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Members of the West Australian branch of Amnesty International have developed this series for people concerned to eliminate racism in our society. The series of activities, which includes a day long workshop, an evening discussion and an overnight camping trip will examine racism and its impact on us personally and at an institutional and societal level.
THE WORKSHOP
Participants will:
- explore where racism (as well other discriminations) comes from;
- examine the ways in which racism affects us all and damages our society
- begin the process of healing the hurts of racism
- learn ways to address racism constructively and effectively.
It will be illuminating, challenging and even fun at times!
Facilitators:
Ben Taylor-Cuermara is a senior Noongar man. He is 70 years old and has experienced racism all his life. He attended the World Conference on Racism held in South Africa in 2001.
Rod Mitchell is a trainer and counsellor and member of United to End Racism (UER). (UER is a group of people of many racial groups and all ages and backgrounds, in many different countries, who are dedicated to eliminating racism in the world. Members understand that eliminating racism is necessary for humankind to progress. They are committed to ending racism, and support the efforts of other groups to accomplish this goal.)
Maria Pedersen is a Kimberley Aboriginal woman from Broome. Her heritage is Gija from the East Kimberley, Bunuba from the West Kimberley and Ngulama-Yinjibarndi from the Pilbara. Her background is in training and education in remote, regional and metropolitan contexts. She has engaged in governance training in remote Indigenous communities and does guest lecturing around cultural awareness and Indigenous issues at Curtin University and ECU.
Date & Time: Saturday 5th September from 10am to 4pm
Venue: Kaditj Café, 201 Beaufort Street, Perth (just north of Newcastle Street intersection)
Cost: Waged: $30; Unwaged: $10. Food and refreshments provided.
RSVP by Tuesday 1/9 Amnesty International: 9486 4800 or Camille.grubba@amnesty.org.au
THE DISCUSSION NIGHT
Participants will hear from two presenters who are dedicated to examining the impact of racism on people’s lives and in our society. Each presenter will speak for about 20 minutes and there will be ample time for discussion and questions.
Presenters:
Maria Pedersen will speak on structural racism within the public sector, drawing on her experience of working in the public sector and from research she is currently undertaking on this topic.
Anne Pedersen will speak on the Challenging Racism Project which is a national study examining racist attitudes in Australia. Anne is a community psychologist who works at Murdoch University. Her main interests involve prejudice against different cultural groups; in particular Indigenous Australians, refugees and Muslim Australians. Anne works with Professor Kevin Dunn from the University of Western Sydney who leads the Challenging Racism Project.
Date & Time: Thursday 24th September 2009, 6pm – 8.30pm
Venue: Amnesty International office, Suite 70, Plaistowe Mews, City West Centre, Railway Parade, West Perth.
Cost: A donation towards the cost of food and refreshments.
RSVP: Amnesty International: 9486 4800 or Camille.grubba@amnesty.org.au
THE WEEKEND CAMP
Don and Sylvie Collard are a Noongar couple who are the parents, grandparents, great grandparents and great, great grandparents to about 160 family members. They will lead this camping weekend which will take place just out of Kondinin where they live. Kondinin is in the wheatbelt about 280 kilometres east of Perth. They are members of the Stolen Generations and their children were taken away.
Date: To be confirmed, but most likely for a Saturday night in early November.
Venue: A farm close to Kondinin where Don used to work.
Cost: $30 per person towards the cost of Don and Sylvie facilitating the weekend.
Facilities: Participants will need to bring all their own camping equipment and food.
RSVP: Nina Boydell on 9328 4374 or ninabb@bigpond.net.au |
