SPEECH BY COUNCILLOR ROY AH-SEE
NAIDOC Week 2008

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I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land upon which we stand today.

I also want to pay my respects to all our elders here today.

You men and women, you aunties and uncles paved the way for us younger people.

Without your strength and courage and the strength and courage of those that went before you we would not be celebrating this day today.

So from the bottom of all our hearts we thank you.

This week, NAIDOC week, is our week.

It's a time when we celebrate ourselves; our culture; our land; the knowledge of our elders and most of all - our survival as Aboriginal people

NAIDOC week is also a time for all Australians to learn more about our shared history and to share our celebrations.

The history of NAIDOC goes back to the 1920s.

The start of the modern Aboriginal struggle, and is marked by the formation of the Aborigines Progressive Association by one of our many unrecognised leaders, Fred Maynard.

The APA was replaced in 1932 by the Australian Aborigines League under the leadership of William Cooper.

Cooper's organisation called for recognition of rights for our people including the return of stolen lands and the setting aside of a day of mourning for what Aboriginal people had lost during the invasion of Australia.

Seventy - six years later we are still fighting for these demands.

William Cooper's day of mourning was first held in 1938 on January 26th and moved to its present day of the first Sunday in July back in 1955.

So the history of NAIDOC goes back more than 70 years and reflects the history of our struggle as Aboriginal people.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act which produced NSWALC and later a statewide land council network.

The elected Council is back in charge and will continue to advocate on behalf of Aboriginal people.

Our goals are long-term, practical and visionary.

I want to mention a few of our achievements.

Late last year, we launch a $30 million education scholarship fund which will assist Aboriginal students of all ages.

It will be the Council's great privilege in the next week or so to announce the first 120 or so recipients of this education endowment fund.

This scholarship, achievement and leadership scheme will provide opportunities for study at primary and secondary schools, higher learning institutions, colleges and universities.

Awards under the scheme would are open to all Aboriginal people in NSW, not just members of Local Aboriginal land Councils.

This $30 million education scholarship fund is our education revolution.

I believe it is one of the most exciting and innovative programs to be announced in the 25 year history of land rights in New South Wales.

And to compliment the education scholarship fund, NSWALC in partnership with the State Government, will improve the health and well being of Aboriginal men, women and children in former reserves and missions across the State.

Both parties have committed to more than $100 million for at least the next 25 years for the operation, monitoring and maintenance of water and sewerage services in more than 60 communities - many former reserves and missions - across the State.

It's taken 25 years but perhaps only now are we beginning to bear fruit for the wider Aboriginal community of NSW.

NSWALC will proudly continue to follow the path laid out by our pioneers of 1938 and honour their legacy with the pursuit of Aboriginal rights such as improved access to educational opportunity and better lives.

We have much to be proud about.

I personally, strongly believe it is time that the people, the organisations and the families who are the community, deserve recognition.

Recognition for what you have done , for what you have achieved.

Everything that we see, do and celebrate this week is about you, the community, our organisations, our elders, our children, our work, our strength, our struggles, our issues, our art , dance, our land, our pride, our achievements and our aspirations.

The community always was and always will be the seed, the bearer the carrier, and the maker of our future.

If we look around at ourselves, our organisations , our elders, our young people, our leaders - we can see much has been achieved, is being achieved and put in place.

Yet it is not recognised anywhere near enough, that there are a wide range of Aboriginal run services that are managed by Aboriginal people run for Aboriginal people and which employs Aboriginal people.

We can do that with great pride , pride in ourselves and with confidence in ourselves.

Go almost anywhere around this state, from Tweed Heads to Eden, from Brocken Hill to Coffs Harbour , from Wagga Wagga to Dubbo, NAIDOC brings Indigenous Australians throughout the State together to celebrate.

But NAIDOC Week is also a time for non indigenous Australians to join with us .

To get to know us and understand us better.

To think about what NAIDOC Week is and means for us.

What it means to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

To understand the truth of the history we share.

To experience the richness and depth of culture and our ways.

To see why we respect , uphold and continue the things we believe, we hold dear, which we are.

So , in the traditions of our past, and in the spirit of reconciliation, we welcome you to country, we welcome you here today.

We invite all Australians around this great land to celebrate NAIDOC Week with us.

Indeed there are clear signs that thousands and thousands of Australians are with us, along side us on this.

But make no mistake, none of what has been achieved, has been made without the fighting for these rights, fighting for change.

There are some in the Federal government and in the media , who say that the rights agenda is thing of the past, that its all about practical reconciliation.

The truth, the reality is, that the 1967 referendum, land rights, native title, RCIADIC, the Stolen Generation report, Mabo , Wik, and for the health, education, job and other programs too - none of this would have been achieved without standing up for these rights.

None of these or any other of the issues will change for the better without us standing up for ourselves, for our rights.

One will not occur without the other.

Happy NAIDOC Week to everyone.

Thank you.