2000 attend Indigenous Youth Conference
By Deb Sorensen
Darwin - At sunrise on July 5, a symbolic fire was lit and the
ashes of the first World Indigenous Youth Conference were thrown
into it. Traditional dances were performed in the light of the
flames.
More than 2000 indigenous people gathered here for the second
World Indigenous Youth Conference, held July 5-11 on the
traditional lands of the Larrikia people.
This was an important meeting, filled with energy and
determination to continue the struggle for indigenous rights.
Inevitably, much of the discussion in the first days centred on
Australian Aborigines, although there were representatives
present of 29 peoples from around the globe.
Mabo, self-government as opposed to self-determination and
sovereignty, institutionalised racism, social problems such as
alcohol abuse, deaths in custody, a voice for indigenous youth, a
campaign of civil disobedience and black pride were just some of
the questions discussed.
Discussion was seen as a forerunner to action. There was a real
sense of urgency and anticipation. Many of the delegates, of whom
there were 1500, spoke of the need to get beyond discussion, to
have the conference do more than just produce another set of
declarations and demands.
Among the keynote speakers were long-term leaders of the
Aboriginal community, including Michael Mansell and Josie
Crawshaw from the Aboriginal Provisional Government; Bill
Neidjie, Gagadju elder; and Galarrwuy Yunupingu, chairperson of
the Northern Land Council.
Moana Jackson from the Maori Legal Service in New Zealand and
Jose Ramos-Horta, representing the National Council of Maubere
Resistance of East Timor, were among the international leaders
who addressed the conference.
A common theme running through the speeches was a call for the
young delegates to become leaders themselves. To instil this
sense of responsibility and empowerment in the younger generation
was clearly an aim of the conference. The official theme was
``Claiming our Future: The reality of where we are and where we
are going.''
There was certainly determination from the delegates to continue
to strengthen the struggle for indigenous rights.
James Shecapio, president of the Cree Youth Council of North
America, raised in his speech the proposal for a world indigenous
youth council. Shecapio was instrumental in organising the first
World Indigenous Youth Conference, held in Quebec in 1992. He
proposed a working group be established from this year's
conference to look into setting up the council.
There were also daily workshops to look into establishing a
national Aboriginal youth organisation in Australia.
In answering a question from a Maori delegate on how to forge a
way ahead, Moana Jackson quoted Mahatma Gandhi: ``A right is not
a right until you take it''. Jackson said Maori people and
indigenous people the world over needed to apply this statement
to their own struggles. ``We need to find the best way within our
culture and history to do it ourselves'', he said.
Reference was made to the long and proud struggle for black and
indigenous rights. Several tributes were made to Kevin Gilbert,
Aboriginal poet, writer and political activist who died earlier
this year. Michael Mansell, Josie Crawshaw and his daughters all
cited Gilbert as a major influence on their lives and views.
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, Steve Biko and
Nelson Mandela were all talked about. There is a desire to learn
from their struggles and continue their tradition.
One delegate from the Yamigee Nyoongars in Western Australia said
people like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi had led their
entire nations, but he could see disunity amongst Australian
Aborigines. ``We
should march on Canberra, join as a nation and show blokes like
Robert Tickner and Keating that we mean business'', he told the
conference.
Inaria Kaisiepo, a young woman representing the Foundation of
Papuan Peoples, spoke on the theme of ``Repression and Indigenous
Resistance''. Kaisiepo outlined the plight of her people and
their determination to win against the giant mining and logging
companies that exploit their land and against the occupation of
West Papua by Indonesia. She also spoke of the need for
international unity and solidarity with indigenous peoples.
The issue of Aboriginal deaths in custody was brought sharply
into focus when Bradley Gundy addressed the conference on the
shooting of his father and his family's quest for justice. David
Gundy was shot dead by NSW police in his bed on the morning of
April 27, 1989. Bradley was in the house at the time.
David Gundy was innocent of any crime and died because he was
black. Police claimed they thought he was somebody else. Bradley
said his father did not look like the wanted man, who had shot
two policemen. The Gundy family has not seen justice over the
shooting. Bradley vowed, ``Our family will not give up the
fight'' and was received with an emotional standing ovation.
The question of the role of indigenous elders and a voice for the
youth was taken up in a plenary discussion.
A representative from the Cree said indigenous youth must listen
to the wisdom of their elders but also be true to themselves. If
they feel something has to be said, and they feel it to be the
truth, then it should be said. ``My grandfather tells me walk
tall, hold your head up high and walk proud. Walk tall but not
too tall. You don't want to walk with your head in the clouds.
You want to walk with the people.''
On the future direction of the struggle for Aboriginal rights in
this country, Josie Crawshaw said in concluding her speech to the
conference, ``Is our only choice to wallow in the backwaters or
to sink in the mainstream? We must fight for a society based on need
without the divisions of race, sex and class. It is through this
struggle for this society that we can gain the confidence to
overcome our oppression.''