National Governance Working Group
Meeting in Mackay Queensland with Gilbert & Tobin on developments of the National Australian South Sea Islander Association – Constitution.
National Governance Working Group
Faendem Baek Famili – Solomon Islands participant 2014
Graham Mooney, who was a participant in the workshop, says “I hale from Mackay in far north Queensland, which is home to our largest ASSI / Solomon Island descent community. I have both Aboriginal and South Sea Islander ancestry from my father and mother’s lines.
My father was brought up strictly in Solomon Islander culture and still speaks pijin today. I was given the role as our biological family historian both on my father’s (Percival Mooney (senior) ancestry and lineage into the Solomon Islands and my mother’s (Jessie Darr) ancestry and lineage into my Vanuatu heritage.
This will be my first time to visit the Solomons in my over 60 years. Our great grandfather, Kwailiu, and great grandmother, Orrani, were brought to Queensland as indentured workers to grow sugarcane in Innisfail in far North Queensland.
They came from Fataleka, Malaita, Solomon Islands in 1888. My father’s lineage as a Solomon Islander comes through his mother Cecily Fatnowna, the youngest daughter of Kwailiu and Orrani.”
Mass Deportation
Mass Deportation – Historical facts extracts from powerpoint for – INDENTURED LABOUR INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, Port Louis, Mauritius compiled by Emelda Davis and Professor Clive Moore
Mauritius Indentured Labour 180th Commemoration Ceremony 2014
Reenactment commemoration ceremonies 180 years since the first indentured Indian labourers were brought to Mauritius. In the district of Port Louis, lies the 1,640 m2 site where the modern indentured labour diaspora began. In 1834, the British Government selected the island of Mauritius to be the first site for what it called ‘the great experiment’ in the use of ‘free’ labour to replace slaves.
Between 1834 and 1920, almost half a million indentured labourers arrived from India at Aapravasi Ghat to work in the sugar plantations of Mauritius, or to be transferred to Reunion Island, Australia, southern and eastern Africa or the Caribbean. The buildings of Aapravasi Ghat are among the earliest explicit manifestations of what was to become a global economic system and one of the greatest migrations in history.
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre launch 2014
LIVERPOOL LORD MAYOR (far right), SAMOA HIGH COMMISSIONER (far left), VANUATU HIGH COMMISSIONER (middle)
Vanuatu High Commissioner Mr Kalfau Kaloris introduces WANTOK NSW at the Casula Power House Arts Centre – Pacific Gods Program acknowledging ancestors and work to date for ASSI recognition the speeches were followed by more brilliance of Pacific Cultural groups and a highlighted performance by Uncle Johnny Nicol and Aunty Shireen Malamoo. A humble thank you to the CPAC and particularly creative producer Leo Tanoi for their commitment to ASSI recognition.
National Governance Working Group
National Governance Working Group
ROCKHAMPTON CONSTITUTION CONSULTATION with the NASSIGWG 17/10/2014. feedback…
RANDALL WARKILL –
Thought I’d take this opportunity to update on the Rockhampton ASSI National Body meeting, held Friday 17th.
The Item for discussion “The Draft Constitution” planned for that day was not approved or passed, it was discussed. I attended the meeting with no expectations other than to halt the Draft Constitution. The NASSIWG have one objective and that is to develop the constitution for a national body.
NASSIWG realise and understand that a National Body and a State Body needs to happen and to operate at full potential one cannot function without the other. NASSIWG also believe as does the guest speaker, Member for Keppel Mr Bruce Young that a National Body should be established first. It is important to note that NASSIWG has the best interests of the Australian South Sea Islanders at hand when it comes to establishing a National Body, although the processes and communication does need reviewing they do have their heart in the right place with compassion, integrity and commitment to deliver a reasonable, open minded constitution with realistic guidelines for ASSI.
Gilbert and Tobin Lawyers are experienced in establishing non for profit organisations, and it is their judgement and expert advice that is assisting in writing of the constitution. I must note it is our (the peoples) wording of that document that is being added and not that of Gilbert and Tobin. I am inclined to change my point of view as I feel a voice at a National level will be critical to our goals at a State level as we advocate for recognition and human rights issues.
I have asked myself what is in best interest for our people and I believe this is right I am committed to both and believe one cannot work without the other in terms of people ownership at the grassroots. I know there has been a lot of miscommunication that has lead to the difference of opinions and interpretations of NASSIWG and the National Body so I ask you all to consider this.
The Government continues to struggle with the difficult task of addressing the marginalisation and disadvantage peoples and maybe it is because at that level we have no representation. If we are to move forward let’s not add to the Governments struggle and band together and overcome our indifferences by attending meetings (if you are able) and support our future. This is only a brief update and my opinions after the Rockhampton meeting , I am sure the NASSIWG will send out the minutes of that meeting shortly.
Thanks
Poem entitled “WANTOK had a breakthrough”
WANTOK had a breakthrough – written by Veronica Griffin.
WANTOK had a breakthrough
Wantok had a break through
Wow how’s that
Wantok had a break through
Now a working group has been selected
Wantok had a break through
How deadly …Oh how deadly
Wantok had a break through
My people from near and a far
Hey … Wantok had a break through
Emelda, Graham and Michael … all of us can relax
Cause Wantok … had a break through
Our Kanaka voice will be nationally heard
Now that … Wantok had a break through
Australian South Sea Islanders rejoice
We can never again be blue
Our … Wantok had a break through
Will not remain silent we will be ever strong
Why? …Wantok had a break through
My birthday 30th March 2014 will always be know as the date that …
Wantok had a break through
From Mackay our progressive town where
Wantok … had a break through
Let us hear loud clear voices … hey!
Wantok had a break through
Shout it from every beat of your heart
Hooray…
Wantok had a break through
Go back to your family and your people and tell them…
Wantok had a break through
Teach the children… listen to the young folk and respect your elders be humbled by this thing.
Remember all of you the date the time the place … when
Wantok had a break through.
Oxfam – Growing Food in A Changing Climate
(left) Lola Forester,Emelda Davis,Shirley Tokon (program manager Climate Change Adaption), Mala Silas (Adaption Officer) – University of Sydney presentation
Climate change is the single biggest threat in the global fight against hunger, and our neighbours in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable. Meet Shirley and Mala, two amazing women from Vanuatu who are working hard to build the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change. They’re coming to Sydney soon, and we’d like to invite you to meet them at a very special event.
This seminar will provide a first-hand opportunity to hear from two people at the frontline of food security and climate change in the Pacific. Mala Silas is 23 years old and is currently employed as the climate change officer with CARE on Fortuna Island in Vanuatu. The CARE programs she is involved focus on food and agriculture including community gardens and nutrition.
Shirley Laban is currently working on Oxfam’s climate change program in Port Vila, has represented Oxfam at the UNFCCC and is a member of CAN Pacific. She also spent three months in Australia last year on a Prime Minister’s Scholarship. Both Mala and Shirley are working on a DFAT-funded Climate Change Community Based Adaptation program.
This seminar is being held in conjunction with Oxfam International’s Food and Climate Justice (FCJ) strategy and its GROW campaign. Oxfam International has been a global leader in campaigning for governments to respond to the inter-related problems of climate change and food security.
Oxfam argues that wild weather and unpredictable seasons are changing what farmers can grow and is making people hungry. Food prices are going up. Food quality is going down. Soon, climate change will affect what all of us can eat.
Australia’s neighbours in the South Pacific are at high risk from these developments. In this seminar, our two women speakers will tell of the impacts that climate change is having on the communities in Vanuatu and the ways in which people are working to adapt to these changes.
Show your support for climate action and RSVP to this free event now. Together, we can stop climate change making people hungry.
For more information, visit www.oxfam.org.au/grow or contact Debbie Hunt at debbieh@oxfam.org.au