ANTaR – Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

ANTaR’s most recent newsletter mentions that “The federal Government has agreed to hold a national referendum on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by the time of the next election, due in 2013.” ANTar supports the idea of holding a referendum and is doing their bit to do help gain a positive outcome. To find out more check the ANTaR website.

One of your local cafe’s probably has the free ‘Avantcard’ cards that promote their campaign. Do your bit by filling one in and mailing it.

Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards have gone National

The Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards have gone national becoming the ‘National Indigenous Music Awards‘ (NIMAs). The awards event, known as “the ARIAs of Indigenous Music”, is now in its 8th year. The change means that there are now three new national award categories. Besides providing a platform for Indigenous musicians outside the NT, these developments also bring greater exposure to artists from the Northern Territories.

Nominations for the NIMAs are currently open and will close on July 22nd, 2011. Any individual or organisation working in the Australian Music Industry can submit artists/acts (signed or unsigned) for nomination.

The Awards Ceremony will be held at Darwin’s Gardens Amphitheatre on Friday 19 Aug 2011. 

Whichway Workshops for Indigenous Musicians

Guwanyi – 3rd National Aboriginal Writers’ Festival

The NSW Writers' Centre

This month the 3rd National Aboriginal Writers’ Festival will be held at the NSW Writer’s Centre in Rozelle on March 19th. The all-day event, titled ‘Guwanyi’ which means ‘to tell’, celebrates the oral traditions and written influences of Aboriginal cultures on contemporary Australian society. Featured speakers include authors Dr. Anita Heiss, Peter Minter and Bruce Pascoe. The day covers topics such as:

• A History of Aboriginal Writing
• The Future of Indigenous Literature
• Getting Indigenous Stories out there
• Poetic Justice

The day commences at 10am and finishes with drinks ‘On The Veranda’ at 5-6pm. It will be a great place to hear from established authors and meet Australia’s emerging writing talent.

Maori Radio in Sydney

Listen Online: Radio Poihakena

A Song of Loss

If you read my blog, you know that I am a songwriter. Out of my passion for language preservation came the idea to put all the names of Australia’s lost indigenous languages into a song. This would be a way of remembering, valuing the linguistic heritage of Australia and bringing awareness to what is happening right under out nose, the languages that are dying ‘on our watch’ so to speak.

Then I came across this song (spoken text to music) by Bruce Watson and was surprised to find it does exactly that: listing the languages that collectively we have lost. For me it is a call to treasure what we do have and strengthen the languages that remain.

On my YouTube profile I have created a playlist with interesting videos on Indigenous Language Preservation from around the world. They are interesting videos, because the stories from around the world tell us that we are not alone on our journey of restoration.

A Few Questions

Thanks to Trevor Moeke (Maori Elder) for this very personal challenge

Bob Randall “Brown Skin Baby (They Took Me Away)”

Garrangali win 2010 Indigenous Music Awards

garrangali-cover

Northern Territories ‘Reggae & Roots’ band Garrangali has won best Album of the Year and best Song of the Year in the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards with their album ‘Garrangali (Crocodile Nest) and its winning song ‘Searights’ – beating singer Jessica Mauboy who was also a contender for the awards.

‘Searights’ celebrates the recognition of native title to the tidal zone & sea around Blue Mud Bay as established in the Supreme Court by ‘The Blue Mud Bay Decision’.

The band members mostly live in Yilpara (Blue Mud Bay) in Arnhem Land and sing in their indigenous Yolngu language. The album, which was launched in March this year, features the Yidaki (didgeridoo).

‘Mari Nawi’ Exhibition at The State Library of New South Wales

mari-nawi-aboriginal-odysseys

The ‘Mari Nawi’ exhibition, due to open at the State Library of NSW on September 20th, highlights the significant role that Sydney’s indigenous Darug and Eora nations played in Australia’s early maritime history. Traveling on English ships, which they referred to as ‘Mari Nawi’ (meaning ‘large canoes’), they sailed through Port Jackson and throughout the world during the years between 1790 and 1850. Featuring rarely seen oil paintings, sketches, journals and maps, the exhibition is curated by historian Dr Keith Vincent Smith and can be viewed until 12 December 2010.