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ANTaR "Stolenwealth"
Games action
Public installation of 6 foot letters
Members of ANTaR Victoria drew significant public and media attention
to the plight of Indigenous people on Monday 13 March 2006 during
the Moomba Parade in Melbourne.
As the Moomba Parade crossed the Yarra River on Princes Bridge,
volunteers and supporters of ANTaR staged a public installation
of 6 foot high letters spelling out STOLENWEALTH GAMES on the Footbridge
between Southbank and Flinders Street Station.
Photo
courtesy of Megan Evans
Photo courtesy of
Megan Evans
The installation was an attempt to highlight the continuing struggle
of Indigenous peoples in Australia to restore their voice, wealth
and health.
Media converage
Media coverage of the installation included Channel 7 News, ABC
News, The Age, The Herald Sun, AAP, SBS Radio, ABC Radio, 3CR, RRR,
South African TV, New Zealand Radio.
Indigenous
rights statement co-signed
by 18 NGOs
On Tuesday 14 March 2006, 18 NGO groups released an open letter
calling for justice and equity for Indigenous peoples.
In the letter, initiated by ANTaR Victoria (a group working for
Land Justice and Reconciliation), 18 organisations called on governments
to commence the process of developing a fair and just settlement
of the grievances between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Spokesperson Ms Jill Webb, Chairperson of ANTaR Victoria, said “this
should culminate in formal Treaties between our peoples.”
The open letter is below:
OPEN LETTER – ANTaR Victoria –
justice and equity for Indigenous peoples
For release 14 March 2006
Over the next two weeks the eyes of much of the world will be on
Australia and its sporting achievements. But there is another area
of endeavour where our country falls way short of comparable Commonwealth
nations like Canada and New Zealand – delivering justice and
equity for Indigenous people in Australia.
Australia is one of the richest countries in the world, yet Indigenous
people still on average have lives that are 20 years shorter than
non-Indigenous people.
Indigenous people, living in over 400 nations on this continent,
who have looked after and maintained this land for more than 40,000
years, were once very wealthy. They had a rich culture, comfortable
lifestyle, strong connecting beliefs, and most importantly, lots
of land on which to live.
Indigenous people were dispossessed of their land, and therefore
their wealth, by the arrival of non-Indigenous people and as the
result of the processes of colonisation, became and remain the single
most marginalised and disadvantaged group on this continent.
Unlike New Zealand and Canada, Australia has made few inroads into
the appalling state of Indigenous health. Unlike both of these countries,
Australia has made no treaties with the original occupants who were
dispossessed of their land.
Despite the many hurdles placed in their way, Indigenous people
have succeeded against the odds. A number are members of the current
Australian Commonwealth Games team. Others are artists performing
in cultural festivities associated with the Games. We congratulate
these Indigenous athletes and artists and applaud their achievements.
But their success should not be used to gloss over the brutal reality
of what most Indigenous Australians have to confront on a daily
basis – racism, opportunities denied and lives tragically
cut short.
At this time of national celebration and international attention,
we call on the Australian and Victorian Governments to commence
the process of developing a fair and just settlement of the grievances
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This should culminate
in formal Treaties between our peoples.
We also call upon Governments, churches, NGOs and those in the corporate
world to commit themselves to brokering genuine agreements which
respect Indigenous self determination.
Only when our different histories and life circumstances are reconciled,
can there be genuine unity within the Australian nation.
1. Jill
Webb, Chairperson, ANTaR Victoria
2. Taimor Hazou, Deputy Chair, Australian Arabic Council
3. Sharan Burrow, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
4. Paul Slape, National Secretary of the Australian Services Union
5. Russell Atwood, Executive President, ASU Victoria Authorities
and Services Branch
6. Pauline Spencer, Executive Officer, Federation of Community Legal
Centres (Victoria)
7. Tamar Hopkins, Solicitor/Law Reform/CLE worker, Flemington &
Kensington Community Legal Centre
8. Cam Walker, national liaison officer, Friends of the Earth Australia
9. Rev. Harry Kerr, Convener, Pax Christi Australia (Victoria)
10. Professor Eleanor A Bourke and Dr Diane Sisely, Co-Chairs, Reconciliation
Victoria.
11. Ian Wishart, National Executive Director, Plan
12. Bev Polzin, Clerk, Victoria Regional Meeting of the Religious
society of Friends (Quakers)
13. Dave Kerin, Convener, Union Solidarity
14. Cath Smith, CEO, VCOSS
15. Andrew Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Local Governance
Association
16. Brian Boyd, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council
17. Samiro Douglas, Manager, WIRE - Women's Information
18. Georgie Ferrari, Executive Officer, Youth Affairs Council of
Victoria
Click
here to download the open letter
Media converage
Letter to the Editor,
The Age, Wed 15 March 05
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