Nation Dance on Gadigal - Portraits

In-situ portraits of some of the performers at ‘Nation Dance’ on Gadigal.

‘Nation Dance’ was held in The Domain in Warrang, Sydney yesterday at 1pm AEST, as part of scores of simultaneous expressions of dance and culture across the continent.

Around 200 people from a variety of tribes attended the Gadigal event, including from Gamillaraay, Dhungutti, Wiradjuri and from far away as Mornington Island.

These portraits were taken on site in the aftermath of the dancing.

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Nation Dance on Gadigal

Images from ‘Nation Dance’, which was held in The Domain in Warrang, Sydney yesterday at 1pm AEST as part of scores of simultaneous expressions of dance and culture across the continent.

Around 200 people from a variety of tribes attended the Gadigal event, including from Gamillaraay, Dhungutti, Wiradjuri and from far away as Mornington Island.

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Climate Rallies

Two climate rallies were held today in Sydney, Warrang, Gadigal.

The first was held at the Liberal Party Headquarters on William Street as part of the ‘School Strike 4 Climate’ movement. Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovernor and Nadeena Dixon delivered an Acknowledgement of Country, while Victor Steffensen a Gimuy-walubarra yidi man spoke about Aboriginal fire practice. Other speakers included Shiann Broderick, a 18 year old bushfire survivor and school strike leader from Nymboida NSW, and Janet Reynolds, a bushfire survivor from Numbugga. Zach Fower, a student musician who featured on The Voice sang a rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. Around 2,000 people attended the rally.

The second event was organised by Uni Student for Climate Justice, backed by ASEN and endorsed by FIRE. The rally started at Sydney Town Hall. Speakers included Amy Lamont, ‘Yaama Ngunna Baarka’ (Save The Rivers) founder, Bruce Shillingsworth, Lily Rosebell and Gamillaraay man, Nathan Leslie. Protestors then marched back to William Street, where more speeches were made, including by environmental worker, Andy Mason.

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Dance Rites - Day Two

Images from Day 2 of Dance Rites, a hotly contested annual First Nations dance competition held on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

Muggera took out the top prize with Miku as runners up. The Meuram Murray Island Dancers won the Wild Card section.

Participating Dance troupes included:

Allkumo Malpa Paman (Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Kaantju, Umpila, Munkaanhu, Olkola)

Docker River Mob (Pitjantjantjara, Ngaaryatjarra)

Gracie’s Grannies (Ngiyampaa, Gumbangirri, Murrawarri, Dunghutti, Gamilaroi)

Gumaraa Aboriginal Dancers (Yuin, Dharawal)

Jannawi Dance Clan (Darug Burruberongal, Gumatj)

Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group (Lockhart River Umpila, Kuku Yau, Wuthathi, Kanthanapoo, Utaalanganu)

Kulgoodah Dancers (Barradah, Birri Gubba)

Kurruru & Iwiri Dance (Pitjantjatjara)

Meuram Murray Island Dancers (Meriam)

Miku (Rirratjingu, Gumatj, Djapu)

Muggera (Mununjali, Yugambeh)

Mutitjulu Maruku Mob (PitjantjantjarA)

Of Desert and Sea (Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Yarliyandi, Adnyamathanha, Yankunytjatjara)

Dinawan Connections (Gomeroi, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Ngemba)

Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group (Wemba Wemba)

Tal-kin-jeri Dance Group (Ngarrind-jeri)

Tiwi SisterGALS (Gay and Lesbian Society) (Yarti - Ratuwarti)

Wagana (Wiradjuri, Darug , Burruberongal, Yuin, Gamilaroi,Dharawal)

Yiiliwiyaygundi Gundi Yuludarla Gumbaynggirr (Gumbaynggirr)

Indigenous Enterprise (Turtle Island)

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Dance Rites - Day One

Images from Day 1 of Dance Rites, a hotly contested annual First Nations dance competition held on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

Participating Dance troupes include:

Allkumo Malpa Paman (Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Kaantju, Umpila, Munkaanhu, Olkola)

Docker River Mob (Pitjantjantjara, Ngaaryatjarra)

Gracie’s Grannies (Ngiyampaa, Gumbangirri, Murrawarri, Dunghutti, Gamilaroi)

Gumaraa Aboriginal Dancers (Yuin, Dharawal)

Jannawi Dance Clan (Darug Burruberongal, Gumatj)

Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group (Lockhart River Umpila, Kuku Yau, Wuthathi, Kanthanapoo, Utaalanganu)

Kulgoodah Dancers (Barradah, Birri Gubba)

Kurruru & Iwiri Dance (Pitjantjatjara)

Meuram Murray Island Dancers (Meriam)

Miku (Rirratjingu, Gumatj, Djapu)

Muggera (Mununjali, Yugambeh)

Mutitjulu Maruku Mob (PitjantjantjarA)

Of Desert and Sea (Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Yarliyandi, Adnyamathanha, Yankunytjatjara)

Dinawan Connections (Gomeroi, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Ngemba)

Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group (Wemba Wemba)

Tal-kin-jeri Dance Group (Ngarrind-jeri)

Tiwi SisterGALS (Gay and Lesbian Society) (Yarti - Ratuwarti)

Wagana (Wiradjuri, Darug , Burruberongal, Yuin, Gamilaroi,Dharawal)

Yiiliwiyaygundi Gundi Yuludarla Gumbaynggirr (Gumbaynggirr)

Indigenous Enterprise (Turtle Island)

Day Two photographs coming.

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Miku Dancers - Dance Rites

Image of the Miku dance group from Rirratjingu, Gumatj and Djapu country in the Top End, Northern Territory.

Dance Rites, Sydney Opera House forecourt - Day 1.

More pics to come.

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Coronial Inquest Delivers No Respite for Dungay Family

Today, the coronial inquest into David Dungay’s death delivered its findings.

Dhungutti man, Dungay, was killed at Long Bay Gaol in 2015, when set upon and forcibly restrained by a group of prison officers after he refused to hand over a packet of biscuits. “I can’t breathe” were some of his last few words.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee did not find any of the five prison officers involved in the action, nor any other correctional services employee involved, responsible or liable, although he did note that the force used by the officers was a contributing factor to Dungay’s death.

For the Dungay family, the findings offered no respite. His nephew, Paul Silva confronted NSW Corrections Services Commissioner, Peter Severin, as he left the court, to demand an apology for the death of his uncle. The Commissioner declined to respond.

Speaking to the media, Dungay’s mother, Leetona, said she was “disgusted” by the result. “I’m his mother and I want justice,” she said, “I am going to fight until I live in a country where black lives matter”.

The family intends to continue their long pursuit for justice.

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No Apology Forthcoming

Paul Silva confronts NSW Corrections Services Commissioner, Peter Severin, to demand an apology for the death of his uncle, Dhungutti man, David Dungay, who was killed at Long Bay Gaol in 2015, when set upon by a group of prison officers after refusing to hand over a packet of biscuits. The Commissioner declined to provide an apology.

A coronial inquest wound up today in Lidcombe, finding no criminal conduct against the officers.

More pics to come.

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Dawaandi

An evening of story, poetry, music, philosophy and culture, themed around ‘Dawaandi’ (‘Reflection’), with Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Dhungutti man, Bernard Kelly-Edwards.

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Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil

Yesterday, around 200-300 people from the trans community gathered for a vigil to remember the 331 trans people who were murdered around the world in the last year.

A list of the 331 names of each victim was read out to silence, as candles were laid and as sobs broke out amongst the crowd. Included in that list was Mhelody Polan Bruno, a 25-year old trans woman from the Phillipines, who was due to return home in the week that she was killed in Wagga Wagga in September earlier this year.

The Trans Day of Remembrance is held every November the 20th to honour the victims of violence against trans people. Since 2008, more than 3,000 trans people have been murdered. According to Sally Goldner from Transgender Victoria, trans people experience violence at 12 times the rate of the general population.

Yesterday’s vigil was MC’d by Hayden Moon and Charlie Murphy from Trans Action Warrang. Speakers included April, Zaya Barroso and Bhenji Ra. The event was held in Newtown, Sydney, Warrang, Gadigal.

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Rawia

Rawia came with her family as a refugee to Australia from war-torn Sudan in 2003.

Earlier this year, Sudan broke out in mass civil protests across the country with some of the largest protests ever seen in the nation’s history. After decades of iron hand rule by Omar al Bashir, Sudan stood at the crossroads between continuing dictatorship and a more democratic system. During the unrest, scores of civilians were killed by government troops and militia loyal to Bashir. With rising tensions, a power sharing agreement was finally reached in August, allowing a 3 year transition to democracy. Doubts remain, however, as to if the agreement will hold and if Sudan will ever see free and fair elections.

Despite the tragedy of her father’s recent death, Rawia and her family have thrived in Australia. She and her 3 siblings have all gone to university. Her brother is an aspiring top tier soccer player. Meanwhile, Rawia is currently nurturing a successful career in the public service and maintains an interest in fashion, design and photography.

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National Call To Action: Solidarity Protest for Kumanjayi Walker

On Wednesday, around 2,000 people gathered at Sydney’s Town Hall, Warrang, Gadigal, to demand justice for Kumanjayi Walker, a 19-year old Warlpiri man who was shot dead by police in the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory last Saturday night. After a healing ceremony and speeches, the protesters marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills where they were met by a large contingent of riot police.

Over 400 Aboriginal people have died in police custody since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

The policeman who allegedly shot Mr Walker has been charged with murder, one of the few police officers to be charged for the death of an Aboriginal person in the history of European occupation of the Australian continent, and since Captain Cook’s landing party shot a Gweagle man on the shores of what is now known as Botany Bay in 1770.

In anticipation of push back by the police, the NT Police Commissioner cryptically warned that officers should “remember their oath”.

Wednesday’s rally concluded peacefully with calls for justice and a statement by one of Mr Walker’s family members that “business was not finished”. The event was part of a nation-wide protest calling for an independent investigation into Mr. Walker’s death.

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Snap Action: Funding For Bushfires, Not Coal Mining and Gas Fields

Around 600 people demonstrated outside the NSW Parliament this morning to demand action on the unfolding climate emergency.

As bushfires raged across the country - in one of the nation's most catastrophic fire events ever - the NSW parliament was in the process of passing legislation that will remove considering the issues of climate change and greenhouse emissions when approving new coal mines and gas-fields.

NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said that now was not the time to talk about climate change. She backed her deputy this morning on ABC radio, saying that she didn’t blame him for describing people who wanted to raise climate change now, as “a bloody disgrace“.

Meanwhile, in Canberra today, the Upper House of Federal Parliament passed the government’s so-called ‘big stick’ legislation, which will keep old coal-fired power stations open longer, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and to climate change. Elsewhere, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce claimed that two of the victims of yesterday’s fires “most likely” voted Green.

Speakers at today’s rally in Sydney included those living in the affected bushfire areas and families who had lost their homes. They urged that now was precisely the time to talk about climate change.

Fiona Lee, her partner Aaron Crowe, and their daughter Pepper had their family house completely destroyed after fire tore through the tiny rural community of Warrawillah on the state’s mid-north coast on Friday. They emptied a bucket of ashes they brought with them from their burnt out property in front of Parliament to demonstrate the devastating effect of the fires and of the current environmental catastrophe.

With no substantial rain forecast for the the foreseeable future, the fires in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia are predicted to burn on in coming days, and possibly for weeks.

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^ To help Fiona, Aaron and Pepper, you can donate here.

Fiona's Ashes

Fiona Lee sits outside NSW Parliament with a pile of ashes from her family’s burnt out home after fire tore through the tiny rural community of Warrawillah on the state’s mid-north coast on Friday.

As bushfires rage across the country today - in one of the nation’s most catastrophic fire events ever - the NSW parliament is in the process of passing legislation that will remove climate change as a consideration when approving new coal mines and gas-fields.

Fiona and her family drove to Sydney to participate in today’s protest rally to demand action on climate change.

More pics to come.

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Save Medivac - Rally for Refugees

This month, the federal government will attempt to repeal the Medivac legislation, which provides urgent and critical health care in Australia for refugees held on Manus and Nauru Islands.

On Saturday, around 200-300 people gathered at Sydney’s Town Hall to call on the Australian parliament to reject the government’s legislative attempts to repeal the Medivac laws, and to demand human rights for those refugees languishing indefinitely in offshore detention.

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Dub Circle: Dark Procession - EDGE

Images from yesterday’s ‘Dub Circle - Dark Procession’, a part of the Inner West Council’s EDGE series of events.

Featuring DJ Semper-Fi and Gabrielle Bates.

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Woolloomoolivin' Community Festival

The Woolloomoolivin’ Annual Festival of Urban Arts and Culture - down at Woolloomooloo, featuring the A-Team Black Label All Stars from the U.S, as well as 101 Doll Squadron, Cross Colours Crew, 2ooLit, The Pioneers, Sonny Johnson, George Olsen and the Studio 101 Performance Squad.

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Viva Mapuche, Viva Chile - The Right To Live In Peace Rally

Yesterday, around 200-300 people marched through the streets of Sydney, Gadigal, to demand the resignation of the Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera, who is currently overseeing a violent crackdown on protesters in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

There have been reports of mass disappearings, killings and many injuries across Chile as demonstrators push for economic equality, political freedoms and greater rights for the indigenous Mapuche peoples. The latest estimations are that 20 people have been killed so far and more than 1300 injured. There has been a long history in Chile of persecution and genocide of the Mapuche, including in recent times.

The Chilean diaspora in Sydney is significant, swelled in numbers by those who have fled Chile over decades, especially during the Pinochet dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s.

Yesterday’s march started at Sydney Town Hall and was led by Mapuche flags and accompanied by traditional Mapuche instruments. It ended in Belmore Park where speeches were made denouncing the right-wing Chilean government of Piñera and pledging solidarity with other current civilian movements across the world, including with the Kurds in the Middle East, the protest movement in Catalonia, the current situation in Lebanon, and with the ongoing struggle in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

The day ended with music and dance at Belmore Park, a celebration of culture and community.

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Nup to the Cup

The only horses I want being ridden over the next week.

Shot at Luna Park, Sydney, on a Nikon F2AS, Illford 125, black and white 35mm film.

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