Yaama! Welcome to our monthly CIE Newsletter! We are really excited to share with you some news about our CIE (Community Is Everything) campaign, our Firestick Flick for this month and much more!
But first, let us introduce ourselves – Uncle Rodney Dillon is a Palawa man, and our Indigenous Rights Advisor. Kacey Teerman is a Gomeroi woman, and our Strategic Campaigner. And the newest member of the team is Rach McPhail, Gomeroi woman and our Campaign Organiser.
Together, we make up the Indigenous Rights team at Amnesty International Australia, working to amplify the voices of First Nations communities, and campaign for increased funding for community-led diversion programs and a fairer and more humane youth justice system. We are honoured to be able to do this work for our communities, and couldn’t do it without the support of activists right around the country just like you!
CIE News
Our team is currently on a road trip in the Northern Territory, in the lead up to the election on 24th August. We have been visiting communities to listen to the voices of First Nations peoples and shine a positive spotlight on community-run alternatives to prison. We’ve also been visiting MP’s to lobby for justice reinvestment funding into First Nations-led youth diversion programs.
Our activist team will be mobilising throughout the Territory in August, campaigning hard to ensure that the incoming government hears our calls to:
- Prevent the age of criminal responsibility in the Northern Territory from being lowered,
- Raise the age of criminal responsibility in line with international human rights standards,
- Fund Indigenous led and evidence based diversion programs that uphold the principles of self-determination.
If you are on Larrakia Country in Gulmmerogin (Darwin) on Friday 16th August, we invite you to come along to our rally outside of NT Parliament House at 11.30am where we will be calling for better outcomes for youth justice.
Firestick Flicks
Last month, the Indigenous Rights team launched our new film club, Firestick Flicks, as part of our NAIDOC celebrations.
This monthly film club aims to encourage Amnesty activists, staff, and supporters to watch First Nations films and documentaries, by providing supporting resources, discussion prompts, and reflections to foster deep learning and understanding on the path to reconciliation.
We thought that we would launch Firestick Flicks with some films that really give some great foundational knowledge about what life was like prior to colonisation, and the changes that came about from those early years after the first point of contact.
This month’s Firestick Flicks film is The Australian Wars, specifically Episode 2, focusing on the Tasmanian Frontier Wars (and featuring Uncle Rodney Dillon)
Click here for more information about The Australian Wars, and how you can host your own screening of this docuseries and participate in ongoing Firestick Flicks screenings
Winangala (Listen) – Frontier War Stories
Kooma, Murawarii and Gamilaraay man Boe Spearim hosts this raw and insightful podcast, exploring the Frontier Wars and examples of Blak resistance across this country since colonisation began. In episode 30, Boe yarns with Uncle Rodney Dillon about place names and the normalisation of the colonisation of Australia.
Listen on your favourite podcast app, and follow on Instagram @frontierwarstories.
Biibabiiba (Book) – Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) by Dr Anita Heiss
Dr Anita Heiss is a Wiradjuri woman, and an internationally published, award-winning author of 23 books. Her latest work is titled Dirrayawadha, which means ‘Rise Up’ in Wiradjuri. It is a historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars on Wiradjuri Country in the Bathurst region, featuring resistance leader Windradyne, his sister Miinaa, and her relationship with Irish convict Daniel O’Dwyer.
Blak Business – Riley Callie Resources and Jaana Bulan
In honour of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, we’re highlighting two Blak Businesses: Riley Callie Resources and Jaana Bulan.
Riley Callie Resources was founded by Dunghutti woman Deborah Hoger. Her vision is to ensure that Indigenous culture is taught and learned about all throughout a child’s education, by embedding First Nations perspectives into the classroom through the inclusion of authentic resources which celebrate and showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Make sure you give her a follow on instagram @rileycallieresources.
Jaana Bulan was founded by Bianca Monaghan, a proud Bundjalung woman and mother. Jaana Bulaan means ‘stand together’ in Bundjalung language, and Bianca is proud to create ally-friendly baby, kids and adult clothing and accessories that everyone can enjoy together. Follow Bianca at @jaanabulan.
Mob Who Inspire Us – Armani Francois
Last month we highlighted an Elder who inspires us, and this month we are going the opposite end of the spectrum to highlight a young First Nations person who is doing excellent work for their community.
Armani Francois is a Central Eastern Arrernte young person, and support caseworker at youth rehabilitation service BushMob, based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). She works with young people to explore different activities such as working with horses, cooking, days on Country, to find things that they are passionate about, and that give them hope and a sense of purpose – and help to prevent them from coming into further contact with the justice system.
Armani was also a part of the Uluru Youth Dialogues, campaigning for the Voice to Parliament, and is hopeful for a better future for First Nations communities.
Maliyaa (Friend) – Activist Shout Out
Do you know of an Amnesty Activist or Action Group in your local area who is doing some really great work in fighting for Indigenous rights and amplifying First Nations voices? Send us a short yarn (50-100 words) to tell us about the work they’ve done, so we can put a shout out in our next issue.
Please send to communityorganising@amnesty.org.au with subject “Activist Shout Out”.
Coming up next month:
August 4: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
August 13: Anniversary of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions
August 23: Anniversary of the Gurindji Wave Hill walk-off
August 25: South Sea Islander National Recognition
August 26: Three year anniversary of Waddananggu
Thank you to Common Ground for their excellent dates of significance resource, where you can find further information about these dates.
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