With a great 'Welcome to Country' at the opening festival in Thornbury, it was a festive gathering of many Indigenous people alike, from many first nations around the world. The response from the international delegates about the 'Welcome to Country' performed by the local dance group "One Fire" was explosive. Thanks to the NITV Black Tracks program, we have captured such an event.

I had the pleasure of yarning with Bruce Pascoe on the first day of the conference at the Rod Laver Arena in East Melbourne. He delivered a very moving and confronting speech to the delegates attending the conference, and is working on 'Preservation of Language' projects, in both multi media and educational tool kits.

Many issues were addressed by other first nation people which our own mob here in Australia have encountered, are enduring, and will continue to battle with, such as native title, deaths in custody, Indigenous Youth Suicide, Stolen Generation, Assimilation and much more.

Whilst networking with other Indigenous delegates, there was a gold mine of information readily available to those willing to listen. We obviously share many battles as Indigenous people, we all aim to learn and be educated in one another's path's to victory, and finding the particular medium to educate the future generation, and preserve our culture, our heritage, our language, without compromise, without mediocrity, but with high levels of service and raising the bar. Thankfully, the material is available in the market, with NITV as the deadly broadcaster, such content can continue to educate our audience, and preserve the longest living culture the world has.

With many Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's in attendance, we are recognized, we are deadly, and we are growing.

That's all from me for now. Keep it up mob, and continue to be DEADLY!

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Acquisitions Coordinator
Friday, 12 December 2008