It is less than two weeks until the federal election. The ANTAR scorecard is now live, with analysis and ratings of the priorities the policy platforms of the three major parties’ First Nations policy platforms [Australian Labor Party (ALP), Liberal National Party (LNP) Coalition and Australian Greens]. https://antar.org.au/resources/2025-federal-election-scorecard/
You’ll find other election related resources, including ways to learn more and take action, on this page: https://antar.org.au/2025-federal-election.
To help ACT voters, we also contacted all the independent and other party candidates whose email addresses were publicly available or provided to us on request. The responses received are on this page, and we will add other responses as we receive them: https://antaract.org.au/2025-federal-election-act-candidate-statements/.
This extra edition of the newsletter also highlights many other events coming up related to First Nations issues and culture. Short notice but the annual Anzac Day Frontier Wars March is on Friday, 25 April – details below.
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 12 May 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
Frontier Wars March
Friday 25 April, assemble from 9am, corner of Anzac Parade and Constitution Avenue
The Australian Frontier Wars March began on Anzac Day, 25 April 2011, at the instigation of Ghillar Michael Anderson, head of state of the Eualyhi Nation and last surviving founder of the Aboriginal Embassy in Australia’s national capital, Canberra.
Every Anzac Day since 2011, marchers have assembled at the foot of Anzac Parade leading to the Australian War Memorial (AWM). Participants have commemorated those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who gave their lives defending their homelands from the incursions of British and other colonists from 1788, when the First Fleet arrived in what we now call Sydney. Although not permitted to join Anzac Day veterans commemorating the fallen of overseas wars in which Australians have participated, Frontier Wars marchers hope that one day the AWM and Australians generally will accept colonial frontier conflicts as befitting official recognition as part of Australia’s war history.
From Australian Frontier Wars Marches – Australian Frontier Conflicts.
The Frontier Wars March takes place behind the RSL ACT Branch Anzac Day Veterans’ March. It is not part of the official march. https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day/rsl-veterans-march
More information: Sovereign Union Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ABKjx7rhL/
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony
Friday 25 April, after the dawn service, at “For Our Country”, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Memorial
This commemorative ceremony is conducted to honour those Indigenous Australians who have served in the Australian forces since 1901. It is hosted by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association (ATSIVSA).
This ceremony is held after the Anzac Day Dawn Service at “For Our Country”, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service Memorial.
More information: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.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
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/OPAC/EVSESENQ/139589195/5229428) and 4 May (https://librariesact.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/OPAC/EVSESENQ/139589184/5229430)
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 descendent 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.
PANEL TALK: Reconciliation Week – Djara and First Nations Sky Stories
Thursday 29 May, 6pm, Canberra Museum & Gallery
Moderated by Professor Brian Schmidt, join artist Lynnice Letty Church (Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri, and Kamilaroi peoples), educator Tyronne Bell (Ngunawal) and astrophysicist Peter Swanton (Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay peoples) as they share First Nations sky knowledge with us.
The OuterSpace and Djara exhibitions will be open at 5.30pm before the talk to allow guests to see the exhibitions prior to the panel talk beginning at 6:00pm.
For more information and bookings (cost involved), see: https://events.humanitix.com/panel-talk-reconciliation-week-djara-and-first-nations-sky-stories.
Authorised by J. Hunt, ANTaR ACT, Ngunnawal and Ngambri land, Canberra.
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.