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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/31/five-questions-to-nova-peris-on-healthcare-culture-and-the-nt
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Five questions to Nova Peris: on healthcare, culture and the NT | Five questions to Nova Peris: on healthcare, culture and the NT |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week. | Each week, a new guest hosts the @IndigenousX twitter account to discuss topics of interest as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In partnership with IndigenousX, we’re inviting its weekly host to tell us about who they are, what issues they’re passionate about, and what they have in store for us during their upcoming week. |
| Tell | Tell |
| us about yourself | us about yourself |
| I am of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent – Gija people from the East Kimberly, and the Yawuru people of the West Kimberly. I am also Iwatja from western Arnhem Land.I am a Territory girl. I was born and live in the great city of Darwin in the Northern Territory, and have strong cultural and spiritual ties to my country. I am immensely proud of who I am and where I come from. I love our talented musicians, artists, sportsmen and women, our culture and our iconic and diverse landscape that boasts a number of World Heritage listings. There is certainly no other place I would rather call home.I’m a proud wife, mother and grandmother, and I’m also a senator elected to represent all Territorians – a role which I am extremely proud to have. It enables me to promote the NT and make sure that the needs, cultures and lifestyles of all Territorians is met and understood by all Australians.I believe it is my duty and the duty of all members elected to the parliament to answer questions, and deal with issues honestly and openly. | I am of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent – Gija people from the East Kimberly, and the Yawuru people of the West Kimberly. I am also Iwatja from western Arnhem Land.I am a Territory girl. I was born and live in the great city of Darwin in the Northern Territory, and have strong cultural and spiritual ties to my country. I am immensely proud of who I am and where I come from. I love our talented musicians, artists, sportsmen and women, our culture and our iconic and diverse landscape that boasts a number of World Heritage listings. There is certainly no other place I would rather call home.I’m a proud wife, mother and grandmother, and I’m also a senator elected to represent all Territorians – a role which I am extremely proud to have. It enables me to promote the NT and make sure that the needs, cultures and lifestyles of all Territorians is met and understood by all Australians.I believe it is my duty and the duty of all members elected to the parliament to answer questions, and deal with issues honestly and openly. |
| What | What |
| do you plan on talking about on IndigenousX this week? | do you plan on talking about on IndigenousX this week? |
| My aim this week will be to share my stories and experiences as a Northern Territory senator. I’ll be highlighting some of the work that I and other people and | My aim this week will be to share my stories and experiences as a Northern Territory senator. I’ll be highlighting some of the work that I and other people and |
| organisations are continuing to do to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres | organisations are continuing to do to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres |
| Strait Island people are heard and listened to. | Strait Island people are heard and listened to. |
| I'll also be sharing my views on Australian | I'll also be sharing my views on Australian |
| politics, and will write about any current events that I think are | politics, and will write about any current events that I think are |
| relevant, or brought to my attention by people following the account. I also would like to use this week to ask a series of questions to followers, to get a sense of the way they are feeling towards issues that are | relevant, or brought to my attention by people following the account. I also would like to use this week to ask a series of questions to followers, to get a sense of the way they are feeling towards issues that are |
| currently affecting our people. | currently affecting our people. |
| What | What |
| issues affecting Indigenous peoples are you most passionate about? | issues affecting Indigenous peoples are you most passionate about? |
| I’m passionate about my culture, and sharing what I know to help strengthen others' cultural awareness. I also feel strongly about | I’m passionate about my culture, and sharing what I know to help strengthen others' cultural awareness. I also feel strongly about |
| education and health care for all Australians. I believe that those remain the major foundations | education and health care for all Australians. I believe that those remain the major foundations |
| for self-improvement, and although these issues are basic fundamental rights for | for self-improvement, and although these issues are basic fundamental rights for |
| every person in this country irrespective of their race, we | every person in this country irrespective of their race, we |
| must continue to work hard to inform people of the value of education and | must continue to work hard to inform people of the value of education and |
| health care. I want all Australians to learn about the true history of this country, and the significant journey we have ahead of us all to make this right! | health care. I want all Australians to learn about the true history of this country, and the significant journey we have ahead of us all to make this right! |
| Who | Who |
| are your role models, and why? | are your role models, and why? |
| Through my | Through my |
| life I have come across many people from all walks of life who have inspired | life I have come across many people from all walks of life who have inspired |
| me and played an important role in shaping me; some through their wisdom, and | me and played an important role in shaping me; some through their wisdom, and |
| some through their courage and their ability to overcome adversity. No one | some through their courage and their ability to overcome adversity. No one |
| has inspired me more than my grandmother, Nora Peris, a proud Gija woman who | has inspired me more than my grandmother, Nora Peris, a proud Gija woman who |
| was so passionate, caring and connected to her country. | was so passionate, caring and connected to her country. |
| Another two of my most highly regarded role models would be Nelson Mandela | Another two of my most highly regarded role models would be Nelson Mandela |
| and Evonne Goolagong for their personal achievements and the movements they have | |
| played a part in. | played a part in. |
| What | What |
| are your hopes for the future? | are your hopes for the future? |
| I want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | I want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
| communities and families to have access to quality education and health care, where | communities and families to have access to quality education and health care, where |
| they are valued, secure and remain connected to country. I want us to celebrate the success and diversity in our great nation, learn | they are valued, secure and remain connected to country. I want us to celebrate the success and diversity in our great nation, learn |
| from mistakes, and believe in ourselves. I also want a place where we recognise Aboriginal | from mistakes, and believe in ourselves. I also want a place where we recognise Aboriginal |
| and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our founding document – the | and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our founding document – the |
| constitution. I want a place where we are all free from discrimination. | constitution. I want a place where we are all free from discrimination. |