John Howard, the 'miniature man'
BY PETER JOHNSTON
DARWIN — Prime Minister John Howard's million dollar centenary of federation trip to London stood in contrast to his government's mean-spirited treatment of members of the stolen generations of indigenous people, who struggle to find the funds to even rent an office, the Stolen Generations Committee's Maurie Ryan told a 600-strong crowd here on July 7.
Under a bright blue tropical sky a spirited and determined crowd marched, sang, chanted and rallied to mark NAIDOC, the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration, in fact a week of concerts, fishing competitions, art (including prison art), a Black Olympics and the NAIDOC Ball.
Marchers carried a huge banner supporting the stolen generations while members of the stolen generations all wore matching T-shirts, to considerable emotional effect.
Many were bitter about their treatment. Ryan accused the government of stalling on justice for the stolen generations, hoping they would die out, while Harold Thomas, who designed the Aboriginal flag, said it was a shame that many more people welcomed the Olympic torch to Darwin the week before than marched on NAIDOC.
Norman Fry, the director of the Northern Land Council, was similarly angry, lashing out at the government's 10-point plan on native title. It is really a one point plan, he said: extinguishment of Aboriginal land rights.
He described the Prime Minister as a "miniature man — small in mind, and small in thinking".
There was hope too, that through a united struggle, justice and true reconciliation could be achieved.
Doug Bon, of the Torres Strait Islander community, for example, spoke of the "inspirational" ten-year battle of Eddie Mabo for land rights on Murray Island. Tanya Nasir, the manager of Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations Program, spoke of the work being done to help young indigenous students learn pride in their cultural identity.