Reconciliation Edition Reconciliation: on the Right Track?
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Aboriginal Way Issue 45, June 2011 A publication of South Australian Native Title Services The Reconciliation Edition Reconciliation: on the right track? An Adelaide Metro tram has been wrapped up in Aboriginal Art to highlight Reconciliation Week 2011. The tram will remain in the artwork for nine weeks, taking in National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. “The design celebrates the spirit of reconciliation and the importance of Aboriginal art and culture, acknowledging all 39 language groups whose country is either fully or partly located within South Australia,” said Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Grace Portolesi. The art was designed by the 2010 NAIDOC SA ‘Artist of the Year’ Paul Herzich. Minister raises racism as reconciliation issue Racism was the buzz word during What I’m asking our community to “I believe we, as a community, will “South Australia has come a long Reconciliation Week in South Australia. recognise is that racism is profoundly continue to struggle with closing the way with legislative reform against experienced by Aboriginal people and discrimination since Don Dunstan’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Grace Portolesi gap of Aboriginal disadvantage until that we have a responsibility to face up to we acknowledge that Aboriginal people pioneering legislation of the 1960s. raised the issue during the Reconciliation But despite this racism persists, so it as a community and actively tackle it.” are confronted with racism and its Breakfast at the National Wine Centre we need to publicly recognise it and consequences on a daily basis. on May 27. “Aboriginal people tell us about the consider practical action.” discrimination and prejudice they “Racism has a very damaging impact on Minister Portolesi said she had asked experience in their daily lives and Reconciliation Co-chair Peter Buckskin the lives of Aboriginal people,” she said. the SA Aboriginal Advisory Committee research bears this out. told Aboriginal Way that racism was to develop strategies designed to “Research from across the world shows a real issue that needed attention. “Comprehensive national research that racism affects people’s mental and tackle the problem and indicated released this year by the University of “Education is the key to tackling physical health and we know that racial they would make it a priority of their this but also all people need to Western Sydney showed that more than discrimination can significantly reduce current term. take responsibility for the way they a quarter of Australians polled expressed people’s opportunities. behave and interact with others,” anti-Aboriginal sentiments. One in five “We should not underestimate the said Professor Buckskin. “This year’s theme for Reconciliation Aboriginal people polled said they were importance of small but practical steps Week is ‘Let’s Talk Recognition’. often treated with disrespect and mistrust. such as this,” she said. Reconciliation Week photos on page 6 Inside: Sorry. Still living on borrowed time 4 Ngarrindjeri Nation Ngartar art project 10 Historic hand back to traditional owners in Central Australia 14 First Nations Parry’s view representatives Re-igniting the spark make history The National Congress of Australia’s The new board continues to embody of reconciliation First Peoples have announced the our commitment to gender equity results of its first elections for the which is still a first in Australia. If you were I wonder if you can Board of Directors. The Directors Elect will take office in remember how that felt? To me, it was Congress Co-Chairs Josephine Bourne July and consider the policy recom- a feeling of real happiness…of hope… and Sam Jeffries, said that the mendations from this inaugural National not unlike the feelings of a first kiss. elections are the historic final steps Congress at their first meeting. The question we have to ask ourselves towards forming the first elected Joining Co-Chairs Ms Jody Broun and today is how do we reignite the spark Board of the National Congress of Mr Les Malezer on the first Board will be: so that the flame of reconciliation can Australia’s First Peoples. William (Brian) Butler (SA), Venessa burn strong again. The Directors were elected by the Curnow (QLD), Dennis Eggington I’m not sure what the answer is – but delegates at the inaugural meeting (WA), Rodney Little (ACT), Tammy I do know that it has to start in your of the National Congress. Solonec (WA) and Daphne Yarram (VIC). heart and travel to your mind so that the thoughts of reconciliation become more than just thoughts…that we take some action. Anangu construction In the current State Government strategic plan Aboriginal unemployment is a workers recognised big ticket item, with the government Minister for Housing Jennifer supervised by a contractor on behalf worried that the numbers of Aboriginal Rankine has acknowledged the of Housing SA. people out of work is three times the achievements of 20 Aboriginal rate of the non-Aboriginal population. The properties were funded in 2009–10 construction workers and presented under the National Partnership Agreement The government wants to reduce the them with a nationally-recognised for Remote Indigenous Housing. gap…how are we going? Well, the qualification in Civil Construction. State’s report card into the strategic The awards ceremony was the The accredited training, Certificate I plan shows that there has been culmination of a successful, six-month and II in Civil Construction, was delivered some positive movement in the “gap” employment and accredited training on and off the job by Industry Services between Aboriginal unemployment and program resulting in the construction of Australia, a recognised trade training Above: SANTS CEO, Mr Parry Agius. non-Aboriginal unemployment…but the 33 houses on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara provider based in Darwin. reality is not much has changed. There Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the far For Aboriginal people, the few “Career Employment Group, a not-for- may be a few more Aboriginal people north-west of South Australia. simple words that recognise employed in the public sector…but profit Group Training and labour hire country, mean a lot. It means not enough. Not enough in the private “The ceremonies recognise the organisation, co- ordinated the workforce that there is an element of sector either. achievements of 20 Aboriginal people development program in both communities, acknowledgement that they from the APY Lands; 13 from Mimili and employed members of the Anangu It’s a similar story in just about ARE the traditional owners, who seven from Amata,” said Ms Rankine. community, and provided community every social indicator…there are deserve respect and thanks for care services,” Ms Rankine said. more aboriginal people in prisons, “This is a great achievement and the having people on their country. on welfare, dropping out of school Amata and Mimili communities can “Housing SA now requires all contractors be extremely proud of the result. It is a ceremony, which has been than the rest of the poplulation. who work on the APY Lands to include seen by some people interstate and “The skills these individuals have gained Anangu people in their workforces. Aboriginal people die younger too… I suspect here too, as a waste of time. during their participation in the program did you know that the life expectancy “I am confident we will continue to see will give them great opportunities to work I believe the recognition ceremony for an Aboriginal man is 67…11½ years very real benefits flow to families and within their communities and beyond.” has become, and should remain, less than for the wider community… communities through our program of an integral part of how we conduct for women it’s 72, 10 years less. Ms Rankine said work involved the building new houses along with our work construction of fencing, gates, shade to ensure local people benefit from the business in South Australia. It’s simply not good enough. shelters, fire pits and clothes lines increased employment opportunities,” How do we fix these problems? It is significant that people are talking for the 33 new houses. The work was she said. about getting rid of the welcome to Where do we start? country ceremony, or paying respects Reconciliation must be the key. to the traditional owners. I want you to think about that bridge It shows that in the 11 years since walk or that first kiss and try to 300-thousand people crossed remember how good that felt. It’s a fact… Sydney Harbor bridge in support of Can you imagine what it would be like if reconciliation…and 55-thousand here you could get that feeling on a regular Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Adelaide…that reconciliation has basis because you did something experience discrimination. gone off the boil…it’s hardly even positive towards reconciliation? spoken about. Now please don’t think I’m accusing More than one quarter (27%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people What happened to those 55-thousand you of doing nothing. I’m not. aged 15 and over had experienced discrimination in the last 12 months. voices that offered loud support to I know that many of you do much reconciliation? Where are they now? for Aboriginal people. One in 10 (11%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4–14 years Maybe you were among those What I’m asking you is to please think reported being bullied at school because of their Indigenous origin. people who joined together in the about reconciliation again…not just Information supplied from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, The Health and spirit of reconciliation. today, or tomorrow, but every day. Welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Oct 2010. 2 Aboriginal Way, June 2011 Remembering and recognising our Aboriginal veterans A moving ceremony commemorating many Aboriginal soldiers who have “Aboriginal people have proudly served to honour the memory and contribution the service of Aboriginal veterans served Australia.