NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal & Islander Day Observance Committee)  has just finished in Australia with strong criticism of the Federal intervention in the Northern Territory:

The winner of the NAIDOC lifetime achievement award in Darwin last night has called on the Federal Government to rethink its "draconian" Indigenous intervention laws.

In accepting the award, the Labor Member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, criticised the intervention, saying it "completely demoralises" Aboriginal people.
NAIDOC award winner blasts intervention laws

Marion was our local member in the Northern Territory parliament when we lived in Maningrida, an aboriginal community in Arnhem Land. Now a backbencher, Marion was Deputy Chief Minister before resigning from the NT Cabinet and the ALP in 2009. She later rejoined the party.

Winner 2010 National NAIDOC Poster Competition
Unsung Heroes - Leading Through Example
Artist: Sheree Blackley

It is easy to feel that attempts to 'close the gap' are futile. However, the government website indigenous.gov.au outlines many programs, in a range of areas such as health and education, that are having an impact.

Two Australian TV shows that deal in depth with indigenous issues are the ABC's Message Stick and SBS's Living Black. A recent Living Black segment House Hunting looked at some good news in housing, which is a very contentious area. The video story can be accessed by clicking the link.

Message Stick's current episode (11 July 2010) is an hour long special presentation of the 2010 NAIDOC Ball and Awards Ceremony in Melbourne. It should be available on the website this week.