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. We work 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 has just returned from the NT, where we visited diversion programs and met with First Nations community organisations, MP’s and legal services to discuss alternatives to prison and the need for therapeutic responses.
We also worked with local activists in Darwin to hold a rally outside NT Parliament House and markets stalls at several local markets, as well as letterboxing and handing our scorecards out to community at pre-polling locations and on election day.
(L-R: Rach McPhail, Uncle Rodney Dillon, Kacey Teerman, Leeanne Caton, Ed Krutsch, Elsa Adshead)
The outcome of the election was that the CLP was voted in, and devastatingly, they announced they will keep their election promise to lower the age back to 10, as well as reintroduce the use of torturous spit hoods and create further poverty by punishing families for their kids not being able to engage with a colonial education system that was never designed in a culturally appropriate way. We will continue to advocate in the NT until the CLP reverses their decision.
Next up, we will be engaging with volunteers on the ground and amplifying voices of First Nations activists working on the frontline in the youth justice space, focusing on diversion and the organisations working on raise the age. Post-election, we will look to engage with the next QLD Government.
Firestick Flicks
Back in July, 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.
This month’s Firestick Flicks film is Through the Fire Documentary, by We Are Warriors.
(Content warning: racism and oppression of First Nations peoples, explicit language)
Don’t forget to join our online discussion on Wednesday 25th September at 6.30pm – register here!
Winangala (Listen)
3% is a First Nations hip hop collective made up of rappers Nooky and Dallas Woods, and singer Angus Field – and they have recently dropped their first album, “Kill The Dead”.
“Our People” is the debut single off this album, and borrows a sample of “My People” by the Presets.
This song is incredibly powerful, and speaks about the overrepresentation of First Nations peoples in the prison system, particularly youth.
Nooky spoke to Triple J about writing the single:
“We done this session when all of that stuff was all over the media about Alice Springs — calling our kids little criminals [and] early Voice conversations were happening,” Nooky said.
“After the session, it was clear. There was no plan but what we done in that moment, the old people were there with us. They guided that session, they told us what to say.
Whilst on Larrakia Country in Garramilla (Darwin), the Indigenous Rights team was lucky enough to meet 3%, and see them perform Our People live at their album launch celebration. We’re really proud of these guys, so make sure you follow 3% on Instagram and YouTube!!
(Content warning: racism and oppression of First Nations peoples, explicit language)
Biibabiiba (Book)
The Land Recalls You, Kirli Saunders
Gunai author Kirli Saunders has just released her beautiful new book, The Land Recalls You – a letter of love to all the children who have been taken from their families.
From Kirli’s website: “Do not mourn the hands that raised you … Do not weep for songs of land. Honouring the Stolen Generations, and all who’ve been taken, The Land Recalls You is a powerful story of returning, written with love and reverence by award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders (OAM) and illustrated by debut Bundjalung artists David and Noni Cragg.”
Blak Business
Sticking with the NT theme for our Blak Business this month…
House of Darwin is a 100% Indigenous owned social enterprise, where all the funds raised are used for social programs in remote Indigenous communities in the NT.
House of Darwin is a clothing brand with a purpose. They use creativity to tell stories of the Territory, and exist to inspire, educate and drive change across the two worlds of Australia.
Mob Who Inspire Us
Willie Hewitt is a is a Wadjigan/Yawuru/Karajarri/Bard man, and founder of Bendjil Culture. He is working to set up a youth diversion program out on his Grandmother’s Country in Bulgul, NT.
Our team was privileged to visit this Country with Willie, and learn about his plans for giving kids a break from the stress of city life.
He will provide them with trauma-informed care, and teaching them cultural knowledge like hunting, fishing and caring for Country.
Thank you for showing us around and sharing your time and knowledge with us Willie!!
Maliyaa (Friend) – Activist Shout Out
This month’s shout out has to go to Elsa, leader of the Darwin Activist Group!!! Elsa always goes above and beyond with her commitment to not just Indigenous Rights, but all of Amnesty’s campaigns.
Our team recently had the privilege of working with Elsa during our NT campaign. We are so grateful for the time she invested (in the tropical heat) with letterboxing, setting up and holding information stalls at local markets, and the wealth of local information and contacts that she shared.
Thank you so much Elsa – we appreciate you!!
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:
September 25: Anniversary of Cathy Freeman Winning Gold at the Olympics
Thank you to Common Ground for their excellent dates of significance resource.
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