Survival day
MELBOURNE — Around 200 people snubbed official Australia Day festivities and came to the Invasion Day concert, called Survival '98, at Brunswick Town Hall on January 26.
Speakers highlighted Australia Day festivities' denial of the white invasion of Aboriginal land, culture and spirituality. Speakers included Ray Jackson, Aboriginal deaths in custody activist, Manrico Mouro from the Campaign Against the Nazis and Campaign Against Racism's Bridget Riggs.
Entertainers included lesbian thrash band Tuff Muff, the Trade Union Choir, Peter Rotumah, Dave Arden and an acoustic presentation by film-maker and former Miriambiak CEO Richard Frankland. The concert was organised by Campaign Against the Nazis, with proceeds going to Miriambiak Nations, Aboriginal Advancement League and Campaign Against the Nazis.
From Canberra, Liam Hazell reports that hundreds of people braved cold weather to attend the first day of the "Corroboree for Sovereignty" at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on January 26.
Representatives from a wide range of Aboriginal communities spoke about the history of the Tent Embassy, the role of trade unions in building solidarity and the struggle for land rights, and said that true reconciliation can be achieved only through recognition of the rights of Aboriginal peoples.
Awards were presented to Aboriginal activists fighting for justice for their communities.