Colonial Impact 30th Anniversary of Australian South Sea Islanders - ABC News with Kathryn Robinson

Sugar Fest Oceanic Culture History & Music celebrates Australian South Sea Islanders 30th Year of Commonwealth Recognition. Descendants of Australia’s Blackbird trade are from the eighty Islands of Vanuatu
and Solomons including Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New
Caledonia. Gathering in unity on this day we remember our shared history of those who served as sugar industry labourers under harsh conditions across Australia’s plantation and agricultural sectors of the 19 th century.
Many of the descendants of these peoples will be present at this very colourful event with a live performance flown in from the Torres Strait Islands as well as the Vanuatu HandiCraft, Samoan performers and weavers along with other live entertainment arts and food.
The Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) (ASSIPJ) Chair, (Waskam) Emelda Davis; “We are grateful to all sponsors who have assisted us to host our Commonwealth 30 th Anniversary at such a beautiful iconic location in Sydney. The gardens are home to a kastom carved Tam Tam (slit drum) from Ambrym in Vanuatu donated to the gardens by the Australian Friends of Vanuatu in July 1992.” The Tam Tam is of significance culturally and serves as a protector made of intsia
bijuga (Pacific teak). Known on Ambrym Island as a tingting slit drums were traditionally used for beating dance rhythms, transmitting messages, or summoning villagers to meetings. Sugar Fest celebrate an alternative narrative to our dark history and will showcase the vibrant, exciting, and self-determined voice of today's community. It offers
emerging and established Pacific, CALD and First Nations performers a chance to gain valuable industry experience in a culturally safe and professionally supportive settings. A historic and moving event that celebrates the courage and determination of those who came before us and the strength of those that have created extraordinary lives that are now significantly contributing to the well-being of their families in the Pacific and Australia. Pacific highlights within the program include a speech by Mr Robert Karoo from Kiribati’s Pacific Academy of Sciences, and by Erub Islander, Ms Vonda Malone, the first female to be appointed as Mayor of the Torres Strait Islands and is the newly appointed member of the Commonwealth Truth Telling Inquiry. Sydney Community Group performances and dynamic performance by The Voice - Steve Clisby. A highlight of the event will be the unveiling of the Australian Democracy (MoAD), Human Rights Quilt Project, Yumi Olgeta (Crafting a More Inclusive Democracy), a collaborative quilt, between the Vanuatu peoples, artist Helen Fraser and the broader Australian community. Hosted by Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) and proud sponsors include Botanical Gardens, City of Sydney Council, Multicultural NSW, Cages Foundation, Vanuatu Government and MoAD.