Oxfam International Youth PartnershipsVoice Newsletter

June 2008 Edition

ABOUT

Oxfam's International Youth Partnerships (OIYP) Voice is the newsletter of OIYP Action Partners worldwide.

Also published at http://www.oiyp.oxfam.org

Email us at: iypvoice@oxfam.org.au

CONTENTS

Focus Letter from the Editor

Action Partner News Updates from Sudha Kanikicharla, India; Karen Kaye Acal, the Philippines; Anau Apanui, New Zealand / Aotearoa and Michael Birk, Australia.

Story of the Month Mapuche, the people of life

by Gonzalo Garcés

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June Features The Kastom Skul by Aminio David, Vanuatu; Religion, Culture and Work in Rural Areas by Merlinta Anggilia, Indonesia

Resources Information about resources to help with your Action Partner work

Endnote An inspiring thought to close with this month

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FOCUS

Welcome to the June issue of Voice Newsletter!

This month we are pleased to share stories from OIYP about strengthening culture and identity.

Do you know your customs?

How do you talk about your culture?

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Many Action Partners are fighting to protect their cultural traditions, and to allow culture to change over time. As a 2004 Action Partner once said “if a culture does not bend, it will break”. But there is a fine line between cultural change and cultural destruction.

This month we are exploring what culture means to young people in OIYP and how Action Partners are respecting tradition and heritage and finding new ways through this to address social inequalities and imagining new futures.

"[C]ulture is a way of fighting against extinction and obliteration”

Edward W. Said in Culture and Resistance: Conversations with Edward W. Said

From Chile to Aoeteroa; from Vanuatu to Australia we bring you stories of Action Partners who are using culture to resist processes of homogenisation, defending their cultural rights and languages and strengthening their families and communities for survival in an increasingly globalised world.

In Mapuche - the people of Life Gonzalo Garcés outlines a history of battling for self determination on Mapuche Territory against those who do not understand their strong ties to the land and seek to make profit from their traditional country.

Aminio David tells us about how they are working to reconnect ‘yangfellas’ in Vanuatu with customary practice and to avoid dependence on Western practice. Generating pride in culture will provide additional tools to defend customary land which are also increasingly being privatised alienating people from means of accessing what is essential to their cultures in the process. Teaching about culture is not just important for protecting land

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rights Aminio hopes to convey to his students that ‘Ancient tradition and practices are the most valuable things in life’. Like food, air and water custom knowledge is essential to survival.

Merlinta Anggilia tells us about struggling to create space to imagine new cultures against the shocking backdrop of a society affected by civil war and natural disaster. In this context, people are clinging to religious practices which Merlinta describes as misinterpretations of traditions.

July Issue – Contributions needed!

The July issue of Voice newsletter will focus on young people working in the area of HIV and AIDS. If you are an Action Partner working in this area we would love to hear from you. For more information or to submit a story please email Mary at maryj@oxfam.org.au or email iypvoice@oxfam.org.au

Voice is the newsletter of OIYP Action Partners– you can share your stories, challenges, ask for help, share resources - you can even help edit an edition of Voice with Oxfam Staff. If you would like to contribute to Voice Newsletter - Please send your story to Mary at maryj@oxfam.org.au or email iypvoice@oxfam.org.au

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I. ACTION PARTNER NEWS

Read about the work of Action Partners around the world.

Sudha Kanikicharla, 2007 Action Partner, India

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Hello, I am Sudha, an Action Partner from India. I have been chosen to be the featured activist on this website called ‘youthnoise’ which is actually a non-profit based in San Francisco that works to help youth from around the world adopt and cause and also helps them network..

This is the link to my interview:

http://www.youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=6461

Karen Kaye Acal, 2007 Action Partner, the Philippines

Hello, I've been very busy on the ground working for the basic training on negotiation and mediation process to be conducted on May 30-June 1. The training was designed for the Lupong Tagapamayapa (appointed by the barangay captain to solve disputes in the barangay level through the conduct of mediation). They've been working for many years, our office, the Mediator's Network for Sustainable Peace, Inc. (MedNet) with the partnership of some People's Organizations (PO’s) and the government, decided to help them by giving the essential trainings especially to those who are newly appointed by the barangay captain.

Prior to this training, we also facilitated trainings and seminars in Quezon City and in some remote areas of the Philippines (Dumagat Indigenous Peoples in Montalban, Rizal). We encounter some difficulties in giving trainings because there are low literacy rates, so the modern technologies are not appropriate to use in the training. We had to improve our creativity in making visual aids that will fit to them and with relation to their way of living which is mainly in agriculture.

The transportation to these remote areas like in Montalban is really amazing yet very tiring! We had to walk for 8 hours from

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the bottom and had to pass 8 or 9 mountains just to be there! On our way up (that was my first time), the 8 hours walk became 24 hours because we went to the wrong direction. My, God, we're lost! However, that trip was really amazing! It's good to be at the top seeing the civilization from afar!

Looking at the people there, they don't have money. To obtain money, they have to carry at least 5 sacks of their products (cut trees, charcoal, or whatever) and trade it in the town. They live simple... they also work hard... they don't have cars, big houses or condominiums... they don't have aircons....they don't even have lights (they just light candles or what we called here 'gasera' to light their way and their houses at night.) They just eat what they can have in their lands, boiled potatoes or 'kamote'.... money can buy many things that will flatter most people.... but money can't buy happiness. Through these trainings I've attended and facilitated, I realized that it feels so good to do things not for yourself but to others... to live not on your own, but to share it to everybody. Also I realized that us in our office (MedNet), are trying to help people to gain peace and to settle their disputes. We were trying to solve conflicts but most of the time we can't settle the conflict that lies within ourselves

Anau Apanui, 2007 Action Partner, New Zealand / Aotearoa

Kiaora kia tātou katoa/ Greeting to us all, First and foremost I will like to acknowledge the creator of all things, whom who has provided us with life. Secondly, to the ancestors who have now passed, and who made a positive change for our people which has contributed to our cultures, enabling us to exist today, who paved the way for us and the following generations to build upon and grow.

Greetings to us all, the Oxfam International Youth Partnership, who venture to do right by our people. I will begin by acknowledging the heartfelt voices presented in the March 2008

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edition. The voice of Africa, who shared fundamental values such as peace and hospitality and the importance of thinking practically “practice based on cultural values” in which I strongly support. To our friends in Vanuatu who shared with us a range of programmes that provide their youth with valuable tools that will assist them in today’s world. The voices of Australia, who shared their experience of an important day, the 13th of February 2008. ‘Sorry’ a word that devoted many thoughts and hearts to the lost generation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people, I will like to acknowledge all these magnificent life stories and experiences.

For a long time beneficiaries of Whakatohea (population approx: 4000) have experienced social and economic disparity contributing to poor health and dysfunctional families. My tribe (Whakatohea) has developed a plan to address social development, capacity and capability, workforce development, fragmentation of services.

Our people believe that in order to address collective health and well-being for Maori in our tribe, as a tribe we need to grow and develop from small beginnings. A small beginning for my people begins at a family level. I am currently involved with my Marae/community based home that belongs to our families who are all connected to our sub-tribe namely Ngāti Ira/ Descendants of Ira (population approx: 900). We are working on a wellness day for our sub-tribe where agencies/organisations are able to attend our community based home and promote aspects of well-being, for example: Housing New Zealand Corporation (Government Agency) who has granted my sub-tribe with funding under a community development project to upgrade our sewage system. A Home Interactive Programme for Parents and Youngsters is a group who aims to educate parents within the community regarding parent skills and programmes for youngsters. Our families today continue to face challenges in their everyday lives, as a sub-tribe we are aiming to work together on educating all our families that are connected to Ngāti Ira in relation to the issues that we face, and how we can access available services to meet the needs of our families.

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I also work for our tribal provider, Whakatōhea Iwi/Tribal Social and Health Services, our services work at a tribal level, providing services such as social services, adult and youth mental health case workers, health promotion and housing services to our community. There is a need for business and workforce development to assist in combating the diverse issues that impact on our community particularly Māori who are over represented in national statistics. Such development needs to be implemented in a manner where our tribal values are not compromised. Moreover Māori need to participate at all levels of health, in terms of micro, meso, and macro to ensure that Māori philosophies are recognised for the well-being of our people at regional and national levels. Currently Māori are under-represented in all areas. In conclusion the journey continues for our families, sub-tribes, and tribes in working together for our Māori people and our culture.

Michael Birk, 2007 Action Partner, Australia.

I have been in a release funded by my local council.Called Hear our Voices, by the community youth. Basically it was a song about the human rights that we demand here in Australia and it featured many different youths, including myself representing the Indigenous community as well as many youth from the large Tibetan community in my area.

Check it out!! It’s on my myspacewww.myspace.com/michaelbirk

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II. STORY OF THE MONTH

Mapuche, the people of life

By Gonzalo Garcés 2007 Action Partner, Chile

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Here we explore the lives of the Mapuche people and their, often challenging and rocky, relationship with the state and big businesses. Gonzalo Garcés writes about the hardships the Mapuche people faced, in particular from the Chilean government “social integration policies” which is aimed at destroying their unique indigenous customs. Despite international condemnation, the Chilean government continues to detain Mapuche political prisoners and thereby placing the interest of big businesses over the community

The Mapuche, are a people originally from the south of Latin America, whose name means "people or persons of the earth", and their worldview is one that involves intimate connections to the natural environment.

The knowledge the Mapuche culture and society possess is said to have been given by "Mapu Ñuke", or Mother Nature. This knowledge is transmitted through conversation in those sacred places of the natural world built to support the Mapuche links to the earth and to family.

Every part of the natural world, including human beings and the dead, possess a spirit. Amongst them there are caring and guiding spirits of nature. For example, stones and serpents have an important role in the Mapuche way of life. Even now, the Mapuche ask permission to pass through certain places that are considered sacred. On such occasions, the Mapuche people take time to appreciate these places and ask for the protection of the earth and their families, as part of their attempts to overcome the unfortunate realities for their people.

The history of the Mapuche people is a history full of battles in defence of the earth. These battles have continued for more than 500 years, since the attempted takeover of the area by the Inka and the Spanish people, and later the battles continued against the genocide attempts of Chilean and Argentinian governments at the end of the 19th Century. These attempts have not ceased in Chile and Argentina's added efforts to transform their cultures into

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spitting images of Western society. Big business has also appeared on the scene. These businesses have claimed – and continue to claim – to those same governments that Mapuche land should be used for the development of economic projects such as single-crop forestation, without planning nor providing for the harmful effects on both human and environmental health.

However, historically a system of private property did not exist on "Mapuche territory". There weren't any electric fences nor were there extensive plantations of single-crop forestation like that which exists today, but instead the people were free to roam. They could take freely whatever was needed for the continued sustenance of Mapu Ñuke.

The sacred places, such as the paliwe and the nguillatuwe, are spaces where the Mapuche pray, give thanks, and share with the spirits their desire to see them respected and to see the Mapuche culture survive.

The Chilean government has, throughout history, pushed through "social integration policies", which have attempted to destroy the unique customs of the Mapuche people, and in this way the Mapuche social organisation has been twisted and modified, through the imposition of unknown and destructive social models. These politicians, who are not part of the Mapuche culture or way of life, do not understand or value the traditional lifestyles of the Mapuche people, instead imposing new lifestyles upon them.

This is but a brief snapshot of the relationship the Mapuche people have with the state and big business. Furthermore there currently exists a situation which is worrying: the hunger strike which has recently reached 42 days. The strikers are our Mapuche peñi (brothers) and lamgnen (sister). They are striking for: the freedom of all Mapuche political prisoners throughout various Chilean jails; demilitarisation and an end to the oppression of various roaming Mapuche communities so that they can exercise their political and territorial rights; and an end to the political-judicial conspiracies against Mapuche organisers and leaders.

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To speak of Mapuche political prisoners, and to speak of their ethnic, political, and territorial demands, has been criminalised by the Chilean government, placing the interests of big business over and above those of the Mapuche communities involved. Because of these events, Chile has received international condemnation and many recommendations to end the criminalization of the Mapuche people. One such recommendation came from the UN's Rodolfo Stavenhagen.

Mapuche men and women are not the violent people they are made out to be by the government through their utilisation of the media. The continued struggle of our Mapuche brothers and sisters tells us that they are not ready to renounce that which is most precious and beautiful to them: the earth, la mapu.

You can find more information on how to support the Mapuche cause at:

http://aespo-arica.blogspot.com

www.mapuche.info

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III. JUNE FEATURES

The Kastom Skul

By Aminio David, 2007 Action Partner Vanuatu

Aminio David is excited about preserving the Vanuatu culture in the younger generation with the creation of the Kastom School - the first school to teach long, lost customary practices. This school will encourage the youth to embrace the traditional Vanuatu customs rather than be dependent on the Western culture.

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Ancient tradition and practices are the most valuable things in life, yes that we all know about.

Let me begin with what we the Vanuatu Young People Project have finally got hold of, a few weeks ago we had our official opening and first intake for the Kastom school, students attending our very own, first ever established School of Customs in my country. Although many people in Vanuatu do not really see the importance of having a Custom school in place, I tell you, this is one hell of a step that we have taken in order to achieve what has always been there, but not recognised. The Kastom School was partly funded by the NZAID and the OXFAM Australia, a big very thank you from the Vanuatu ‘yangfella’s’ to you, two generous organisations. Custom in Vanuatu is interpreted and described in a more heavy way, to know about your very own custom is similar to knowing your identity, and the real directions for living a life without money, with a big smile still on your face in what ever circumstances.

In this Kastom School, we teach young people to learn how to revive our long lost customary practices that are essential to our daily lives, encourage young people to not be dependant on the western culture for survival and to treasure and embrace the ways that our Ancestors use like food preservation, carving, weaving, planting seasons and many more. Within these activities, there are 2 weeks of class discussions followed by one week of practical learning.

The Kastom School came into existence after we conducted research in urban areas in our little city, Port Vila. The main question we asked to all our unemployed and uneducated young blokes was: “Do you know your KASTOM? We were amazed at our findings; a lot of young people grew up with their customs but lost knowledge as they moved in to urbanized areas and adopted the Western Culture which is money. We, the people from Vanuatu, are new to this western culture and it has had a very big impact on our daily lives where in which if we had never thought of recommending a Kastom school, we a nation as a whole, would be the very first to follow that path to marginalisation.

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Our country is known for its wealth of beauty and its enriched land along with countless waterfalls and volcanoes. Our problem is only that, we the young people of Vanuatu, never thought that the Western culture is like a prison, once you are in you never see the daylight again, you could end up forgetting how to smile, which is one of our most valuable traditions. I am not really sure how I can explain how I feel right know, but, I am proud to say that I as an Action Partner feel really honoured to be a Facilitator for this first ever Custom school, my classes commence on Monday.

I think a lot of my friends out there need to come up with something quickly, that is if they think they still have the chances. Westernisation is out there, trying to change our peaceful ways, but it has no sweetness compared to what God placed at the very beginning of life itself.

Last but not the least I thank you all Action Partners for your ongoing support via email, phone calls, and mails, and remind us to “get this changes going.”

Long live the Vanuatu Custom. Long live our work to pave the future.

If you want to know more just simply give me a call or email aminiophos@yahoo.com.au

Religion, Culture and Work in Rural Areas

By Merlinta Anggilia, 2007 Action Partner, Indonesia

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Continuing with the focus on culture, Merlinta Anggilia writes about her personal connection to help those affected by the Tsunami in Aceh. Read more about her resolve to continue her volunteer work and ensure that all elements of the community work well together to achieve a common goal.

Two years were spent in some rural areas in Aceh. Aceh is one of Indonesian province placed in western coast. Only few people know Aceh several years ago but when Tsunami occurred in Aceh every eyes were looking at it.

A brief story related Aceh; Aceh was trapped in long conflict for more than 30 years between Government of Indonesia (GoI) and Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM). Aceh has amazing natural resources but unfortunately it has limit human resources who can develop it. During the conflict, there were lots of school and public infrastructures were burned by unknown people, and the situation became worse when Tsunami hit Aceh. A hundred thousand people died in the space of a few seconds, and it was the first time Aceh became popular in international eyes. Not only myself who lost all my families but also other Acehnese, but it was not time for giving up to the destiny.

I decided to work as volunteer and interpreter one week after Tsunami with doctors and journalist. My work was a bit complex when we had to work in rural areas where community put the perception of religion and culture in different way as it should be. Sometimes culture can be more powerful than religion obligation, the community and religious leaders are the persons in charge to role the life. I worked with a France NGO who were providing entertainment to orphans of Tsunami and conflict by using media such as dolls, UNO cards, scrabble and so on. Definitely, it was weird in such rural areas to know those things especially dolls, because in their opinion it is against religion’s obligation because kids are forbidden to play with dolls. In my opinion it was totally wrong because they misinterpreted in that context.

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There was a case in one of our children centre when one of Imam (religious leader in village) complains to us due to those games. He stated that those things are prohibited in religion and brought bad impact for kids. Honestly, our objectives were aimed only for good and for entertaining the kids who experience trauma and depression. But, as we know sometimes what we are thinking is good for others does not mean same as what others are thinking. It becomes a homework for us as social worker on how to solve this issue, we have to be brave to stick our ideas in proper way, convince all community figures that we are doing good projects for any elements in the community, and the last point we must keep the relationship with them and try to settle up all misunderstanding which will occur in the next time. For me, as long as I am doing good in proper way so I will do my best to stick with the ideas, always try to be open with anyone who can give advice if I am doing something wrong. As long as we try to do everything sincerely so all troubles gonna be solve easily. Where there is a will, there a way.

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IV. RESOURCES

Upcoming events and interesting stuff

OIYP Announcements:

OIYP Grants Program - Grants Kits are now ready to be sent out!

OIYP Grants Program funds OIYP Action Partners to start new projects and develop knowledge. We know that it is often hard to get started with project work- so here is an opportunity to put

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your ideas for working with your community using local resources into action.

The Grants Program has three funding streams:

* Action Support –for Action Partners to start up a project to achieve sustainable and positive change in their communities.

* Action Partner Exchanges – these are collaborative learning exchanges between Action Partners. You can organise with another Action Partner (or a group of Action Partners) to travel to their community to grow your understandings about work, culture and how social change can happen.

* Learning Support- for Action Partners to participate in a course or program you would not otherwise have access to. It aims to help Action Partners develop knowledge and skills to support your work for social change.

There will be 2 rounds of the OIYP Grants Program. Approximately 60 Action Partners will receive funding of up to $5000AUD.

Deadline for Applications:

Round 1: 31st August 2008

Round 2: 31st January 2009

For more information or to receive an application kit please email maryj@oxfam.org.au

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Attending and/or Presenting at the International AIDS Conference?

Oxfam would like to hear from all Action Partners (past and present) who are attending the International AIDS Conference in Mexico in August this year. Please let Ramy Nasr know if you will be attending: ramynasr[at]gmail.com

We would also like to hear from any Action Partners who may be presenting at the conference. If you are presenting a paper, workshop, poster, Global Village or cultural presentation at the conference, please email Ramy Nasr at ramynasr[at]gmail.com

This information will be circulated amongst Oxfam and OIYP representatives so that we are aware of each other’s presentations and can support them.

OIYP Booth in the Global Village at the International AIDS Conference

OIYP will be running a booth at the International AIDS Conference 2008, in the Global Village, an area for the public and stakeholders to network and learn. This booth will showcase the different approaches 2007 OIYP Action Partners are using to counter HIV and AIDS.

If you are a 2007 OIYP Action Partner working on HIV and AIDS we need your help to make this booth relevant and reflective of practices that young people are employing to fight HIV and AIDS

Here’s what you can do:

- Send us your answers to the following questions:

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o How are you currently working on HIV and AIDS?

o If you could do anything to combat HIV and AIDS, how would you do it?

- Send us any pictures/video footage/other that demonstrate your work in your community.

- Log on to the OIYP HIV and AIDS on-line forum www.iyp.oxfam.org/forumnew to contribute other ideas.

Please send your contributions to Amy at amyb@oxfam.org.au or contact her for details about logging on to the forum.

Pacific Action Partners

Oxfam Australia is interested in hearing stories from young people in the Pacific about what is working well in your communities in health and education. These stories will help identify development strategies that are working well, could be shared with other communities and could help to influence Government policies and practises.

If you have an example of something that is working well we would love to hear about it. In your story, please answer the following questions:

- What is working well?

- Why does it work well?

- Do you think it would work well in another community? Why/Why not?

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You could also ask these questions to members of your community. Identify three people from your community who represent different voices and include their answers in your story.

Please send your stories by 25th July 2008 to Amy Berson, OIYP Learning and Development Coordinator, amyb@oxfam.org.au. Amy will also be available to help you think about and write your story – please contact her anytime!

Other opportunities:

Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change - 7th to 10th August, 2008 Hyderabad

Organized by the Friendship Foundation (Hyderabad), Global Citizens for Sustainable Development (Bangalore), Nature & Biological Sciences Society and the Indian Youth Climate Network. Please email all queries and registration forms to iyscc08@globalcitizens.org.in AND/OR iyscc08@gmail.com.

Alternatively call Vikram Aditya on +91-9396618878, Rabindra Biswas on +91-9985708762 or Anugraha John on +91-9448192010

African Youth Peace Conference - African Youth for Peace and Development'.

The 3rd African Youth Peace Conference AYPC to commemorate the UN – World Peace Day ealier scheduled for Cairo - Egypt has

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now been rescheduled to be held in (Port Harcourt – Rivers State) Nigeria on September 21 – 24, 2008, with the theme : 'African Youth for Peace and Development.

Deadline for applications : June 30, 2008.

For more information and an application form , email : cadanigeria2000@yahoo.com

All Around You All Around You is a platform that will enable communities from the Asia-Pacific to tell their own stories from their own perspective. It will give them the capacity to do this for a long term period, to an interested audience. Over a period of three years, we make four site visits to a particular community. In these visits we facilitate the development of a series of community-owned creative works, including one major work such as a feature film, theatre performance or video game. Uniquely, we train one young person from the community with the skills to co-direct the development of the major work with us, as a paid job.

This young person keeps developing local media for the AllAroundYou.net portal, long after CuriousWorks has left the region. We provide that person and other interested members of the wider community with ongoing access to local resources and a year-long mentorship with local community and arts centres. .

We’re especially interested in communities living at the top and bottom ends of Australia and links to cultural programs between these places and our neighbours in the Pacific, South-East Asia and even the Antarctic. If you have a proposal on who we could work with in these areas of the country, we’d love to hear from you. Email info@curiousworks.com.au

More information: www.allaroundyou.net

www.curiousworks.com.au

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VOCAL caravan through Oaxaca

An extraordinary caravan with VOCAL- Voces Oaxaqueñas Construyendo Autonomia y Libertad- and youth groups represented in the Oaxacan Social Movement Youth Gathering organized within and along side the APPO- La Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca.

***Before anything else, it is necessary to clarify that these caravans are being organized with the simple fundamental principals of walking while asking, and teaching by learning.***

On going coverage of the caravan can be found at: http://radioplanton.linefeed.org/

http://vocal.lahaine.org/

NGO-in-a-box

NGO-in-a-box offers a set of peer reviewed and selected Free and Open Source software (F/OSS), tailored to the needs of NGO's. It provides them not only with software, but also with implementation scenarios and relevant materials to support this.

Some elements also available in Portuguese.

For More Information: http://ngoinabox.org/

Kiwanja.Net

Since 2003, kiwanja.net has been helping local, national and international non-profit organisations make better use of information and communications technology in their work. Specialising in the application of mobile technology, it provides a wide range of ICT-related services drawing on over 22 years experience of its founder, Ken Banks. Non-profits in over forty

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countries have so far benefited from a range of kiwanja initiatives, including FrontlineSMS and nGOmobile.

For more information: http://www.kiwanja.net/

Visualizing Information for Advocacy

Visualizing Information for Advocacy: An Introduction to Information Design is a booklet written and designed to introduce advocacy organizations to basic principles and techniques of information design. It’s full of examples of interesting design from groups around the world in a variety of media and forms. It has tips, excercises, and even recommended Free Software packages to help polish up your graphics. The booklet is Creative Commons licensed.

For more information: http://backspace.com/infodesign.pdf

Human Rights and Arts Film Festival – seeking submissions

Emerging and established filmmakers with a passion for human rights are being invited to make short films addressing the human impacts of climate change.

The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival and the Make Poverty History coalition have joined forces to launch the Reel Change climate change short film competition, which is seeking powerful and innovative films from throughout Australia and the world.

The best films will screen as part of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Canberra, throughout November and December.

The Reel Change climate change short film competition’s submission deadline is Friday, 15 August. For all other human rights-related films, submissions close on Monday 14 July.

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For submission details, and more information about the festival, go to www.hraff.org.au

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V. ENDNOTE

A closing thought to inspire you this month.

Lluwanee George, 2007 Action Partner, Australia

Slam poetry is like freestyle hiphop crossed with poetry and free expression. If you’ve heard of Def Jam Poetry then you’ve heard of slam poetry.

Basically I wrote this because after OIYP you go back to your community (with the best intentions) and you try and make a difference or try to get involved and there is always a million things/issues/people etc trying to hold you back or pull you down. It’s like you always have to explain yourself to get your message across but sometimes its feels like you’re just saying the same thing over and over and no one is really listening. So my way of dealing with this is to write slam poetry.

I think it’s a great way to really open your mind and to think about what is going on around you.

What I’m talking about

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This is what I am talking about...

I’m talking about the rights of my people to practice their culture so that my generation and generations to come will have that knowledge and cultural pride to keep us going til the end of time. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about how my people only make up 2 per cent of the total population of this country yet over 50 per cent of my young people make up the juvenile justice system on any given day. How is that that these young people are incarcerated at such a high rate so when they get out their chances of being locked up for good just doubles, its like they are set up to fail. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about giving my young people the opportunity to learn and know their culture and identity, That they will not feel ashamed or not be afraid to say Yes I am Indigenous and I am proud to be Indigenous. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about giving young people the absolute right to feel safe and secure, that they have stability within their lives, families and communities. Don't tell us to go get an education or a job when a large proportion of young people don’t even have a roof over their heads or food to eat. F&*k your western ideological concepts and philosophies, why would you want to go to school or study if you don't have the basic human rights of having food or shelter. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the s**t that the media portray as my people being, nothing but drunks, druggies and dole bludgers. Obviously you haven't hung around blackfellas cause for every fallen fella there is more then one willing to fight for his fella souljah or sissouljah. That's what I’m talking about.

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I’m talking about watching my nieces and nephews grow up to be the most successful, influential and proud role models for both Indigenous and non Indigenous young people. For never allowing anyone to say that they can’t but yes you did. For I love my little nieces and nephews so much that my heart will die the day that one of them becomes one of those juvenile statistics. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking my sissouljahs who on a daily basis are up there in the world of achievements. For not backing down when times are tough and for being the backbone and the rock of the family when the rest of the world wants to break her. I’m talking about her resilience to the s**t that society throws at her, dissing her brothers, taking her children, criticising her mental, physical and intellectual capacity. Never will you break her. She is and always will be the ROCK, the queen, THE BOSS. That's what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about everyone else who has read this slam poetry and said yes that is true, and yes I’m going to make a difference. To all the people on a daily basis who have to explain and fight for their story to be heard or told, strength in numbers my friend. You tell your story and I’ll tell mine and together will make change. That's what I’m talking about.

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