11am, ACT Heritage Library, 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick
Join the Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Aboriginal Corporation for a special children’s event where children aged 5–12 can learn Ngunawal greetings and children’s songs!
Bookings essential: https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/ALLENQ/135150139/5229288,3
Discover the Richness of Ngunawal Language
Thursday 1 May 4-6pm and Sunday 4 May 10am-12noon, ACT Heritage Library, 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick
Join members of the Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Aboriginal Corporation for a special community event where you can learn Ngunawal greetings and children’s songs! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn, share, and celebrate the richness of the Ngunawal language and culture.
Bookings essential: 1 May (https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/ALLENQ/135150139/5229428,2) and 4 May (https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/ALLENQ/135150139/5229430,1)
Bush Tucker Unearthed
Friday 2 May, 5-6pm, Reconciliation Place
Ngunawal people lived on Country through careful custodianship over thousands of years. Ngunawal custodian Tyronne Bell will unearth a rich history of bush foods from the Canberra region, showcasing native plants like Chocolate Lily and bush tomatoes. The benefits of traditional teas, spices, bush foods and healing plants from the Ngunawal region will be revealed.
More information (cost involved): https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival/nested-content/event-details?eventId=2628596
First Nations Writing Workshop
Saturday 10 May, 10am-12noon, Queanbeyan Heritage Library
Us Mob Writing is a local group of First Nations authors. They will share their writing processes and techniques for expressing their experiences and connections to the land and country. Learn how to acknowledge connections in culturally appropriate and sensitive ways.
More information (free event): https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival/nested-content/event-details?eventId=2630481
Unearthing Ngunawal Stories
Saturday 26 April and Saturday 3 May, 10am-1pm, Riverbank Park, Yass
Join Ngunawal Traditional Custodians for a walk around the river and learn about Ngunawal connection to the area and the river. Discover the significance of the cultural landscape that is Yass today. Come on a journey to unearth these stories about Ngunawal cultural heritage and connection to Country.
Tickets $20 and bookings essential: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/heritage/heritage-festival/nested-content/event-details?eventId=2630585 .
Mungangga Garlagula
Thursday 1 May and Friday 2 May, 8pm, The Street Theatre
Mungangga Garlagula is a collaboration in music, sound and story by musicians and improvisers Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim. Audiences are invited to join Mark by the campfire, and to travel with him as he takes us across the border between day and night, dream and reality, the reverberating past and the emerging future.
A descendant of Western Australia’s Yamatji people, and of Irish/Australian heritage, Mark is a virtuosic didgeridoo player and compelling storyteller. Erkki is a Finnish-Australian multi-disciplinary artist: a storyteller in live and electronic sound, and a remarkable performer on violin and viola.
Presented by Tura, Canberra International Music Festival and The Street Theatre. For more information and bookings, see: https://tura.com.au/experiences/mungangga-garlagula-canberra.
In Conversation: Until Justice Comes with Juno Gemes, Djon Mundine and Michael Aird
Friday 2 May, 6-7pm, Theatre and online, National Library of Australia
Join Juno Gemes, Djon Mundine and Michael Aird, as they share their own personal histories as friends, colleagues and collaborators, telling the true history of Australia. Photographer and social justice activist Juno Gemes has spent much of her long career documenting the lives and struggles of First Nations people, and her latest book is Until Justice Comes: Fifty Years of the Movement for Indigenous Rights. Michael Aird is the Director of the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum. Djon Mundine OAM is a proud Bandjalung man from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. He is a curator, writer, artist and activist and is celebrated as a foundational figure in the criticism and exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal art.
For more information and bookings (free event, bookings required): https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/events/conversation-until-justice-comes-juno-gemes-djon-mundine-and-michael-aird
National Sorry Day Bridge Walk
Friday 23 May, 10am for 10.30, from Regatta Point, Parkes (Corner of Albert St and Barrine Dr)
Join us to pay respect to Stolen Generations survivors and commemorate the history of forcible removals and the ongoing impacts. Featuring: Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, schools banner competition, free BBQ, entertainment.
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.