GetUp and sign this petition!

“Today, an Indigenous baby born in Australia is statistically likely to have a shorter life than a child born in remote rural Bangladesh or Nigeria.”

- www.getup.org.au

That’s nothing short of disgraceful -- particularly when you put it next to the fact that the average Indigenous Australian’s life expectancy is 59 years, whereas for non-Indigenous Australians it’s 79 years.

GetUp, an independent Australian political movement, is running a campaign to get the Federal Government to increase indigenous health funding by $460 million a year. It’s chicken feed when you think about it. And furthermore, it's such a basic necessity that I can't believe this is a campaign that needs to be run. But it does, and one of the best means of doing this is increasing awareness and getting as many people involved at a grassroots level.

How can you help? Go SIGN THE PETITION

Carnivale - Right party, right time

You know, sometimes I am suspect of people who try to lure you to events etc. under the guise of 'Party!' or 'Free shit!' At uni, we know them well. I had a particular experience with Hillsong for example. By jove do they have recruitment downpat. I'm storming about at O-Week, actually more loitering about, and this fella, with exquisite afro, flanked by pure girl-next-door types, tries to cajole me to his tent. I am generally sceptical about such overt advances, being more of the 'I'll let my tent/organisation speak for itself/keep it real' platform. But this time its different. Not only does he look really 'cool', but he's holding a freaking playstation controller, facing a plasma TV, and inviting me to join him in a casual game of FIFA freaking 2007. Before I know it I'm over there arguing that it must be a day game and I'll wear the away kit, thankyou sir. He's got good talk too. He calls me 'man', is pretty relaxed, combines mild intellectual speak with a bit of a drawl that says 'I'm down with academia but doesn't get me buzzing'. You know, relating to me. It's 1 all and Phil Neville is storming down the right flank (I like to draw the defense wide), and afro man says casually: 'So man, how do you feel about God?' I say good evening and continue loitering about O-Week.

Other times, people use a party or entertainment properly to get an issue on the agenda. This is the case with Carnivale 2007. The party isn't a ruse or guise designed to rope you in to listening about a cultural and political issue, it is in fact the perfect medium for education and celebration of indigenous culture. In an age where Indigenous culture is primarily misunderstood and ignored, a musical celebration like this represents a common link for people to share.

One of my main men, JMB (who you'll find is in the place to be [potentially since 1993]), I believe, is trying to awaken a giant in the consciouness of Australians. While this metaphor may not be apt at all, the upcoming carnivale represents a brilliant opportunity for people to be part of something very real and, dare I say, a bit of a 'movement' that appears to be growing in profile. The quality of the gig is undoubted. Last year, Blue King Brown delivered an unbelievable set that will live long in the memory of those present. Amazing band. Since then, they've gone on to become favourites at the high-profile Falls and Blues festivals, and have just been announced in the first round of Splendour artists. Kid Confucius and TZU also represZISented that night and got the place jumping.

Carnivale - bring some game, listen to some hip hop, have a good time, and almost before you know it you'll have made the perfect contribution to a significant issue.

Peace and love from above.
yea

Warming up

Keep checkin the site. New edition of "The Movement" about
to be posted and the final performers will be added to the
performer page.

Indigenous Carnivale will run on all three levels of Manning on
Saturday the 26th May from 3pm-10pm.

The Herd will perform @ 3.30pm!

The FINALISED line up is:

The Herd * The Street Warriors * Emma Donovan * Saving Grace *
Indigie Femme * Radical Son * Declan Kelly * The Last Kinection *
The Japa Boys * Aunty Wendy's Mob (Glebe Primary Kids) *
Dj Wanted * Key Speaker Linda Burney * Also presenting
'Divided we Fall'. A one day interactive exhibition featuring
leading artists from around the country... and you. Curated by
Bronwyn Bancroft, opened by Social Justice Commisioner Tom Calma

Tickets $5 for Union Access Card holders. $10 for others. $10/15 on
the door. Tickets can purchased can be purchased @ Access (Manning)
or from Moshtix and at all Moshtix outlets.

Loving the blogs. Lets start gettin some more comments, tell your friends.

And can someone please outdo Steve the Reconciliator?

Peace

Very Mild Super Powers

Since my first blog I have been inundated with feedback receiving the most comments of any blogger (no superpowers were used to achieve these results). Firstly I think there has been a lot of confusion over the term reconciliator so I looked it up in the oxford dictionary for you.

Reconciliator- [rek-uhn-sil-ee-ey-aa-t-oooor]: One who attends indigenous carnivale.

Revealing my powers is not always safe and I strongly advise any fellow reconciliators not to attempt to use them on their journey to carnivale as they may injure themselves or others.

Now I have the legal jargon out of the way here goes...

Power 1: D-A-N-C-E

So I'm sure your thinking "How can dance be a super power anyone can do it?" Wrong!!! The power of dance can be lethal but also very bonding. Just this week I experienced a spontaneous break dancing competition in a Sydney nightclub. The consequences of this may have been disastrous but using my ability's I was able to turn would be enemies into friends. Rather than a winner and loser coming from this situation both parties felt equally ridiculous and were thereby united.

So on May 26th bring your dancing shoes and let 'Steve the Reconciliator' unite you!!!

Disclaimer: Steve takes no responsibility for his very mild super powers working when actually required and therefore suggests to all would be reconciliators to not place themselves in life threatening situations around him.

Make a Difference

I have attended and been involve with both the 2005 and 2006 carnivale concents and they rocked my world. The Indigenous carnivale creates a sense of unity within the community. May 26 is a time to show respect and understand of the history of our land. Its a day and night to see awesome bands, meet new people and celebrate the coming together of both indigenous and non-indigenous people. Both concerts have been incredible, I had the time of my life and knew I was being part of something that will make a difference.

As a young aboriginal person carnivale creates hope for the future and remembers the past. The time has come to reconcile. Be apart of something monumental and see the magic come alive ( I may have stolen that last quote from Walt Disney but he’s awesome)

The Day After

This is the first blog entry I’ve made to any site ever. I’m proud that it is for an event as meaningful as Indigenous Carnivale.

The night of May 26 presents a unique opportunity to show an awareness of the past and willingness to move forward in the future. Over the past two years I’ve been lucky enough to promote and perform (this is arguable) at Indigenous Carnivale. I’ve also been lucky enough to be an AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) mentor and see the kids that the money raised from this night benefits.

Indigenous Carnivale is everyone’s chance to be part of a night in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians share a space, recongnise our past and show a commitment to a better future. It’s also a chance to maybe even see a super hero?

I just hope that this commitment is there on May 27...

Carnivale - Its hip to da hop (and so much more)!

Yo Yo Yo,

Ya'll gotta come check out Indigenous Carnivale on 26th May at the Manning Bar Usyd. My mate Jack decided to get this gig started in 2005, and seeing it as a worthwhile cause i offered to help out where possible.

The First Carnivale in 2005 was a massive success given its first year trial and the negative stereotypes that often surround Indigenous peoples. Approximately 500 people from many diferent walks of life turned out to pay respect to the traditional owners and to the people who were taken away from their families in one of the saddest eras in the world. It really provided a respectful and fun environment where people could just relax, listen to awesome performers (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) and party together as if it was 1973 (thats the year billabong was created - what a brand!) All in all it was a very peaceful, unifying and fun night with plenty of shared stories, respect and laughter.

Last year's carnivale was an even bigger success as word of mouth from 2005 ensured that approximately 800-1000 people turned out for the event - Manning Bar was packed! Sometimes when there are massive crowds like last year, the mood within the event can change. This was not the case with carnivale, however, as people were really willing to just chill, listen, laugh, be respectful and most of all dance (i like dancing - its awesome, i shake a leg heaps good!). At the event we were pleasured by some hip hop groups and so much more. The highlights for me were Emma Donovan with her soulfoul lyrics talking about her stories as an Aboriginal person from the north coast of NSW (you represent sista), and Blue King Brown with their powerful political messages - all the performers rocked the cazbar!

In closing, the 5 buck entry fee is so so soo worthwhile as you'll have the party of your life, share in respect and contribute to the AIME Indigenous Mentoring Program that is one of the most unique and successful campaigns to come out of the country.

Carnivale - hip to da hop and so much more! BE THERE

Indigenous Carnivale 2006: what went down...

This is what Carnivale 2006 was all about... and by all accounts, this year's is going to blow all of your hearts and minds and expectations!

** I wrote this post originally for the blog SydneyLife


The Hardest Word in the English Language original post here

National Sorry Day was last Friday - did you remember it? A massive crowd at Manning Bar certainly did!

I’ve just finished helping out with an event I couldn’t be more proud of. A good mate of mine, Jack, decided last year to stop merely talking the talk, and he began the National Sorry Day Indigenous Carnivale. It’s a big party held at Manning Bar on campus, and it was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. Even better, the money made on the night is going towards an indigenous mentoring program for local high school students.

National Sorry Day was first held on 26th May 1998, one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Federal Parliament. The report was from the National Inquiry into the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal Australian children who were forcibly removed from their parents by the Australian government.

One of the report’s recommendations was that a National Sorry Day should be declared, to allow the community to acknowledge the injustices wrought against indigenous Australians in the past. Many people will probably remember Sorry Day 2000, when 250,000 Australians marched over the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a mark of respect and an apology for past wrongs against indigenous Australians.

But six years later, there are no massive crowds on one of our most recognisable landmarks, no skywriters scrawling “sorry” in the air. It feels like Sorry Day is at risk of falling out of our collective conscious as Australians. We’ve got terrorism to worry about, and interest rates. I think that while having a Sorry Day as a mark of respect is a really positive step for Australia, it hasn’t been utilised to its maximum potential. How many of you remembered it, how many of the mainstream news media paid particular attention to it? If I hadn’t been helping out with the Indigenous Carnivale at Manning the day probably would have been off my radar too. I don’t think that this is anyone’s fault necessarily, but it does signal that more needs to be done in terms of reconciliation in Australia.

The Indigenous Carnivale was one small step towards making Sorry Day more relevant, particularly for the younger generations. It was about creating an accessible and fun party to pay respects, but also to celebrate. It was about celebrating the cultural hybrid that is Australia. The artists who performed reflected this diversity: from Emma Donovan’s gorgeous vocals and the way she held the crowd’s attention, to Blue King Brown’s rapid-fire tag team drumming finale, to Kid Confucius and their infectious melodies, and finally to the way TZU had the entire crowd going off. Artists from so many different backgrounds and histories, coming together to say wake up to anyone who thinks reconciliation is no longer relevant to Australians.

Jack: congratulations for your amazingly tireless work on this event. You saw everyone’s faces that night, you know you made a difference.

------The Birth of a Carnivale Super Hero-----

The road to Carnivale can be daunting... But the results are Rewarding!

There is a need for someone to step up and ask the tough questions!

"What have YOU done for reconciliation lately?"

stay posted for the wacky adventures of:

'Steve the Reconciliator'

As he talks, chalks and flies his way to Indigenous Carnivale 2007

Small Beginnings

What this blog is set up for is to showcase the people's voice behind the Indigenous Carnivale. Hopefully enabling newcomers to gain a personal insight into the nature of the event. We are looking for all of those people involved in the Indigenous Carnivale this year. Be you organisers, designers, performers, ambassadors, promoters, ticket holders, AIME Mentors, AIME Mentees, or just people looking to learn more. Come one, come all. Its an open forum.

The Indigenous Carnivale for 2007 has begun.