ASSI.PJ consultation feedback re Australian South Sea Islander Constitutional Developments

Purpose of the Meeting: The aim of the meeting is for the Chair of the National ASSI Working Group, Mr Greg Sutherland to feedback on his national consultations with ASSI communities and discuss ASSI.PJ perspectives on Checklist and Guide-Federation Model (National ASSI representative body) for the national constitution developments.

Summary: ASSI.PJ Board revisited the video recordings from constitutional meeting with Greg Sutherland and have agreed on the below dot points to be put forward to Gilbert & Tobin, NASSIGWG and the ASSI Community for wider consideration.

Please bare in mind that theses points are just suggestions and collated feedback from those who attended.

Download document HERE

Rainbow Warrior arrival in Port Vila

A very full and overwhelmed croud celebrated the Rainbow Warrior arrival in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Although this was not an official government ceremony the dancers were asked to enter the port to perform for the dedicated crew of the Rainbow Warrior. The TAFEA community and other groups celebrated in support of the arrival of the vessel which bought 2 x 20ft containers from Australia filled with donations and goods, such as tarpaulins and blankets sourced by ASSI.PJ.

Tafea men dancing for Captain Mike Finken and crew of the Rainbow Warrior - Port Vila docks 18-05-2015

Tafea men dancing for Captain Mike Finken and crew of the Rainbow Warrior – Port Vila docks 18-05-2015

The women of registered organisation the TAFEA Australian Community Connection rallied together from 6.00am yesterday morning 18-5-2015 to dress in tradition and face paint each other for a ceremony welkam in appreciation of the arrival of the Rainbow Warrior to Port Vila.

Emelda and ladies painted from TAFEA province. Actionaid board member Sonia Zavesky and worker William Gray with Emelda Davis and Josephine Fred, Vice president of TAFEAACC.

Emelda and ladies painted from TAFEA province.
Actionaid board member Sonia Zavesky and worker William Gray with Emelda Davis and Josephine Fred, Vice president of TAFEAACC.

Described by captain Mike Finken as being met by ‘a face of rainbows’, he stood at the entrance of the docks receiving gifts and praise for the support given by the Greenpeace crew.

The following weeks will see distribution of goods to the Tanna Island province who were devastated by cyclone Pam some two months ago.

The docks saw a frenzie of activity which also included Actionaid, Greenpeace and community volunteers unload the containers from the ship and repack ready for their depart to Tanna sometime today.

The docks saw a frenzie of activity which included Actionaid, Greenpeace and community volunteers

The docks saw a frenzie of activity which included Actionaid, Greenpeace and community volunteers

Great yarn with the women’s group today

great-yarn

Great yarn with the women’s group today about finding family – starting with the Enares (nee Innares) family.

These women are from Tanna Island – Middle Bush where my grandfather was taken from the beach at the age of 12 years old.

My grandfather gave his children a traditional name each to relink them to their homelands on Tanna. They are Phyllis Netuka, Emily Youko, Joyce Youma, Naru, Neru, Kias, William Diaho, Daniel Diking, David Nakapuai, Nasuven, James Naliene

Father-Moses Topay Enares who’s parents were listed as Tobo Enares and Netuka.

Mother-Emily May Enares born Irrawarra Plantation Dennison Far North QLD Australia to mother Bookey (Boak) Toar and father Tarre (Tarry) Sendy.

Emelda Davis ASSIPJ addresses Chiefs

emelda-addresses
17th May 2015.
Productive meeting today as Emelda Davis ASSIPJ addresses Chiefs Simon and Richard founders of the Vanuatu Indigenous Descendants Association and TAFEA Australian Community Connection representatives Lai Sakita and women and youth group representatives Lutu and Josephine.

Discussions regarding the landing and distribution of five containers from Australia were met with robust support of the process thus far. We are all looking forward to the arrival of the Rainbow Warrior tomorrow.

Tank Tumas Vanuatu for the ongoing support of Australian South Sea Islanders.

Meeting today with National Disaster Relief Office

George Kauras - man Tanna Middle Bush (left) , Emelda Davis women Tanna Middle Bush, Lai Sakita man Tanna White Sands. Shadrack Welegtabit - Director NDMO (seated)

George Kauras – man Tanna Middle Bush (left) , Emelda Davis women Tanna Middle Bush, Lai Sakita man Tanna White Sands. Shadrack Welegtabit – Director NDMO (seated)


Meeting today with National Disaster Relief Office (NDMO) in Vanuatu with Shadrack Welegtabit confirming distribution strategy with TAFEA Australia Community Connection.

We are now working on the relaese and transporatation of the containers.

Discussions today regarding the distribution of the five containers which have landed.

tafea

Meeting today – 14th May 2015 – at Shefa Province Headquarters with TAFEA Australian Community Connection – Chiefs & representatives of the TAFEA province

Discussions today regarding the distribution of the five containers which have landed. Tomorrow’s meetings will be with NDMO and Govt. of Vanuatu officials.

A great day and detailed strategy – very impressive – ensuring the marginalised locations receive the specific needs goods intended for them.

George Kauras-Middlebush, Natou George – South, Mackenzie Nalin – Outer Islands, Sam Obed – Epi, Lai Sakita – White Sands, Josephine Fred – West (women groups), Fred Natonga – East, Lutu Sakita (youth groups) – South. 6 regions will be addressed in this strategy. Other regions are to be discussed. These fellas are deadly!!!

Containers set sail for Vanuatu

7-containers-bound-for-vanuatuToday 5 containers set sail for Vanuatu as we gear up for Tuff Tumas for Vanuatu 2015 to raise the much needed funds that will assist paying for the land cartage and distribution of specific needs in Vanuatu.

For those who don’t know, the word ‘Tuff‘ means Tough and ‘Tumas‘, Too Much (Strong). They come from a common language spoken in Vanuatu called Bislama.

Bislama was created in Australia during the 1800s as a means of communication for the many clans that were taken from some 80+ islands in the South Pacific including Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

As descendants of the blackbird trade (slavery), members of The Australian South Sea Islanders – Port Jackson and it’s many supporters have banded together to fundraise for the much needed land cartage and direct distribution costs of goods to many Vanuatu families who are the victims of the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam which has all but destroyed their beautiful nation.

ASSI.PJ were moved by the graphic posted on our fb page entitled Tuff Tumas which depicted these words over the flag of Vanuatu with the cyclone imagery and used it as a cover photo for both pages without any question. The design was then used to create an event page by a thoughtful and committed volunteer.

As a common saying, TUFF TUMAS is the perfect symbol of the resilience being shown by our families in Vanuatu and the many Islands surrounding who are currently suffering.

The record label Tuff Tumas Records has been supportive and understanding of our plight during these pressing times and our adoption of the common language / wording particularly “Tuff Tumas for Vanuatu 2015” but we must advise that we are in no way related to the Tuff Tumas Record label/DJ.

We look forward to seeing those who can attend a star studded international calibre concert on the 26th April 2015 at the Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville Sydney NSW.

Emelda Davis president of ASSI.PJ & ASSI NSW State Alliance

1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 15