PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

CHANGE THE DATE/INVASION DAY Over 2500 marched down to Parliament House. The march was joined by bystanders and passing motorists tooted in support, took photos and clapped and cheered. The crowds kept coming while we stood on the lawns for a minutes silence but you could hear the chanting coming down the road. Letters to the Editor – Mercury Newspaper The rally was addressed by speakers including 16th February 2018 Aboriginal activists and leaders Jim Everett, Dave Warrener, Nala Mansell, Tasmanian Change the Date Green’s leader Cassie O’Connor, and Leigh If January 26 signifies the beginning of the Carmichael the MONA Creative Director. This end of many thousands of years old year also saw another Invasion Day Rally held civilization, personally I wouldn’t celebrate in Devonport which attracted around 200 the day. Unless this dark history is people. acknowledged and dealt with truthfully, this AUSTRALIA DAY IS NOT OKAY. WE nation we now call Australia, built on the WON’T CELEBRATE INVASION DAY”, blood, sweat and tears of convicts, will never WARR aspire to be the nation we now celebrate as Australia Day. A change of date is essential – Elsa de Ruyter, St Helens

Hodgman and his protest Laws – I doth protest Letter to the Editor – Mercury 22 February 2018

There is nothing wrong with the Hodgman government throwing its lot in with big business but the cost to Tasmania should not be the silencing of those who disagree. The Hodgman plan to extend anti‐protest laws so police are used to arrest those opposed to large‐scale economic actions backed by government deserves to be soundly rejected.

Michael Mansell

PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

Water is Life Screening on the North West Coast – Madeline Wells

Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network volunteers ran screenings of Seed's film "Water Is Life" in Wynyard, Burnie & Devonport.

Seed is Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network. We are building a

movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait kunanyi News Islander young people for climate justice with Exclusive decisions ‐ Mercury – Letter to the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Our the Editor – 26 February 2018 vision is for a just and sustainable future with While we learn about the secretive Government strong cultures and communities, powered by operations occurring on kunanyi under renewable energy. Hodgman’s regime, news surrounding the Climate change is one of the greatest threats development and construction recently facing humanity, but we also know it is an completed in the Rocky Cape caves sites opportunity to create a more just and surfaces. Rocky Cape caves are significant sustainable world. Aboriginal heritage places under PWS management. Again, no consultation with the We are calling on the Australian Government Aboriginal community occurs, no community to move beyond fossil fuels extraction in support is sought, and the undercover order to protect Country from the worst operations continue. The claims from the impacts of climate change. Australia is one of bureaucracy that government has a mandate to the world’s largest exporters of fossil fuels make these decisions because they have and regardless of where the coal or gas is internal Aboriginal approval is consistent with burnt it contributes to dangerous levels of the exclusive approach we see regarding warming. community involvement in decision making across the board. We can show the Government that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will do Andry Sculthorpe whatever it takes to protect our land, communities and culture from the impacts of climate change and destructive fossil fuel projects on our country.

'Water is Life' is a short documentary about Aboriginal communities fighting against fracking plans in the Northern Territory. It explains what fracking is, and how it will impact country if it goes ahead. In the film, Seed learn from First Nations brothers and sisters in the US who are suffering the effects

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of greedy gas companies and call on you to Note: Fracking is the process of injecting join their fight. If you couldn't make it to a liquid at high pressure into subterranean screening, to watch the film follow this link: rocks, boreholes, etc. so as to force open https://vimeo.com/261023308 existing fissures and extract oil or gas).

The national call to Action was held on the Madeline Wells 21st of March, where we saw communities New Ministerial portfolios across Australia, including Hobart hold rallies to spread the word on plans of fracking in the  Will Hodgman ‐ Premier, Parks, NT. Heritage and Tourism

The NT Inquiry into Fracking has handed  ‐ Treasurer, State down their report, and their findings are Growth and Local Government (also scary. assigned responsibility for the Workplace (Protection from Protesters) Throughout the report it talks about the Act 2014 and the kunanyi / Mt dangers of fracking and the risks it poses to Wellington cable car) Aboriginal communities, our climate and  ‐ Attorney‐General, Justice water and Environment (inc the Climate Change (State Actions) Act 2008)  Michael Ferguson – Minister for Health, Fire and Emergency Management, Science & Technology

 Guy Barnett ‐ Energy, Resources and Building & Construction including forestry & mining (also responsible for incorporated associations and charities)  Jacqui Petrusma ‐ Aboriginal Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Women, Disability Services and Community Development

– Minister for Human The recommendations of the report do not Services, Planning and Housing (though not the Residential Tenancies Act) quell the fears of communities who do not want to bare the burden of proof that  ‐ Primary Industries & fracking is dangerous. Water (inc marine farming, dams, Crown land, land acquisitions, GMOs, Here in Tasmania, fracking has only been cat management and the Nature banned for 5 years, which will end in 2020. Conservation Act 2002) We need to permanently ban fracking here in lutruwita – Protecting Country Matters!

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Tasmanian Labor has announced the MUTTON BIRDING AT LITTLE DOG following relevant shadow portfolios: I remember

‐ Leader, Aboriginal Helping my dad stack the wood onto the truck Affairs and Tourism, Federal State So that we could take it down to Little Dog Relations, Trade and Investment, When the boat came, Hospitality and Events, Arts and Everything went on it, wood, drums, bedding, Creative Industries food, kids, parents,  Michelle O’Byrne ‐ Deputy For that short, but long trip between the Leader, Education and Early Years, islands Innovation and the Digital Economy, I remember that first sight of Little Dog Equality and Women, Prevention of The tussocks waving in the wind, the beach, Family Violence the sheds  ‐ Primary Industries, That first night, out in the rookery, Fisheries & Water, Resources, Police, Hearing the cries of chicks calling to their Fire and Emergency Services parents, Watching the old birds come in to land  Ella Haddad ‐ Shadow Attorney‐ The smell from the rookery of oil and birds General, Justice, Climate Change, I remember Environment, Parks & Heritage, Consumer Affairs Standing on the point With my fishing line,  David O'Byrne ‐ Energy, Infrastructure Catching mullet for tea that night, and Transport, Local Government & Covered in flour, cooked in the pan, with Planning , Sport, Leader of Opposition chips fried in mutton bird fat, Business I remember Mum’s doughnuts, stews, stuck  ‐ Shadow Treasurer, Racing up birds, fried birds, stuffed and baked birds and Gaming, Multicultural Affairs, Eaten at every meal, smoke break, Community Development dinnertime, teatime, Even now just thinking about it makes me  – Economic and Regional drool Development, Employment, Training and Skills Development, Small Business, I remember Easter time Veterans Affair Grandfather and Grannie visiting from Lady Barron with eggs covered in pretty paper  Josh Willie – Housing, Disability and Ageing, Child Safety, Corrections, Youth I remember Affairs Leaving Little Dog when birding ended Looking forward to going home, but already  Craig Farrell – Leader of Opposition missing the island Business in the Legislative Council, I remember being there. Traffic and Transport Karen Brown 9 May 2005

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A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO NATHAN Mick Mansell live from Babel Island on ABC MAYNARD AND THE CAST OF THE Radio with Helen Shields, Friday 9th April 2018 SEASON FOR THE GREEN ROOM talking about this year’s Muttonbird season. THEATRE AWARDS: Ronnie Summers song played “Born on Ole New Writing/Adaptation for the Australian Cape Barren” – Theme of Ronnie’s song Stage: brings back memories of when all the families would go birdin, “By gee the whole of the Nathan Maynard – The Season (Tasmania song brings back history of mutton birding on performs) Babel, Big Dog, Chappell, Trefoil and Steep Direction: Head all of the those Islands where over the last 100 years or more some of those Islands Isaac Drandic – The Season (Tasmania have had up to 120 or 130 Aboriginal people performs) there at one time, not as many these days Production: though. Numbers are much lower now of course”. The Season (Tasmania performs) Helen Shields: “Are you finding that the young people are carrying the culture on?”

“Look it’s hard to say I remember seeing an ABC video years ago with Eric Maynard back in the early 80’s and he was on Big Dog and he was talking there and he said (and Edervine Mansell was the other one) they were both saying that the young people are not so much interested now days and they said I think that the Aboriginal mutton birding is dying out, and yet we’re still going. Thirty years later we sit around saying ah the young people are not interested in their culture but you never see them they just sit in the city

and you never see them”. Breaking News: Birder’s Ball this year is Saturday 19 May at the Mowbray Racecourse in Helen Shields: “Do you think that young Launceston. people seeing this story of muttonbirding traditions up on stage in the Season, do you Or for another chance for some birds, come to think that would have ignited a bit of a spark the yula kipli mapali – Mutton Bird Feast on for some of the kids in the city?”. Friday 11 May 2018 at piyura kitina (Risdon Cove) “I think it does help. Nathan Maynard is not only a very good playwright, but he is a muttonbirder himself and he comes from the Maynard family of mutton birders so he has got a real connection into the Aboriginal 5

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community and at the moment now on Big Helen Shields: “What is the moment when Dog you have got two Maynard brothers you think yes I am here. What do you see? down there Aaron Maynard and Tim What do you smell on the islands that is the Maynard who are both running their own moment you have arrived?” sheds next door to each other. So it is “When we come in the dinghies and the wind encouraging for younger people to see that is blowing offshore, you can smell the mutton connection through art and art performance bird in the rookery. You can go past some of and then to hear that younger Aborigines in the land areas which don’t give off a smell their 30’s are running mutton bird sheds. but a mutton bird island gives off a mutton Here on Babel we have a 13 year old who is in bird smell even though the birds are in the his 3rd season and he works in the rookery rookery. and in the pluck house and we’ve got a first On a Saturday night when we are sitting year who’s only 14 who goes out in the around all tired and buggered and we are rookery and he is learning the trade, but yeah getting lots of compliments from people young people are still coming through but the buying and eating the birds just sitting around numbers aren’t as great as they would have with family and friends when it is all over on a once been when all the families would pack Saturday night listening to the sort of music up and go. like Ronnie Summers really brings back Helen Shields: The mutton birds themselves memories and then you think this is what it’s have had mixed fortunes in recent years. about”. How are the numbers of the birds this year? Helen Shields: Annette Downs was on earlier I checked with Big Dog this morning and they talking about the Season and all the awards said it is pretty much the same as we found Nathan Maynard’s play has been nominated on Babel; the birds are unseasonally big. They for in the Green Room Awards, Monday are getting plenty of feed obviously from the night. Can Annette confirm her order with adults and there is a lot of oil in the birds. It you? Is she good to go with that box she can seems on average that they are a week more take over? advanced then they normally would be. Yes we can confirm that! It’s a great idea for I can’t remember the year I think it may have people to actually see what a mutton bird been 2012 or thereabouts there were hardly either cooked or raw actually looks like any birds around at all, they have certainly instead of seeing it on films or a picture of it come back with a vengeance and even though flying through the air. the waters are getting warmer and Nathan Maynard and the group around him sometimes the mutton birds have to go have done an absolutely wonderful job and further away to get a feed they’re obviously the whole of the Aboriginal community is finding the feed and regurgitating what they behind him. get to the chicks who are getting the full benefit of it”.

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efforts (hard labour more like it) which began at the Launie Centre and later on the Hobart Centre which took over the printing of the Pugganna News.

Somehow, Jimmy and I volunteered to do the Pugganna News and get it out on a regular basis. This will be bloody easy we thought, two know it alls, who certainly didn't know better. Big Dog Sunrise photo thanks Fiona Maher! That Bloody Gestetner was I believe put there Triad of Life – Earth, Fire and Water to test us. Firstly, I, who could type properly, had to put the document in the good old Spirits of earth, fire and water manual typewriter, and type in all of the Separate entities stories (mainly goss) and issues ie Land Rights combined together win Trefoil Comes Full Circle and the New shape the essence of place Year's wishes for a Happy 1980. earth beings provide the ground The thing about doing the typing was you had mother to all to put this document template thingy in the nurturing life within its womb typewriter and type the stories. Too bad if fire beings you made a mistake, because then you had to sweep clean take it out of the typewriter, try very carefully the old and dying remnants of the past to rub out the mistake without (a) putting a regenerating new life black mark on the document (which would arising from the ashes of earth show when you did the printing) or (b) worse water beings still if you rubbed too hard putting a hole in give to all the document. Which meant ripping the the liquid of life bloody thing out of the typewriter, getting a rising from earth new one and starting all over again. Also replenished by fire meant the blood pressure rising. earth, fire and water Next procedure was once you managed to triad of our beginning finish the template you attached it to the Karen Brown Gestetner, made sure it had plenty of ink, 2004 turned it on, and hoped like hell, that you (Dedicated to Ros) would get that page/s printed properly without things going wrong. That Bloody Gestetner Of course, the Gestetner would decide that The Centre's anniversary poster for the it really didn't need to work anymore and 30th Anniversary, is of the Pugganna News would just stop. This meant that somebody front covers from 1979 to 1989. Many of would need to get on the phone, usually which were the result of mine and Jimmy E's Jimmy, to get someone from somewhere 7

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(can't remember ‐ old age creeping in) to Aboriginal women. As a young girl I saw my 50 come in and fix that Bloody Gestetner. something year old mother be put in a headlock by police outside the casino while Once fixed, we proceeded to roll out the protesting John Howards' racist policies and pages, staple them together, and hey presto, as a teenager I saw my sister get arrested and just like that (not quite) we had a Pugganna charged with trespassing while trying to News ready to go out to community. protect our heritage at kutalayna. Then of course we would proceed to bask From the frontier fights, to Trugannini and in the compliments, such as good stories Manalargenna lighting fires to warn our oldCoe, or you fella's that story about so people that Robinson was on his way, to our and so, hope it's not me (subtle threat). protests today. As a people, we as Tasmanian It was a labour of love for us, fun, but hard Aborigines have had a very long struggle that work at times, but we did manage to churn is continuing today. The Tasmanian Aboriginal a few out. people here today are tied to our old people, not just through our land and the few places I can picture Jimmy and I now in the Launie of untouched wilderness that is left for us to office, younger looking in those days, see their footprints and not just through our working hard, looking hassled, lots of cultural and blood ties. We are forever part of swearing, Furley growling. their fight and will never drop the torch they I just had a look on line to try and find the have passed onto us. The main point that I model that we used. I couldn't find it. Most would like to impress upon everyone is that as of them reminded me of miniature Daleks. a people, what we want and what we fight for No wonder we had such issues. has never changed.

Memories are a wonderful thing, sometimes The first thing our old people called for was right, but usually a little foggy around the the return of the land stolen from them, or at edges. least acknowledgement of our ownership, let alone our presence. In the early 1800’s when Karen Brown Kikatapoller stationed his group outside the A Luta Continua – The Struggle settled districts of Hobart at Kangaroo Point, Continues! he came in and told the whites that in exchange for the land which they had taken Moonah Arts Centre held exhibitions and and now settled they should give blankets screening films focused on the long struggle and rations for the winter. This request was to protect Tasmanian wilderness. At the answered with gunfire at dawn, with opening on 5 April 2018 Nunami Sculthorpe‐ Kikatopller being the only member of his Green gave a speech on Intergenerational party to escape. We carry this torch and now Protests in lutruwita: have several parcels of land back in our Today I’ll be sharing with you a few things that possession, and more to come whether or not came to mind as I was considering the topic of it be in the next decade or the next millennia, intergenerational protest in Tasmania, from we will not forget. my perspective as a young Tasmanian 8

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Another thing our old people wanted was overseas, I can tell you the battle to allow our acknowledgement that we were a free and old ones to truly be at rest is another thing sovereign people. The petition sent from that we will continue as long as we exist in Wybalenna to Queen Victoria in 1846, started this place. with “We the free people of Van Diemen’s Not only do we have a duty to our old people land”. We know they never forgot who they to continue their struggle and maintain the were as a people and neither will we. This fire they lit, we have a duty to those who will sentiment was repeated 130 years later when come next. Never make decisions for yourself, Michael Mansell delivered another petition to only do what will allow your people in a Queen Elizabeth with the same core. We are a hundred years or a thousand years from not sovereign people, we now live in this society to be proud, strong and safe in their culture but as a separate and unique people with our and identity. own culture and identity. Through our intergenerational protests we In the mid 1800’s my grandfather’s leave our footprints in the sands of time for grandmother, Fanny burnt down the our future generations to follow. missionary’s house on Wybalenna on Flinders Island in protest because she wanted to be allowed to live with her mother Tanganutura (for whom my daughter Tanganutura is named).

We still today fight for our children to be with us but had a slight victory with Tasmanian being the only state to have compensated its stolen generation, but our children are still being removed in disproportionate numbers.

Repatriation of our old ones whose bones were stolen is still a major battle that we have to fight. Trugannini’s skeleton was still on display at the Tasmanian State museum up until the end of the 1940’s. Later in the 1970’s she was returned to us and allowed to rest. When Manalargenna a great chief of our people died at Wybalenna, Robinson tried to keep his body from his people so we could not take tokens as was an important cultural My final word is to any Tasmanian Aboriginal practice of our old people. But in the words of people here tonight, especially the young Robinson himself, by the time they went to ones. Never feel that you are alone. You may give him a white Christian burial, his people stand alone as one but you stand on the “had already taken away what they needed”. shoulders of all those who have come before Being to this day, the youngest person ever you. chosen to return one of our old people from 9

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You might be the only Aboriginal person in Kartanya and Merinda made beautiful music, your school like I was, you might be the only with Eve on the ‘heggs’; and I suspect it was Aboriginal person in your town, you might the first time that Island music has been feel like the only living one in the country, but played in takayna! I understand that Janice you are never alone, take every opportunity and Ruth also made some deadly music at you’ve got now, even just the maytim (Arthur River) and at least one other acknowledgement of your Aboriginal identity camp site. and the right to give your children Aboriginal It was an opportunity to educate people from names has come from the hard work, and the lutruwita and the ‘north island’ about the literal blood, sweat and tears of every one of importance of protecting takayna, our us that has walked this place before you. heritage and other places under threat of You are in the right place, you look just the destruction from this current government. It way you’re supposed to and you are strong. was also an opportunity for us to walk again Get your strength from them and remember in our people’s footsteps. there is absolutely nothing that as a people Theresa Sainty we can’t achieve, no matter how long it takes!

Nunami Sculthorpe‐Green – 6 April 2018

Takayna/Tarkine in Motion This year about 10 Aboriginal community members joined 158 artists (+ 46 volunteers) at various locations within takayna as part of the Bob Brown Foundation’s Tarkine in Motion (TiM). We stayed at kurina (Corinna), and Rocky and I lead two walks into laymanika (Rupert Point). By the end of the second day I could Treaty Discussion barely walk! At last the treaty door has been opened in the But the experience of being on country with whitefella’s mind. At this very moment we are our own people, and non‐Aboriginal people seeing a building discussion going on amongst who are wanting to assist in protecting politicians and communities about ideas of a takayna was simply fantastic. When at the treaty. However, many Aboriginal people may Pieman River and Rupert Point, the proper not be up to what a treaty is, how to get it, names – ruyinrim (Pieman R.) and laymanika and how would it benefit blackfellas. This (Rupert Point) were spoken by an Aboriginal article is but a basic view of what would be person for the first time at the locations since required by our First Nations to establish a our people were removed from country. written treaty. I hope that my rough discussion paper will contribute in bringing on We made string back at camp; Kartanya, a strong and open discussion amongst Merinda and Zoe made baskets; Jodi, Jude, Aboriginal people, and including whitefella 10

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supporters, to flesh out what might be done, accepted by ‘colonial‐Australia’, it can only be and by whom. achieved through due process as laid out in its Constitution. We will need to argue our case Approaching a UN treaty: convincingly if the Australian mainstream A first step is to clarify that Australian public are to support a treaty in any Aborigines have never been confirmed as referendum. Australian citizens. Aborigines can’t make a But this can’t happen if the Aboriginal leaders treaty if we are citizens of Australia. Australia allow the Government to take the lead, and has never confirmed Australian citizenship of Australian politicians will not let us get ahead Australian Aborigines, nor used any of leading a treaty process if they can help it. authorising instrument of parliament, or any Therefore, it will be important for Aborigines other means to establish such a decision. This to take the lead in whose treaty we are is a fact, and there exists no documents or talking about. After all it is our treaty we are records that prove otherwise. Given this is talking about. true, we need to consider who it is that we offer a treaty to, including the Queen. Treaty Options: In my view there are 2 options for a treaty to The Governor General of Australia has a choose from: senior role on behalf of the English Queen and her government. He would need to be Option 1. a treaty acknowledged through the involved along with the Australian Heads of United Nations (UN) that establishes our First Government around our campfire, where we Nation(s) as a sovereign nation(s): can present our treaty. Moreover, the Australian constitution had to be approved by Option 2. a Domestic Agreement Treaty with the House of Lords in England after assessing Australia, and with no formal role or it on a couple of occasions before approving endorsement from the UN. it. This is important concerning whom to It is my view that, with such a strong approach concerning a treaty. Right at this influence of colonial nations in the UN, it moment the idea of a treaty has many would be most unlikely an internationally notable Aborigines asking the Government to recognised treaty endorsed by the UN would set a process of negotiations on the treaty succeed in the foreseeable future. Taking the idea. Aborigines are a sovereign people, and history of the UN and how slow it is to on the issue of a treaty, shouldn’t be going succeed as a First Nation in its assemblies, it is piecemeal to demand treaty rights. Aboriginal obvious that our better option is the second leaders should be inviting the Governor‐ option for a Domestic Agreement Treaty with General, the Australian parliament, Including the Australian Government Aboriginal leaders the opposition and senate, to sit at our will need to consider what we are prepared to Campfire and be presented with a treaty compromise to achieve a successful outcome. offer. That’s not to say we give up our sovereignty We need to campaign whitefellas too and over any of our lands: but to say, let’s make gain their support for a treaty. For an our communities economically viable to important decision such as a treaty to be maintain our cultural traditions, knowledge,

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and ceremonies in a Domestic Agreement First Nations can satisfy the Montevideo Treaty. We can re‐affirm our Sovereignty over Convention Criteria. This being the case, we all of our lands in the process of reaching a are then in a position to offer Australia a Domestic Agreement Treaty. This is what I treaty because we will be able to satisfy believe we should aim for, because it has a international requirements for being a potential to open more freedom for our sovereign nation. future generations to live their self‐ Another option for example could be to lobby determination. Our achievements in reaching Australia to legislate after a ‘Yes’ vote on the a Domestic Agreement Treaty will be the Recognise referendum to concede certain foundation for future development towards concessions to us. But our experience of the achieving UN treaty. Australian Government and its legislation has A quick look at what would come with being demonstrated that such laws never seem to First Nations: it will be necessary to establish benefit Aboriginal people. an administration for community services. It’s a UN treaty, or a compromised version of These would include agencies for law, it that has to be decided. In my view it seems environment, education, training & obvious that our better option is to negotiate employment, culture & arts, welfare, health, a Domestic Agreement Treaty and get on with assembly of government leaders, and other building healthy communities. This will mean service needs. Most important is income, and that our community leaders will need to of course banks. A treaty would seek rental consider issues and matters of major interest income from Australia as a reconciliation to put together a sound Domestic Agreement agreement, for example. option for negotiating with the Government. UN nations have certain criteria as to what The facts are that we have little political satisfies nation status, and suggests that to power, Only the truth of history. And current achieve this UN Status is a long hard journey. experiences that our First Nations People The Montevideo Convention established the endure, and our political strength of will. following criteria. Gaining concessions from a colonial nation is Taken from the Montevideo Convention is one thing, but when we talk of a treaty it can the following statement: only be a treaty that is officially authorised by The state as a person of international law our First Nations. A treaty that is offered to us Should possess the following by ‘colonial Australia’ is akin to the thief who qualifications: stole your house, and then offers you limited (a) a permanent population; use of the back yard, with certain conditions. (b) ) a defined territory; Looking at it pragmatically, we are in a (c) government; and situation of ‘take what we can get now if it’s (d) capacity to enter into relations better than what we have’, and be patient with the other states. and build a strong foundation for achieving a more satisfactory treaty in the future. Acknowledging that Aborigines need to form a Government with the capacity to enter into relations with other states, it appears that our 12

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The most important thing for us to be mindful march illegally would show how serious we of is that freedom brings responsibility. It can are about our rights. The more people were happen, It’s up to us to make it happen. arrested the more embarrassing it would be to the Queensland and Australian Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta governments. plangermairreenner nation lutruwita (Tasmania) We were given equal coverage by the media. Journalists from Nigeria, London etc. were RECOMMENDED READING RE THE MONTEVIDEO shocked at the racism which exists in this CONVENTION country and it certainly pulled the wool from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montevid their eyes. Malcolm Fraser was shown up for eo_Convention what he is not – a Humanitarian. Joh Bjelke‐ Petersen and Russell Hinze were like two A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE! clowns in sideshow alley.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES – BRISBANE The Aboriginal movement and individuals 1982 were tested. Some organisations and individuals were found wanting. It is those On the 23rd September, 1982 a group of seven people who have grown powerful within people left Devonport for the Commonwealth Australia whose word is accepted as right by Games protests. Those seven were myself Governments and the majority of Australian Cheryl Fulton, June Brown, Sally Clark, Les people. Maynard, Stephen Stanton and David Mallett. The National Aboriginal Conferences (NAC) is People may ask why was it necessary for us to one body who came out publicly and said it protest and break the law? was against illegal Marches. By doing this the For 200 years the Aboriginal people have had Press played up the theme that the Aboriginal to live under the white man’s law. It has taken Movement was divided. The NAC as elected away our land, our children were placed on representatives of the Aboriginal people were reserves which could be likened to German not putting forward the views of the people concentration camps. who elected them but their own individual views. They were seen as being outside the For 200 years we had put up with this. We general happening In Brisbane. had tried to change the laws by peaceful demonstration, by petitions, by speaking to There were too many experiences we shared members of Parliament ‐ State and Federal, that are impossible to put down on paper. but to no avail. Because we knew that there Living at Musgrave Park was an experience in would be a large contingent of International itself, meeting people from other States and media and visitors we knew that the time was sharing mutual experiences, being part of the right to show then that Aborigines are not demonstrations and arrests and participating treated equally and still have not received in the planning of events were just some of recognition and compensation for this the things that happened to us. dispossession of our lands. To march legally Those people who came from the Northern would be only to conform to the system. To Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, 13

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Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and http://www.tascahrd.org.au/hep‐c Tasmania were united in a common bond. It Don’t Let the Flu Get You! wasn’t just the racist Queensland Acts we were fighting against, it was for the Aboriginal The Flu Vaccine‐ Your best shot at preventing Nation’s fight for survival in colonialistic the flu! Australia. KB Flu vaccines are available at the Aboriginal Living with Hepatitis C? Health Service in Launceston, Burnie and Hobart. Did you know that new treatments are available? Please phone now to make your appointment 1800 132 260 Treatment is a daily tablet (or sometimes two) taken for 8‐12 weeks and have a cure To protect yourself from flu you should get rate of 95%. vaccinated every year. The flu virus is changing so the flu vaccine changes too. They don’t have the same side effects as the There is a new vaccine this year to give better old medicines and can be prescribed by your protection for those over 65 years old. GP at the Aboriginal Health Service. Take that first step and make an appointment to talk The vaccine is free at the AHS and other GP about it. Practices for Aboriginal people who are:

Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood to blood  Six months to less than 5 years of age contact. About 80% of people in Australia  Five years to under 15 years and have were infected through unsafe injecting drug certain medical conditions use but some also through tattooing or body  15 years and older piercing that wasn’t sterile, unsterile medical  Pregnant women procedures (overseas) or blood transfusion prior to 1990.

Come in and get tested today!

For more information talk to your Aboriginal Health Worker or

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HOW MANY DO YOU RECOGNISE FROM THE GOOD OLE DOGHOUSE DAYS

MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY INTERESTING TRAINING SESSION A HAPPENING HERE!

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EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY ‐EASTER rugby with him, I thought this a little 1973 unsporting. Lesson 3 – don’t trust bureaucrats. I was late. In fact I was 20 minutes late as I drove furiously from Devonport to the So we walked from house to house, cabin to Launceston airport. I was also hung over. cabin. Until the last day when Morgan Over the years both of these qualities were to obtained an aged truck without brakes. Since be part and parcel of my work with the the only way it could be stopped was to run Aboriginal Legal Service. Fortunately the into something we then travelled from tree plane I was to meet was carrying Ros, Morgan trunk to tree trunk. and Jeff and was running on blackfellas time. After settling down in a cabin, I got to know It was later than me. So I learnt my first some of the children, and within one hour lesson – if the Great Rainbow Serpent had knew all the gossip, who was doing what, who wanted blacks to be on time he would have was fending etc. Over the years Lesson 4 – invented kangaroos with pocket watches. has never, never let me down. After tentative introduction at the airport we The big community meeting was planned for took off. Mission: to stamp out oppression on 8 pm. I volunteered to babysit and found Cape Barren Island. The Legal Service was myself “minding” some little bunny who was swinging into action. Lurching actually! There feeling a little unwell as a result of some had been a call for Council elections on the medicine he had consumed during the day. Island and the Government Resettlement Officer, Don Napier was regarded as being Scene: Small room in old cabin. Wallpaper anxious to prevent community action. When consists of newspapers. Fire burning. Slicer in doubt get a lawyer. Well that’s how the reading. Host fell asleep. theory went. Host awakening: “Can you fight?” The well drilled team landed at the new international airport at Cape Barren. Well, not Slicer thinking what have I done now replied: quite new but freshly graded although the “A bit” two contractors, Morgan Enterprises Pty. Ltd. Host standing up: “Okay, let’s have one now”. And Edervine Constructions weren’t speaking. We landed to an enthusiastic reception from Slicer: “I haven’t done anything to hurt you” the local population. Well actually no‐one was Host: “So what – what’s the matter ole man, there, we walked. Second lesson – Aboriginal are you scared?” groups don’t travel first class. Slicer thinking to himself why am I here? Here The Island Land Rover, donated by Abschol I am minding my own business, trying to help has been commandeered by the local school and some clown wants to hit me. If I say I’m teacher and special Constable Neilson who not scared he’ll want to fight, if I say I am he wasn’t going to let outside troublemakers might hit me because I can’t fight. have it all their own way. He went further and wanted to arrest us for being on a Reserve Slicer standing up: “No” without a permit. Since I had once played

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PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

Host standing up: “Right come on: take the bottle, hold it to my lips and blow bubbles so no‐one will know the difference. At this stage the two faced each other in the The bottle arrived. glow of the fire. The host then lost interest and no fight ensued. Smuggly proud of his cleverness, he raised the bottle to his lips knowing that the others Two subsequent events were to complete the could not see. He paused for the effect. loss of innocence of an ex‐idealist. Later in the Looked and saw four grinning faces no more evening in attempting to go for a walk in the than 6 inches from the bottle to see how far moonlight, he was taken aside and told not to the level of in the bottle dropped. Three walk along a particular path. ”Why not?” he mouthfuls later they were satisfied. asked. It was then pointed out that a man trap had been dug along the path designed to Thus began the next ten years of re‐ entrap a government official. Lesson 5 – education. Blackfellas are more cunning than lawyers!

Time: Midnight

Scene: A campfire surrounded by 7 persons. Some alcohol had been consumed but is now finished.

Action: One of the men gets up, leaves the campfire and comes back with a bottle of meths and a can of pineapple juice. The ritual begins. A swig of meths followed by ROVING EYES pineapple chaser, and pass the bottle ole man.

Lawyer: (Played by Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford or Lawrence Olivier to himself: “I appear to be in somewhat of a dilemma”. Going to the Orchard! (Actually he didn’t think this at all – what he Who was the community member who really said to himself was, “Christ now you’re walked into the Centre and asked the young in trouble. “I don’t normally drink meths so it receptionist, “Can you tell me where the App would be patronising to drink. Store is in town?” Stifling her giggle and being Since lawyers are paid to think about both very professional without making the sides of an agreement, he answered himself – community member feel too old, she told the “On the other hand I am their guest –It would community member very politely, “It’s on be rude and elitist to refuse”. your phone, it’s not actually a store”, They all had a good laugh, while they community The bottle came nearer. member said to herself “Jeepers I’m getting Since lawyers are also trained to be devious old”…. I wonder who that was………… the following compromise was reached. “I will

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PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

Wonder Who????? sunglasses who looks like a meanie starts walking angrily towards her. He sees the logo I heard a whisper in the community that a and started calling her all the blacks…. and 1980’s dance group are getting back together c…. under the sun. Her response was, You and to teach the young ones the dance … Let convict, thieving bastard; get back to England. those mutton bird feathers fly...Guess who??? The crowd in Banjos were all looking around You should have got to Spec Savers! ‐ TS to see what was going on and she made sure she walked in the crowd of people so he Poor Rocky nearly got a blasting after bringing couldn’t attack her. in his wifey’s glasses. She opened up the case and was growling that there were no glasses. Next minute after returning to the car she She was just about to ring him and give him a found that he had keyed the car and done a blasting – Umm she had already put them on runner. She thought to herself, ”Just what I and was wearing them. need, another vehicle incident report.” And then she thought to herself “I should have May Day at Lenah Valley! said yeah sticks and stones mate, yes I am JE arrives in Hobart from the Island and black because the adrenaline had kicked in it’s arrives in Lenah Valley from where he collects only because you have seen me on TV for the the key from its usual hiding place and opens past decade and I am famous! the door to find the TV turned on as usual for a four legged friend named Fraggles, who rrala milaythina-ti stays at home during the day watching the soapies. He thinks that’s strange where’s Strong in Country project Fraggles! Then he thinks maybe they have just Yarns to come from Sharnie. gone for a walk around the hills and bush track. It gets dark and is now 9 o’clock and The rrala milaythina‐ti projects aims to panic starts to set in. He rings the mobile no provide Aboriginal community members with answer, he texts all her friends and some opportunities to access milaythina (country). don’t text back because they don’t recognize The project helps Aboriginal community his number, he thinks should I go searching members to build strong connections to for them they may have had an accident. He Aboriginal cultural heritage, language and thinks about calling search and rescue or the Aboriginal land. police. rraa milaythina‐ti is a Participation Action Finally someone tells him that RS has gone Research project (PAR) where the aim is to away for the night and forgot to tell him and show that Aboriginal peoples well‐ being that she has lost her mobile phone. Oh well, increases through contact with country. all was good. Can understand the panic when The aim is to run a minimum 10 camps across the TV is left on all day for the pooch when the state and various day trips. We aim to get the pooch wasn’t even there! as much feed‐back from community members Sticks & Stones – All Famous like! regarding where they would like the camps to An ex State Secretary parks the TAC car in be held and when. We have created an Launceston when a big fella with beanie and

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PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

interactive map for community members to access and make camp/trip suggestions.

We also aim to assist community members with other aspects for the camps such as transport, food and where needed camp equipment. This is a great opportunity for Aboriginal community to join together on milaythina, share cultural knowledge, Nan Mabb Eulogy language and experiences. Nan was the back bone of this community for Contact Sharnie Read in Hobart if you would more years than I can remember. She was a like to talk more about the project and check great one for helping people in need and was our facebook page – Rrala milaythina‐ always there to provide a bed and a feed for ti/Strong in Country project those doing it hard. She was a loyal friend to so many; was never shy about expressing her own opinion; and rarely missed an important Aboriginal community meeting. She was the sort of person who makes this community a community, even though or perhaps because DATES TO REMEMBER of the fact that it was her adopted May: community. The links between Tasmania and 6 Mountain MayDay – No Cable Car of Cherbourg have been forged forever. kunanyi at 11.00am Cascade Gardens, Nan was a strong supporter of the TAC, South Hobart perhaps going back to her early and lasting 11 yula kipli mapali – Mutton Bird Feast – friendship with our first State Secretary, piyura kitina (Risdon Cove) 6.00pm – Rosalind Langford. Her support wasn’t 8.00pm uncritical, and if she didn’t like something, 19 Birders’ Ball, Mowbray Racecourse she’d be sure to let me know. Those (Luxbet Race Centre) at 7.00pm suggestions were a large part of our conversations at our lunches at Cooley’s, July which sadly had dropped off in recent years. NAIDOC Week 8‐15 July As Rev Grant reminds us, forgive me for 9 Flag Raising & Cultural lunch at 11.00am things I could have done better.  Burnie TAC  Hobart at piyura kitina (Risdon Cove) Above all Nan was a shining light showing  Launceston Mall how to make the most of life. Her strong 13 NAIDOC Ball in Hobart (Venue to be sense of community saw her participating in advised) and stay tuned for other events all the social events around town as well as during the week the political ones. Her very large family had to share her with the rest of the community and she always seemed to have enough love and energy to go around.

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PAKANA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018

On a personal level, Nan shamed me mightily The Federal Government made a rule that if by staying out for the after parties at the an Aboriginal organisation received more NAIDOC Balls. In Burnie she strung me along than half a million dollars from the for hours saying she’d be ready to leave ‘in a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, minute’ and just as well I finally left without then the organisation had to come under her because she ended up not getting back to ORIC unless they had previously been our hotel at all. incorporated under ASIC, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The At the same time, woe betide any of the same rule did not apply to non‐Aboriginal Centre workers who was late to pick her up. It organisations. didn’t matter that she’d keep them waiting if she wasn’t ready at other times. You could For formal contracts and dealings with banks rely on Nan for a good growl if things didn’t and similar institutions, we are now the suit. But she was never nasty about it and Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation. But for would soon be joining in the joke. everyday purposes we are still the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre as we have registered that Nan had to endure more than her fair share as our business name. So it is absolutely of family tragedy and that seemed to have correct to still call our organisation ‘The knocked her around in recent years. But her Centre’. own zest for life never waned. Her enjoyment of the Boil Up band at the Republic Bar is Pakana Newsletter legendary. I’m sure Nan will be there in spirit This first edition of Pakana Newsletter is when we have a few to farewell her at the responding to complaints from community Republic later. members that our Annual Report doesn’t We’ll long remember you Nan. Thanks for have the interesting items that used to everything. Rest in Peace. appear in Pakana News. And the commercially printed Pakana News was Heather Sculthorpe expensive and slow to appear. We hope this Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre or new look newsletter will keep our community Corporation? up to date with what’s happening and what’s being discussed around the traps. We Our organisation started life as the Aboriginal welcome community contributions of all Information Service in the early 1970s. We kinds: from opinions and political trends, changed our name to the Tasmanian through poems photos and drawings, to Aboriginal Centre in 1976 and had to change funny stories about things around you. Just again to the Tasmanian Aboriginal about anything at all. We do reserve the right Corporation in 2017 when we had to become to reduce the length of articles and to delete regulated by ORIC, the Office of the Registrar defamatory comment. of Indigenous Corporations. ORIC comes under the Department of Prime Minister and Please send your contribution marked For Cabinet and the Federal Minister, Senator Publication to: [email protected]. We Nigel Scullion, refused our many requests to hope to have the next edition published in continue our regulation under Tasmanian law. July or August 2018.

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