Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

One People Sing Freedom (1988)

play May contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
clip 1988 nothing to celebrate

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

Footage of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy established at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Tiger Bayles from 88.9 radio (today’s Radio Skid Row) reports on the events of the day.

Curator’s notes

by Romaine Moreton

This clip shows the gathering of the protestors as well as the mainstream preparation for the Bicentennial celebrations. The Bicentennial celebrations and the protest against it are a culmination of history, a clash of voices and perspectives. The material, particularly the close-ups of the men in the crowd sardonically watching the youths skylarking and the nicely chosen excerpts from Pat Dodson’s speech, effectively give the mood of the Indigenous gathering, in contrast to the formal celebrations elsewhere.