Welcome to the September 2022 edition of the ANTaR ACT newsletter. Please keep reading for an update on ANTaR locally and nationally, and information about other events of interest.
ANTaR News
ANTaR National
ANTaR’s 25th Anniversary – Sea of Hands – Can you help?
8am – 12:30pm Thursday, 13 October
Federation Mall, Parliament House
For the past 25 years, ANTaR has worked to be the embodiment of true allyship between First Nations peoples and their fellow non-Indigenous citizens. ANTaR has been there for the formation of the social justice campaigns (Close the Gap, Change the Record) and has played an important advocacy role in resisting the watering down of the Racial Discrimination Act and platforming a national conversation on the importance of Treaty. As part of the celebrations, ANTaR is planning a special Sea of Hands installation on Federation Mall, outside of Parliament House and is calling for volunteers to help with the set-up (8 am 13 Oct) and pack-up of the installation (12.30pm 13 Oct)
If you are available to help with the installation, please let us know at info@antaract.org.au
ANTaR ACT
Our next committee meeting will be on Monday 10th October 6pm via Zoom. If you would like to join us, please email at info@antaract.org.au and we will send you details.
2022 David Hunter Memorial Lecture
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual David Hunter Memorial Lecture in August. It was great to hear from our speakers, Cheryl Axleby and Tanya Keed, who delivered their insights on reducing the incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people both nationally and locally. You can watch the lecture, and read a summary on our website at: https://antaract.org.au/dhml-2022
What’s happening in Canberra & online
Various Events
Library For All is developing a free, digital collection of culturally relevant education resources created by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Partnering with communities, we will publish 500 books, written by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal children, putting learning in their hands. Delivered with our offline and off-grid technology, together we can pave the path of literacy attainment across Australia to unlock educational opportunities for the next generation. A series of free events are being hosted by Library for All’s Cultural Advisor Dr. Julie Owen to give people an opportunity to learn more about the collection and be actively involved.
These events include:
Our Yarning – Free children’s book writing workshop
5:30pm Wednesday, 21 September
University of Canberra
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/our-yarning-free-childrens-book-writing-workshop
Our Yarning will be a collection of 500 mirror books for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Your voice as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person can add to this unique collection. You are invited to write a story that could become a popular book to encourage children to love reading.
Our Yarning – Mirror books for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids
5:30pm Wednesday, 21 September
University of Canberra
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/our-yarning-mirror-books-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-kids
Join Library For All’s Cultural Advisor, Dr Julie Owen to hear about the Our Yarning collection. An ambitious project to create a library of 500 books in five years with all stories written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for their children, with all e-books free to access. Hear about how stories are developed for the Our Yarning collection, and how you and your community can start accessing the digital books for free.
In-conversation with Adventurer Huw Kingston & Story Gatherer Dr Julie Owen
7pm Wednesday, 21 September
University of Canberra
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/in-conversation-with-adventurer-huw-kingston
Join adventurer and Save the Children Ambassador Huw Kingston only days after his 700km hike across the Australian alpine region and learn about Our Yarning, the book collection that spurred him on.
Take Heart Deadly Heart film screening and panel discussion
5pm Wednesday, 28 September
Australian National University
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/take-heart-deadly-heart-film-screening
Rheumatic heart disease continues to have a devastating impact on First Nations people in Australia, with young people in the Northern Territory being 122 times more likely to have rheumatic heart disease than other young Australians. Take Heart Deadly Heart is a must-see documentary which explores the causes of RHD and the impact on people, families, and communities. On the eve of World Heart Day we explore the persisting and unjust burden of rheumatic heart disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
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.