International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering - Latin America, Asia & the Pacific,
Melbourne-Australia, October 23 - 24 - 25 - 26, 2008

As you are aware for October 23-26, 2008, The Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET), Friends of the Earth - Australia (FOE) and other solidarity groups are holding The Latin American and Australasia International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering (Encuentro), which will bring along indigenous nand non indigenous grassroots popular organisations who are struggling, resisting and supporting Indigenous/first peoples/ Aboriginal rights from Australia, Aotearoa(NZ), Asia Pacific, Pacific Islands, Turtle Island (North America), Latin America and other interested participants.

This Gathering is taking place on Wurundjery land. We give our respects to the Wurungjery elders past and present.

The Gathering (Encuentro) has the main goal to build bridges of struggles, friendship and collaboration between indigenous and grassroots organisations throughout this regions of the world, specially today where multinational corporations are increasing their invasion to aboriginal lands and the military repression is in its pick.

During the days of the Gathering (Encuentro), main meetings, workshops, documentary festival, get together activities, different people from Australia and overseas will explore the questions of Genocide over our aboriginal nations by the dominant states, Autonomous struggles, The ancestral rights of land and own culture, sovereignty and the global order, sovereignty and neo-liberal policies, land sovereignty and nation, aboriginal control of aboriginal affairs, meaning of human rights and aboriginal rights, fighting racism and other topics that people assisting to the gathering will present.

Our idea is to be open and inclusive to ideas, discourses supporting the aboriginal people self-determination, sovereign of their future and popular grassroots struggles for justice, peace, dignity and democracy from below.

Thursday 23 October - CERES, Welcome to Country, 6:30

Friday 24 October Victoria Trades Hall Council - Carlton:
Gathering Opening (Public Meeting), 6pm,

Saturday 25 October - CERES East Brunswick:
Plenary/main sessions (Gatherings), workshops, entertainment,
art exhibitions, traditional food, stalls,
Afternoon Films documentaries
Party at Night

Sunday 26 October - CERES East Brunswick:
Plenary/ main sessions (Gatherings), workshops, entertainment (music, movies, theatre), traditional food, stalls, art exhibition
5/6pm - Main Gathering and resolutions

Further Information contact lasnet@latinlasnet.org
or call 0400 914 944