Another month with a second newsletter. Our last newsletter (ANTaR ACT newsletter – June 2024 – ANTaR ACT) highlighted a lot of great events happening in NAIDOC Week. This newsletter includes additional events as well as updates on our 2024 ACT Election campaign with Active Democracy Bean: ‘Beyond the Talk – Indigenous-led solutions NOW!’.
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
We will have a stall at NAIDOC in the North on Saturday 13 July, 11am – 2pm, Belco Arts, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen. We will again have copies of the book from Us Mob, selling copies of their latest book “Kuracca”. Please come along to say hi and buy a copy of their book. We will also have information about our ACT Election campaign.
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be online at 6pm on Monday 8 July. If you would like to join us and be involved in our ongoing advocacy and actions, please email info@antaract.org.au and we will send you the details.
ACT Election – joint campaign with Active Democracy Bean
You can find out more about our Beyond the talk – Indigenous-led solutions NOW! campaign on the new section on our website: Election 2024 – ANTaR ACT. This has overall information and resources, including Active Democracy Bean’s Volunteer Information Kit, summary statistics on Closing the Gap, and briefing notes on key issues:
- Return Boomanulla Oval to community control
- Transfer the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm (NBHF) to community control
- Strengthen the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.
We will continue to add briefing notes and other resources leading up to the launch of the campaign in August, before the election in October.
ANTaR ACT and Active Democracy Bean attended the United Ngunnawal Elders Council meeting on 14 June to talk about the campaign and seek their support. It was a very positive meeting and the Council expressed interest in meeting with us again.
At this stage of the campaign, Active Democracy Bean is focussing on visiting elected representatives. To be part of this important campaign, including (but not only) visiting MLAs, please contact Active Democracy Bean (activedemocracybean@outlook.com).
Events coming up
Apart from the general community events, the events listed below were not included in our previous newsletter – see that for other events around NAIDOC Week: ANTaR ACT newsletter – June 2024 – ANTaR ACT
Spotlight Conversations: Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse
Thursday 4 July 2024, 6–7.30pm, National Museum of Australia
Join this conversation with award-winning musicians Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse in the lead up to NAIDOC Week. Gina and Guy use their music and performance to highlight one of the world’s most rare and beautiful languages, the Noongar language of the southern corner of Western Australia. Facilitated by D’harawal man, climate advocate and former ambassador and high commissioner Gregory Andrews, the conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A and a 30-minute musical experience in Noongar language.
For more information and bookings (costs apply): Spotlight Conversations: Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse | National Museum of Australia (nma.gov.au).
Dig Deeper – NAIDOC Week Screening
Saturday 6 July, 2pm, Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
Dig Deeper follows the lives and creative practice of four ground-breaking First Nations artists: Blak Douglas, Maree Clarke, Penny Evans and Ben McKeown. This thought-provoking documentary explores commonalities across their art and their Aboriginality, from personal struggles and relationship to Country, to both engaging with and critiquing the establishment.
More information and bookings (costs apply): DIG DEEPER | National Film and Sound Archive (nfsa.gov.au)
Bush Animal Weaving with Ronnie Jordan
Sunday 7 July, 1 – 2 pm Canberra Museum & Gallery
Join Ronnie Jordan at this drop-in workshop session during NAIDOC week and create your own animal with straw & wool using traditional weaving and wrapping techniques. This is an all-ages intergenerational workshop.
Ronnie is a Pitta Pitta Wangkamahdla woman and owner of ‘Culture on the Move’. Ronnie is a weaver, painter and cultural facilitator with a vision for women and men to feel strong, connected and empowered.
More information and optional registration: Register interest for NAIDOC WEEK DROP IN WORKSHOP: Bush Animal Weaving with Ronnie Jordan | Humanitix.
2024 NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony
Monday 8 July, 10.30am, between the Legislative Assembly and the ACT Government Building, 220 London Circuit, Canberra City
Welcome to Country presented by Ngunnawal leader Selina Walker, with the smoking ceremony conducted by Ritchie Allan, followed by a dance performance from the Doonooch Dancers with traditional connections to Wreck Bay. Light refreshments to follow.
Organised by the ACT Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.
ACT Community Sector NAIDOC Event
Tuesday 9 July, 10.30am – 2.30pm, MPOWERDOME, 56 Coyne St, Fadden
This event is held in partnership with other community sector organisations in the ACT, as a way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. This is a free event, open to the public. There will be activities and entertainment for the kids (and adults) and lots of free food. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses will be there to sell arts, crafts and other products.
See flyer below for details.
The Australian Dream – NAIDOC Week Screening
Thursday 11 July, 6pm, Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
When AFL star and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes called out the racism he experienced on and off the field, it became a lightning rod for the national conversation about racism and culture in Australia. Written by prominent journalist and author and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant, and developed in close consultation with Goodes, The Australian Dream offers a powerful portrait of a champion forced to confront the ugliness of racism and his desire to see a better Australia.
More information and bookings (costs apply): THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM | National Film and Sound Archive (nfsa.gov.au)
NAIDOC in the North
Saturday 13 July, 11am – 2pm, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
NAIDOC in the North is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture through story, song, art dance and ceremony. This free, family-friendly event is held in Canberra, on the lands of the Ngunnawal People, and welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to learn from our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community through workshops, performances, activities and entertainment. NAIDOC in the North now in its 9th year, and is produced by Belco Arts in partnership with Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation, Community Services Directorate, ACT Education Directorate and Northside Community Service.
More information: Belco Arts – Events at Belco Arts – NAIDOC in the North
Maralinga Tjarutja – NAIDOC Week Screening + Q&A
Saturday 13 July, 1pm, Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
The Maralinga people have lived on their lands for over 60,000 years. Institutionalised in the Ooldea Mission in the 1920s, colonial dispossession of the Maralinga people was further intensified when their lands were used for the British Nuclear Test Program between 1953 and 1963. Written and directed by Larissa Behrendt, this award-winning documentary celebrates the tenacity, strength and achievements of the Maralinga people, who fought for the clean-up of radioactive and other contamination, for compensation, and for the handback in 2009 of the Maralinga Village and test sites.
Following the screening, join a Q&A with the film’s director, Euaheleyai/Gamullaroi woman Professor Larissa Behrendt AO, an award-winning filmmaker, author and legal academic..
More information and bookings (costs apply): MARALINGA TJARUTJA + Q&A | National Film and Sound Archive (nfsa.gov.au)
ANU Reconciliation Lecture 2024
Thursday 18 July, 4 – 5:30pm, Superfloor, Level 6, Marie Reay teaching building at Kambri Precinct, Australian National University, Acton
The 2024 ANU Reconciliation Lecture will be delivered by Ms Selina Walker – a Ngunnawal women, emerging elder and proud granddaughter of Senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea OAM. Co – Chair, ACT Reconciliation Council and a member – Victims of Crime Justice Committee. Selina was awarded 2024 ACT Local Hero.
More information and bookings (free, bookings essential): ANU Reconciliation Lecture 2024 | Humanitix.
Exhibitions: All Guns Blazing and Sisters Interwoven
Tuggeranong Arts Centre, to 10 August
All Guns Blazing is a body of work of artist Jamie-Lea Trindall, where she explores the challenges and triumphs of her birth right. A story that embodies the impact of colonisation in southeast Australia, in particular regional NSW. A Wiradjuri woman Jamie-Lea is recognised as one of the leading contemporary artists in Western NSW and a founding member of the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance.
More information: Jamie-Lea Trindall | All Guns Blazing | 14 JUN – 10 AUG – Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Sisters Interwoven | A Collection of Expressions of Country presents works in a variety of media produced during Megan Daley and Rechelle Turner’s residency at Megalo Print Studios. These works are a vehicle for self-expression enabling their exploration of culture and connection to country. Megan Daley is a Ngunnawal Wiradjuri woman and Rechelle Turner is Wiradjuri and both are dedicated to growing knowledge and engagement with First Nations culture and perspectives.
More information: Sisters Interwoven | A Collection of Expressions of Country | 14 Jun – 10 Aug – Tuggeranong Arts Centre.
ANTaR ACT wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which Canberra is situated, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We would also like to acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may visit this area.