Indigenous conference

More than 500 delegates representing the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, 
Aotearoa/New Zealand, the USA and Australia met in Sydney last week to 
scrutinise the way those nations are responding to indigenous rights and 
issues. The conference was disrupted when an arrogant keynote speech by 
Federal Minister for Immigration and Aboriginal Affairs prompted a mass 
walk-out.

Speakers from regions as disparate as the Australian desert to the Canadian 
arctic came together to discuss issues of common concern, their histories, 
their displacement, and relations with the modern states.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Chairman Geoff Clark said 
the conference would "not only promote greater awareness concerning the 
scourge of racism, but also lead to decisive action at the nation, regional 
and international levels in order to help those who suffer daily from 
racism."

Duane Champagne, Director of the American Indian Studies Centre at UCLA 
said "Native peoples are developing a perspective and understanding of 
their rights to self-government, land, and cultural preservation from time 
immemorial."

Sticking out like a sore thumb at the conference was Australia's Federal

Minister for Immigration and Aboriginal Affairs, Philip Ruddock. During his 
speech on Wednesday, more than 100 delegates walked out.

Standing firm with the government's shameful policy of refusing to say 
"sorry", he spoke only of the Federal parliament's motion of "deep and 
sincere regret".

He also promoted National Harmony Day on March 21, to which one heckler 
responded "National Sorry is Day is on May 26!"

He said he welcomed international scrutiny of Australia's race relations, 
and announced that the UN special rapporteur on racism, Mr Maurice Glele-
Ahanhanzo had been invited to visit Australia later this year.

When asked what he would make of the Woomera detention centre for refugees 
Mr Ruddock replied, "I think he'd understand ... that it is a proper and 
appropriate way to deal with (them)".

Later, in Mr Ruddock's presence, Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner Dr 
Bill Jonas gave a detailed report of how four UN human rights committees 
have severely criticised the Federal Government over racism in the last 
year.

He urged representatives at the conference to assist the Federal Government 
by helping to identify actions that would to address these human rights 
issues, which included among them an apology and compensation for our 
"stolen generations".

At the end of the conference the delegates unanimously adopted a draft 
report containing more than 50 recommendations concerning racial 
discrimination against Indigenous peoples, which will be forwarded to a 
United Nations World Conference on Racism in South Africa later this year.