2pm-12am Sat
March 29 2008
251 High St, Northcote
Uniting Church

PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Talks and workshops (2pm-7pm) - IN THE CHURCH
(indigenous speakers covering topics such as history, language, craft)

Kids and family entertainment (3pm-7pm) - IN THE CHURCH HALL
(including TimTim, Juggularity, West Papuan Cultural Group. More to be confirmed)

THE FRIENDSHIP DJERRIP FESTIVAL 2008 IS AN ALCOHOL FREE EVENT . In keeping with the healing and healthy living practices of the Maya Healing Centre

The Welcome to Country and Friendship Ceremony (7:15pm-7:45pm)
Courtyard Stage.
• Welcome to country by Ringo Terrick Wurundjeri Elder
• Speech by Maya Centre director Uncle Reg Blow.
• "Thank you for your Welcome" song by Jan Wositzky. Sung by Bridge the Gap Choir.
• ACES - Elders Choir (Aboriginal Community Elders Service, East Brunswick, Melbourne)

Earth Hour (8pm-9pm) - IN THE CHURCH HALL
Ian Pidd (theatre director) will curate this hour of storytelling and theatre.
Fitting in with international Earth Hour, no lights will be used for this period, just candles.

Evening Concert (9pm-midnight) - IN THE CHURCH HALL
Live music featuring:indigenous hip-hop act Tjimba and the Yung Warriors, Josh Owen solo and more.

Art Auction (8:30pm onwards) - IN SYNERGY GALLERY
The exhibition will open on March the 19th at 6pm at Synergy Gallery, street front 251 High St, Northcote. It will feature Maya artists work and many non indigenous artists.

The exhibition will run for two weeks leading up the festival with the auction been held on the night of the festival starting at 8.30pm.

The Friendship Djerrip* Festival is an annual event that will provide an opportunity for non-Indigenous Australians to express their respect and support for Indigenous Australians and their culture. It aims at fostering relationships, partnerships and understanding between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people, while exploring our respective and shared histories, culture and stories.

Melbourne Palm Island Solidarity Rally
Saturday 5 April, 12 noon
Assemble outside the Aboriginal Health Services
186 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy

• Drop all Charges against Lex Wotton! Justice for Mulrunji!
• Stop all Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Now!

Respected Palm Island resident, Lex Wotton, is facing charges of "riot with destruction" ‹ a charge that could lead to a jail sentence of more than ten years. Wotton¹s trial commences in Brisbane on 7 April 2008. With 400 others, Lex participated in the November 2004 protest against the killing of his friend Mulrunji in the Palm Island watch house while in police custody.

Lex Wotton continues to be harassed and persecuted as part of the crackdown that followed.

Far from being a "riot", the Palm Island protest was an act of anti-racist resistance. And, when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty! Anyone who has ever protested against injustice has a stake in the outcome of Lex Wotton's case. Stop the racist political persecution of this Palm Island resident. Defend the right to oppose racist state brutality. Drop the charges now!

March up Johnston Street, then rally outside the Fitzroy Police Station

Organised by the Indigenous Social Justice Association ‹Melbourne