A look at all things northern... and some of the myths behind them.
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The Northern Myth
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What future the arts in the Top End?
Bob GosfordJun 22, 20171 Comment
The Darwin Festival has failed local visual artists. Spending money on a roving class of interstate creatives and acts is capital that gets drained out of the local culture making economy. There is no substantial quota for local engagement, there is no compulsion that local creatives get engaged and employed. The current festival model fails to connect with and engage the local culture makers. Even the influx of DF production crew in August are like carnies - here for the month then off again to fleece another community with their generic arts festival business model.
"People work. People make money ... You don't know what a first world economy is": Judge Greg Borchers, Tennant Creek Youth Court, 6 June 2017.
Bob GosfordJun 18, 20174 Comments
"You're not going back into the community. The community can't afford you. It's quite clear that you and your family are not going to pick up the damages for what you've caused. And, presumably, and I infer this, you've got no understanding of that. You don't know what a first world economy is." Judge Greg Borchers, Tennant Creek Youth Court, 6 June 2017
Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 5 - the 2008 Yirrkala Statement
Bob GosfordJun 5, 2017
Dhuwalanydja rom wawungu wanga-wuy ngandarryunmarama Australian-gala bapurrulili. Nganapurru marrliliyama nhukula ngurru-warryun-narayngu, marr yurru Commonwealth Parliament ngurru warrwun ga dharangan dhuwala rom ga marryuwak gumana dhayutakumana lukunydja rom.
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Art, law and the environment - the little EDONT that can
Bob GosfordJun 5, 2017
One of this year’s stand out pieces is the Bombing of Darwin, by Susan Wanji Wanji. Impressive in scale and remarkable in its detail and subject matter, the piece records Wanji Wanji’s recollection of being on the Tiwi Islands when the Bombing of Darwin occurred during the Second World War.
Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 4 - the 1998 Kalkaringi Statement
Bob GosfordJun 4, 2017
In addition to Aboriginal resistance, key reasons given for voting ‘No’ at the 1998 referendum included ... inadequate information and understanding about statehood, inadequate consultation, concerns about the Constitutional Convention process, a lack of trust in those responsible for the statehood processes of 1998, and antagonism towards the Chief Minister and politicians.
Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 3 - the 1993 Eva Valley Statement
Bob GosfordJun 4, 2017
At a media conference, an angry Keating attacked the Eva Valley statement and Mick Dodson in particular for a critical speech Dodson had made in Geneva a few weeks earlier. He at the same time praised Sol Bellear and Noel Pearson for their 'supportive comments': Gary Foley, 2001.
Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 1 - the 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petitions
Bob GosfordJun 4, 2017
Bukudjulni gonga’yurri napurrunha Yirrkalalili yulnunha malanha Balamumu, Narrkala, Gapiny, Miliwurrwurr, nanapurru dhuwala mala, ga Djapu, Mangalili, Madarrpa, Magarrwanalmirri, Djambarrpuynu, Marrkulu, Gumaitj, Galpu, Dhaluangu, Wangurri, Warramirri, Naymil, Riritjingu malamanapanmirri djal dhunapa.
Essential documents from Aboriginal Australia: 2 - the 1998 Barunga Statement
Bob GosfordJun 4, 2017
"Sovereignty became treaty, treaty became reconciliation and reconciliation became nothing. … We will dig a hole and bury it. It will be a protest but I also hope that it can represent a new start for Aboriginal people”: Galarrwuy Yunupingu, 2006
'Reluctant Reconciliation' and 'powerless Recognition': Sue Stanton reflects on history, power and injustice
Bob GosfordJun 1, 2017
The rejection of more soft words giving us token recognition in the most powerful document of the land instead of granting us our sovereign rights. The demand for constitutional reform so that we can ensure stronger and safer futures for our children is our best response so far and makes for safer and stronger dialogue in the shared space between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Australians.
Kicking the Treaty can down the road ... again
Bob GosfordMay 31, 2017
If Abbott had been in power last Friday he would have in all likelihood made a better response than the equivocation from our current leaders. Neither Turnbull or Shorten have the wit, interest or political savvy to get a treaty—or the other proposals in the Uluru Statement—past their respective right wings, who as my colleague Bernard Keane stressed in Crikey yesterday will—with their fellow-travellers—be more than willing to employ dishonesty and deceit to push back on any proposal for a treaty.
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