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Voices of Aboriginal Australia is a collection of essays, speeches, poetry, articles, interviews etc. mainly by Aborigines, on topics of racism, discrimination, justice & the law, social conditions, land rights etc. for Aboriginal people.
Notes
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Dedication: Dedicated to those who have died in police or prison custody.
Contents
- Ruby Thoorrbiliny Tells How it Was, Frances Kofod (translator), single work prose (p. 11-15)
- Hobbles Danayarri Tells, single work prose (p. 16-17)
- Jimmy Manngayarri Tells, single work prose (p. 18-19)
- Letty Scott Tells, single work life story (p. 20-25)
- Blackgin Blackgini"Blackgin, blackgin", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Charles Perkins Tells, single work life story (p. 27)
- Making Stations Rich, single work prose (p. 28-30)
- The Gurindjii"Poor fellow", single work poetry (p. 31)
- Memory and the Future, single work prose (p. 32-33)
- Song to an Unrecognised National Hero: Alice Briggs of Purfleeti"There'll be no more roses", single work poetry (p. 35)
- Eulogy for Hugh Ridgeway of Purfleeti"Time's moment stayed", single work poetry (p. 36-37)
- Voice of Kevin Gilbert, single work extract (p. 45)
- Nightmare On a Reserve, single work extract (p. 46-51)
- My Fatheri"My father is a man", single work poetry (p. 52)
- The Protectorsi"While many despise and would exploit us", single work poetry (p. 53)
- Cries from the Heart, single work extract (p. 54-61)
- Aboriginal Charter of Rightsi"We want hope, not racialism,", single work poetry (p. 62-63)
- 100 Years of Welfare, single work essay (p. 64-68)
- An Appeali"Statesmen, who make the nation's laws,", single work poetry (p. 69)
-
Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963,
Wali Wunungmurra
,
Larrakan Mununggirritj
,
Manunu Wunungmurra
,
Dhayila Munggurr
,
Dundiwuy Wanambi
,
Djalalingba Yunupingu
,
Milirrpum Marika
,
Daymbalipu Mununggurr
,
Wulanybuma Wunungmurra
,
Wawungmarra Maymuru
,
Nyabilingu Maymuru
,
Munggurawuy Yunupingu
(illustrator),
selected work
correspondence
The Yirrkala Bark Petitions (1963) were presented to the Australian House of Representatives, Commonwealth Parliament in August 1963, and are historic Australian documents. The petitions from the Yolngu people of Yirrkala were the first traditional documents recognised by the Commonwealth Parliament, and thus the first documentary recognition of Indigenous people in Australian law. The acceptance of these petitions also marked a bridge between two traditions of law.
During the late 1950s the Yolngu became aware of prospecting activities in the area of the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land, and the subsequent granting of mining leases over a considerable area of Yolngu traditional land. The Yolngu responded by sending a petition framed by painted bark to the Commonwealth Government demanding recognition of their rights. Although the petitioners were unsuccessful in gaining the Commonwealth Parliament’s recognition of rights to their traditional lands on the Gove Peninsula, the documents formed the foundation of the eventual recognition of Indigenous rights in Commonwealth Law.
The idea for the petition was inspired by two visiting politicians, Kim Beazley (Senior) and Gordon Bryant, the first petition dated 14 August 1963, the second dated 28 August 1963, were presented to the House of Representatives in August by the member for the Northern Territory, Mr Jock Nelson. The petitions was signed by twelve Yolngu men and women (aged between 18 to 36), who were members of local clans from both the Dhuwa and Yirritja moieties.
In 1968, a third petition was presented to Parliament, comprising a painted bark panel with text on the reverse side. This petition was painted by Dundiwuy Wanambi, and signed by: Mungurrawuy, Dundiwuy, Birrikitj, Mau, Matjid, Munyu, Nanyin, Wandjuk, Djalingpa, Gawirrin, Mr J.G. Yunupingu, Yinitjin, Mathaman, Djiriny, Guyuyuma, Djayila, and Roy Dadynga Marika.
The Yirrala petitions have played a ‘key part of the persistent claim for constitutional change which achieved the amendment of the Australian Constitution in 1967, the statutory acknowledgment of Aboriginal land rights by the Commonwealth in 1976, and the overturning of the obstacle of the concept of terra nullis by the High Court in the Mabo Case in 1992.'
(Source: AIATSIS; Museum of Australian Democracy website:; Wikipedia; 'Journey Goes Full Circle from Bark Petition to Blue Mud Bay'.)
Further reading:
– Read story by Wali Wunungumma Journey goes full circle from Bark Petition to Blue Mud Bay
– Bark petitions: Indigenous art and reform for the rights of Indigenous Australians
– 2013 National Naidoc Week Theme
– Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963
– Solomon, David Harris. The People's Palace: Parliament in Modern Australia. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 1986.
– Morphy, Howard. Art and Politics: The Bark Petition and the Barunga Statement. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 2000.
– Towner, Joanne 'Copyright issues relating to Yirrkala 'Bark' petitions'. Table. 69 2001. 26-28.
– Schwarz, Janien and Canberra School of Art Beyond familiar territory: De-centering the Centre : an analysis of visual strategies in the art of Robert Smithson, Alfredo Jaar and the Bark petitions of Yirrkala, 1999.
– Langton, Marcia and Australian Broadcasting Corporation The quiet revolution : Indigenous People and the Resources Boom. Sydney NSW HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 2013.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Special Book
1998
single work
correspondence
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 1 July no. 179 1998; (p. 8)
— Review of Where is Wungawurrah? 1992 anthology poetry -
A Multiplicity of Voices
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Imago : New Writing , Spring vol. 8 no. 2 1996; (p. 155-157)
— Review of Voices of Aboriginal Australia : Past, Present, Future 1995 anthology life story poetry extract prose biography autobiography interview -
(Too Many) Familiar Voices
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: LiNQ , May vol. 23 no. 1 1996; (p. 100-104)
— Review of Voices of Aboriginal Australia : Past, Present, Future 1995 anthology life story poetry extract prose biography autobiography interview
-
(Too Many) Familiar Voices
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: LiNQ , May vol. 23 no. 1 1996; (p. 100-104)
— Review of Voices of Aboriginal Australia : Past, Present, Future 1995 anthology life story poetry extract prose biography autobiography interview -
A Multiplicity of Voices
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Imago : New Writing , Spring vol. 8 no. 2 1996; (p. 155-157)
— Review of Voices of Aboriginal Australia : Past, Present, Future 1995 anthology life story poetry extract prose biography autobiography interview -
Special Book
1998
single work
correspondence
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 1 July no. 179 1998; (p. 8)
— Review of Where is Wungawurrah? 1992 anthology poetry
- Aboriginal-White relations
- Aboriginal Australians
- Aboriginal dispossession
- Aboriginal culture
- Aboriginal deaths in custody
- Aboriginal land rights & native title
- Aboriginal massacres, murders, poisonings
- Racism
- Justice
- Aboriginal relationship with the land
- Australia
- Aboriginal assimilation (Government policy)
- Colonisation of Australia
- Aboriginal-White conflict
- Injustice