The Festival of Indigenous Studies and a Happy Christmas

Autonomedia inspired. We had some incredible content at last month's Practitioners Forum which we will disseminate in an Autonomedia style publication titled Same but Different; and what a privilege to share the podium with so many gifted, intact, Aboriginal men and women.  Same but Different will be on the streets in July 2014.

The Festival of Indigenous Studies. For the AIS team, and our constituency, 2014 will be a year long celebration of Indigenous Studies. in the first part of the year we'll be presenting symposiums on Whiteness, and the fiction of B. Wongar, as well as launching two more film productions. On 2&3 October we'll be convening a major symposium  Reading the Country: After 30 years to mark the 30th anniversary of Reading the Country's publication.  Stephen Muecke and some of the leading scholars of that generation will be in attendance. As well as giving papers they'll interact with emerging, young, and unincorporated scholars addressing the multi-facted themes of Reading the Country: Introduction to Nomadology. We'll conclude the year with a major film launch in early December.

Baraka, spiritual radiance, whatever - Nile Rogers was in town last week emphasising the importance of affirming, seeking, and doing - now, before what is written comes to pass. And what is written? Nobody knows.*

A happy Christmas from Australian Indigenous Studies.

*Conrad, The Rescue

The Swan Book

The Swan Book. An inspiring celebration of Alexis Wright  and her latest novel  The Swan Book at the Ginger Garlic restaurant in Eltham. Meera Govill, proprietor of The Eltham Bookstore MC'd the event. Ivor Indyk, Giramondo publisher and Alexis' editor spoke of working with Alexis on  Carpentaria  and The Swan Book, Alexis spoke of her writing method and philosophy and the inspiration she derived from Italo Calvino's, Six Memos for the Next Millenium, i.e., the qualities of lightness, quickness, exactitude, visibility and multiplicity. Finally, our students Jon Ricketson and Kate Rendell delivered succinct lectures that combined appreciation with critique of Alexis' work. All this with delicious Indian food and a Southern twilight.

Healing Cards. I've just seen these fabulous cards produced by the Boorndawan Willam Women's Art Therapy group. Each card features their original artwork and inspirational quotes.

Christmas presents? Purchase them from Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service

Mosley vs Mundine. Noteworthy points: i) the playing of national anthems was dispensed with. (The playing of anthems at prize fights is a late 20th century innovation now sacrosanct for many.) ii) The crowd was largely Lebanese Muslim or Aboriginal: it was suggested that Team Mundine had given away a lot free tickets to the fight. iii)Aboriginal dancers entered the ring before the fight and appeared to sweep it clean for both fighters.  iv)This was one of those rare occasions when Anthony was cheered into the ring  and his opponent booed.)

Diversity. Finally, the work of diversity never ends and for the selfless workers there is no rest but here's an uplifting story about a brother who found his place in a corporation.