ANTaR National Congress 2003
4-6th April, Adelaide

ANTaR's National Congress 2003 was held in Adelaide from 4-6th April. The National Congress provides a much-needed opportunity to take stock and consider action for the coming year. Over 40 representatives and supporters from round Australia attended. Participants included a number of members of ANTaR's Indigenous Reference Group (IRG).

The Congress is an important opportunity to share and reflect on our activities and achievements over the past year, particularly the work of the State and Territory ANTaR's. Highlights include ANTaR Victoria's 3-year $460,000 'Fanning the Flames' project to develop local community projects on racism and reconciliation in regional Victoria. ANTaR Queensland's 'stolen wages' campaign has also been a great success and is likely to take on national significance.

Issues briefings are an important part of the Congress agenda.

  • Lester Irabinna Rigney (National Treaty Think Tank and IRG member) and Sean Brennan (Director of the treaty project of the Gilbert & Tobin Centre for Public Law) outlined the current state of play with the treaty.

  • HREOC Social Justice Commissioner and IRG member, Dr Bill Jonas, briefed the Congress on his 2002 Social Justice and Native Title Reports.

  • Parry Agius (Aboriginal Land Rights Movement and IRG member) and Roger Cook (Noongar Land Council) talked about current challenges in native title in South Australia and Western Australia.

  • Olga Havnen (Fred Hollows Foundation and IRG member) gave a powerful presentation on the current health crisis in Indigenous communities.

  • Dr Ros Kidd briefed us on the stolen wages issue - a campaign initiated as a result of her archival research.

The Congress recognised the need to review our campaign strategies in light of the current political environment. The results of these briefings and further discussions will inform a strategic planning meeting to be held in June.

The Congress was also fortunate to have Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair, Fred Chaney, and new CEO, Jenni Chandler, present to discuss RA's plans and ways in which RA and ANTaR can work together more effectively in the current environment.

On the last day of the Congress, Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue (IRG member) led a visit to the site of the former Colebrook children's home to inspect the poignant memorial which the stolen generations community has built on the site. Lowitja was one of the Colebrook children.

Some of the National Congress attendees.

Prof Lowitja O'Donoghue shows Congress attendees the ColebrookStolen Generations Memorial
 
 
 
 
 
 

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)  •  Last updated 16 June 2003  •  Media  •  Action  •  Events  •  Top