Commonwealth People’s Forum
Indigenous Workshop 26 October 2011
News Update 3 (7 November 2011)
Welcome to the third update on the Indigenous Workshop of the Commonwealth People’s Forum, helping ensure our mob is kept informed about this important international meeting on Noongar country.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) is a gathering of the people of the countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations, and is held every two years in the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This year’s Forum included for the first time an Indigenous Workshop, giving the Indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth a chance to learn from each other’s experiences and identify ‘unfinished business’ they want to work together on into the future. The workshop was facilitated by two respected Noongar leaders, Danny Ford and Kim Collard, and was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event happen.
The Workshop
The Commonwealth People's Forum Indigenous Peoples Workshop was held on Wednesday 26 October. It was hosted on Noongar land, so many of the presenters were local Noongar people. Participants also got to hear from people around Australia and overseas, including a group from Hollow Water, an Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) First Nation in Canada talking about how they are using their traditional knowledge to heal their community.
Noonger Elder Margaret Culbong, who has been a respected campaigner for the rights of her people for over 40 years, has written to organisers saying she felt proud to be part of the event and was inspired by what she heard.
"We have to acknowledge the past in order for us to go forward," Margaret wrote. "We also have to move and change with the times, and this is being done without losing sight of who we are and where we come from."
An article written by a student report has been posted on the Commonwealth Foundation website: http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/NewsArticle.aspx?articleID=188
Workshop facilitator Danny Ford was interviewed on RTR FM: http://www.rtrfm.com.au/stories/type/current/category/national/3242
The final program with information about each of the speakers is attached.
Meeting with Foreign Ministers
An important part of the Commonwealth People's Forum is the opportunity for each workshop stream to send a representative to meet with the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers for a Roundtable discussion.
Noongar Elder Margaret Culbong represented the Indigenous Peoples Workshop and read out the following statement:
"My name is Margaret Culbong. I am an Elder from the Noongar Nation on whose land we now meet. I welcome you.
"At yesterday’s first Indigenous Peoples Workshop of the Commonwealth Peoples Forum, an overarching principle was the need for the Commonwealth to put in place mechanisms for increased solidarity between Indigenous Peoples of the Commonwealth, who all have similar journeys of invasion, dispossessionand oppression, and the need for healing and self-determination.
"In regards to culture and wellbeing, the age long connections between Indigenous peoples’ cultures, lands, environments and families was noted as expert knowledge, and should be harnessed. The destruction of many of our languages was noted as a concern requiring special attention.
"It was further noted that most Indigenous peoples in the Commonwealth suffer from intergenerational trauma and poverty that urgently needs to be addressed. In doing this it must be understood that we have large populations of youth, who often make up a majority of our peoples and that special focus is needed in their empowerment to move forward into the future.
"A common theme from the workshop was human rights, including Indigenous peoples collective rights, and the need for Commonwealth nations to implement into domestic law protections contained within various international treaties and declarations, including the right to live free from discrimination. It was also discussed that over the years recommendation after recommendation about how our situations can be improved has been articulated – but not implemented.
"That brings us to the theme of resourcing. There is an urgent need to address the intergenerational trauma and poverty that have resulted from our common dispossession and oppression through the resourcing of programs, institutions and mechanisms. It is important, as a principle of self-determination, that initiatives about us, are done with us, and ultimately, by us. We must be the drivers of our own destiny and call on the Commonwealth to support us in these endeavors.
"Finally, we are disappointed that the Eminent Persons Report has been suppressed and that we have not been able to consider whether there are recommendations relating to Indigenous Peoples of the Commonwealth. However, we are aware that one of the recommendations is the development of a Commonwealth Charter to be drafted by the peoples, for the peoples. We welcome this initiative and look forward to participating in the process."
Kim Collard (co-facilitator of the Noongar Reference Group along with Danny Ford) was also present and was given the opportunity to ask the following question:
"Thank you Mr Chairman for your response in relation to our statement about Indigenous peoples. You mentioned that the National 'Close the Gap' campaign is helping to overcome some of the disadvantage we face. We note that justice is not one of those key targets and that incarceration continues to rise and ask you to comment on that. Second, we note that this the first time Indigenous issues have been one of the streams of the Commonwealth People's Forum and ask that it be kept as a standing item. Finally, Mr Chairman, we ask all before us, what measures have the Commonwealth as a collective put in place to address the oppression of our peoples? If none, when will such measures be put in place."
Those questions were not answered, in part due to time contraints. However, Foreign Minister of Guyana, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett responded positively by noting that Indigenous people make up 10% of their population and since their new legislation their land ownership increased from 6%-14% and they now have three reps in parliament.
Keeping the Conversation Going
The Noongar Reference Group is yet to have their final meeting, at which they will discuss how to use the conversation started at the Workshop to advocate for change within the Commonwealth of Nations over the next two years. Tammy Solonec, Director of the Congress of First Peoples of Australia, will be part of that conversation.
The Eminent Persons Report has been released and is available to read online athttp://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/241620/FileName/EminentPersonsGroupReport.pdf. The final Communiqué from CHOGM is now available at http://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/241631/FileName/Communique-CHOGM2011.pdf.
One significant agreement at the meeting was the decision to proceed for a Commonwealth Charter. However, it is disappointing to not that the word 'Indigenous' does not appear in any of the official documents from the 2011 CHOGM.
Resource Stand
One way we helped Workshop participants to get a good understanding of “the strength, the depth and diversity of Indigenous people” was by selling them books, CDs and other resources to take home with them. A wide range of resources were provided at discount rates by supportive publishers, and these will help participants continue to think through the issues when they return home.
Indigenous Peoples Workshop Noongar Reference Group
Planning for the Indigenous Workshop has involved a local Noongar Reference Group. Members include:
Danny Ford and Kim Collard (co-facilitators of the Workshop), Jim Morrison (keynote speaker- Stolen Generations Alliance), Barbara Matters (University of WA); Colleen Hayward (Edith Cowan University), This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council), Dot Henry (WomenSpeak ), Glen Kelly (South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council), Margaret Culbong (Noongar Elder), Mary Cowley (Department of Indigenous Affairs), and Tina Hayden (WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies)
This is the final Indigenous Peoples Workshop email; however, conversations are continuing about what happens next. If you would like more information please contact WA Council of Social Services on (08) 9486 7966.
