Noel Pearson
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Noel Pearson (born June 1965 in Cooktown, Australia) is an Indigenous Australian lawyer, land rights activist and Director of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York.
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[edit] Life and work
Pearson grew up at Hope Vale, a Lutheran Mission in the Cape York Peninsula. His article Walking in two worlds provides background on the history of his family and the community he comes from.
Recognised as one of the foremost Indigenous thinkers and advocates in Australia, Noel Pearson is a law graduate from the University of Sydney. He has an arts degree with honours in history from the same university: his thesis focussed on the history of the Hope Vale Lutheran Mission.
In 1990 he co-founded Cape York Land Council where he was Executive Director until he resigned in 1996. He was legal advisor for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. He now continues to advise a number of Indigenous organisations in Cape York.
Following the Mabo decision of the High Court of Australia Noel Pearson played a key part in negotiations over the Native Title Act 1993 as a member of the Indigenous negotiating team.
He has advocated for self-determination for Indigenous people and criticised approaches that keep Indigenous people dependent on welfare and disempowered in the name of "progressive" policies, a position outlined in his Light on the hill speech in 2000.
On December 15, 2006, Pearson publicly criticised the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, in relation to her decision not to press charges against the police officer involved in the death of Palm Island resident Mulrunji Doomadgee (DPP labelled incompetent after Palm Is charges decision). On January 26, 2007, Pearson welcomed the decision to prosecute the officer, after the inquiry by Laurence Street found there was sufficient evidence to press charges. Pearson also argued, however, that a 20- or 30-year plan was necessary for Palm Island (Pearson calls for 20-year strategy, January 27, 2007).
[edit] Articles and addresses
2007
- Give us help to help ourselves 17 March 2007.
- Native tongues imperilled 10 March 2007.
- Vale hope in outback hellhole 17 February 2007.
- Stuck on the welfare pedestal 10 February 2007.
- Boom and dust lifestyle 3 February 2007.
- Behind the eight ball 20 January 2007.
- Grist to the legal machine 6 January 2007.
2006
- Failure to act also criminal 30 December 2006.
- Travesty on Palm Island 23 December 2006.
- Join the real world 16 December 2006.
- Labor's ideas mature 9 December 2006.
- Queenslander offers way ahead for ALP 2 December 2006.
- Skewed world view 25 November 2006.
- Uses of layered identities 18 November 2006.
- The right side of the law 11 November 2006.
- Menace of a material world view 4 November 2006.
- Walking in two worlds 28 October 2006.
- A peculiar path that leads astray 21 October 2006.
- Properties of integration 14 October 2006.
- Road to responsibility 30 September 2006.
- A mighty moral victory 23 September 2006.
- Don't listen to those who despise us 26 June 2006.
- Big government hurts Aboriginal population 25 June 2006.
- On wild rivers and the Cape York Heads of Agreement 17 June 2006.
- Visions of brighter future can liberate camp dwellers 7 May 2006.
- Arthur Mills oration—On social norms 7 May 2006.
2005
- The Cape York agenda 5 December 2005.
- In search of a sustainable future 15 November 2005.
- Peace and prosperity for Indigenous Australians On Line Opinion, 28 October 2005.
- Working toward peace and prosperity 26 October 2005.
- People, nations and peace—Mabo oration 3 June 2005.
- National reconciliation planning workshop 30 May 2005.
- Working for a better life 17 May 2005.
- Reconciliation on a building block 19 April 2005.
2004
- The dangers of mutual obligation 15 December 2004.
- No danger of another stolen generation 15 November 2004.
- Reading inquiry welcome 12 November 2004.
- Judith Wright memorial lecture 5 September 2004.
- We need real reform for Indigenous public schooling 25 August 2004.
- Poverty and public policy agenda 12 August 2004.
- Two stories of Indigenous affairs 27 July 2004.
- 2004 Australian Medical Association oration 28 May 2004.
2003
- Sir Ninian Stephen annual lecture 17 March 2003.
2001
- Dr Charles Perkins memorial oration 25 October 2001.
- What Cape York communities can do to help themselves On Line Opinion, 15 June 2001.
2000
- How the Commonwealth Government can help stop Aboriginal welfare dependency On Line Opinion, 15 December 2000.
- The light on the hill 12 August 2000.
[edit] Collections of articles
- Articles compiled by Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (2000 to present).
- Articles compiled by Cape York Partnerships (2001 to 2004).
[edit] Profiles and interviews
- Pearson's revolution The Age, 28 October 2006.
- The new deal Sydney Morning Herald, 28 October 2006 (short version of above).
- Action needed to stop ongoing Aboriginal crisis: Pearson interview on The 7.30 Report, ABC, 22 June 2006.
- Pearson calls for end to passive welfare interview on The 7.30 Report, ABC, 14 November 2005.
- The Cape crusade Australian Story, ABC, 11 November 2002 (extended transcript available here).
- Noel Pearson Background Briefing, ABC, 29 October 2000.
[edit] Short biographies
- Noel Pearson Cape York Partnerships.
- Noel Pearson Brisbane Institute.
