Tent city for native title

Tent city for native title

By Martin Iltis

ADELAIDE — Hundreds of people took part in a three-day tent city and three-day vigil in support of native title from November 23. More than 700 people signed the visitors' book.

The action, organised by Campaign Against Racism (CAR), the Celebrating Diversity Coalition (CDC) and a range of activists, was timed to coincide with the Senate debate on the native title bill.

Aboriginal activists, church leaders, union activists and organisers spoke at the launch, and some 200 people attended a performance by indigenous and non-indigenous artists in the evening at which Lord Mayor Jane Lomax Smith attacked the Howard government for its racism and criticised the establishment media for distortions and scare-mongering.

At a 200-strong public meeting on November 24, Greg Mead, lawyer and editor of Adelaide Voices, gave a detailed outline of the 10-point plan. Speakers from CAR and the CDC emphasised activism in the fight against racism.

A trade union solidarity lunch on November 25 was sponsored by the South Australian United Trades and Labour Council and the Community and Public Sector Union.

The closing event, which attracted 150 people, began with a performance by Ngarrindjeri traditional dancers. Church representatives attended, as did Kirsty Parker, the new head of Tandanya, ATSIC councillor Sandra Saunders, Lomax Smith and the UTLC's incoming secretary Chris White.

Indigenous choir, Sing It Up Big and dancer Nikki Ashby and the Romero band performed, and the event finished with a fire and water ceremony.

From GLW issue 300