On the 20th of January one of the most significant events in the history of modern times is happening. President elect, Senator Barack Obama is being inaugurated as the first black President of the United States of America.
The Inauguration itself is being broadcast on ABC1 National TV from 3 am to 6 am on 21st January Eastern Standard Time. Check your local networks for details.
Though this is a bit early for us, Aunty Selena Blakeney is calling for all Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples in Australia to get together for a good Aussie BBQ at lunch time on the 21st at your local Community Centre to celebrate this occasion.
ABC1 TV will be broadcasting live shows from Washington and replaying the event throughout the morning. There will also most likely be a replay of the event on the 12:30 News as well as on other television channels.
Martin Luther had a dream and now it is reality!
Any one of our children can have the top job in our country.
During this celebration Aunty Selena Blakeney would like to call attention to the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Particularly that Australia has not endorsed this important declaration.
We need change.
The Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2007. When the declaration was adopted there were 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine) and four against. These four nations were: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Please see the form below and register your community and country in support of the Obama BBQ Day. Would you also please take a photograph of your gathering with your coordinator holding this letter of support in the front, so that we can publish it on our Web Site to show your communities support.
To download a copy of the BBQ for Obama Letter of Support please click here.
Yours sincerely,
Selena Blakeney
Event Organiser
Communities BBQing For Obama:
Rocking the Block at Redfern in Support of Obama, Lily Shearer, Nita Lyons & Scott Elphinstone
11:30 am start. Free BBQ lunch, Tongan Brass Band, dancing and culture and televised replays of the Inauguration. Rocking the Block at Redfern in Support of Obama, would like to thank Uncle Michael Mundine from the Aboriginal Housing Company in Redfern, Lily Shearer from the Redfern Community Centre.
Kay McPadden's network is gathering at on Tuesday evening, 20 January 09, at a friend's house for a meal.
Michelle Blakeney Community Member, Australia, 11:30am till 4pm, 21 January 2009, BBQ with friends at the keeping place Redfern.
We will add details about your community event here. Please feel free to include your email or other contact details so that we can send you advice about publishing your details.
Please send us pictures of your party and BBQ celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama with a bit of information about your community so that we can publish them and show our support publically. Your contact details will not be published.
Registration Form:
Please fill in the following form to add your support to the Obama BBQ Day.
Special Thanks To:
Aunty Selena Blakeney, Event Organiser, Obama BBQ Day
Uncle Michael Mundine, CEO, Housing Company Redfern
Lily Shearer, Cultural Development Officer, Redfern Community Centre, City of Sydney
Jayne Waterford, Secretary to Aunty Selena Blakeney, Obama BBQ Day
Scott Elphinstone, Senior Operations Coordinator, Redfern Community Centre, City of Sydney
Super Intendant Freudenstein, Redfern Police
Lani Tui, Housing Company Redfern
dominicWYkanak, Indigenous Greens Councillor for Bondi Ward Waverley Council, BoondiBoondi
David Beaumont, Youth Development Officer, City of Sydney
Nita Lyons, Administration, Redfern Community Centre
Martin Adams, Artist and Filmmaker, Northern Territory
Caroline Barton, Broadcaster, Koori Radio
Kerry Welsh, Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer, Sydney South West Area Health
Uncle Vince and Aunty Myra Cain, Elders of Coonabarabran
Karen Sulter, Coonabarabran Land Council
Rebecca McHugh, Accounts Assistant, Metropolitan Land Council
Darrel Sibosado, Program Manager, Boomalli Aboriginal Artist Co-operative
Marlene Cummins, Our Yura Presenter, Indigenous Sounds of Australia, Koori Radio - Gadigal Information Service
Paulette Winton, Presenter, Koori Radio - Gadigal Information Service
Sol Bellear, NSW ALC
Dr. Meredith Burgmann, US Barack Obama Campaign for Election
David Opitz, Projects and Productions Manager, Aboriginal Media Unit Metro TV
Mikey Mark, Station Manager, Koori Radio - Gadigal Information Services
Renee Bani, Presenter: Young, Black and Deadly, Koori Radio - Gadigal Information Services
Michelle Blakeney, Photographer and Filmmaker
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