NIYMA

More About NIYMA

The idea for NIYMA was formed in 1999 by the five founding members: Darren Godwell, Billy Gordon, Tanya Hosch, Gregory Phillips and Mark Yettica-Paulson. However, NIYMA was not officially launched until 2001 and since then has grown to include many members from almost all states and territories of Australia. You can learn more about who is involved in the Movement here.

In 2002, NIYMA prepared a paper about its views on a Treaty. This paper was presented to the National Treaty Conference in Canberra by Gregory Phillips and can be read here. The speaking notes from the National Treaty Conference can be found here.

NIYMA makes sense because it is a Movement by, for and managed by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. There has been too much lip service paid to young Indigenous Peoples and too many attempts to engage us in advisory or government roles only.

NIYMA is about independence and self-reliance. We are a group of young people trying to make a difference with a larger group of young Indigenous people.

By offering safe space and right relations, NIYMA can work with other young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to foster their talents, heal their wounds, engage with life and be their own leader!

NIYMA's Vision

Healthy, strong and free Indigenous communities.

Facts

• 65% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are under the age of 30. [Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001. Australian National Census. ABS: Canberra]
• Indigenous young people often exist in two extremes - either by taking on much greater responsibility for family and community affairs at younger ages, or by being marginalized as always 'at-risk' and rarely supported to be engaged and empowered in life on their own terms.
• Indigenous youth suicide, a major indicator of dis-engagement and dissatisfaction with life, is among the highest in the world. [Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, June 2003. From Self-Continuity to Cultural Continuity-Aboriginal Youth Suicide. v68 i2 p61(16)]
• Indigenous young people need what NIYMA offers - safe space - refuge from a seemingly alien world, and right relations in the face of some dysfunctional family and community affairs.

NIYMA's Drive (our mission and/or purpose)

Survival. NIYMA believes Indigenous young peoples need safe spaces and modeling of right relations so they can not only survive, but reach their fullest potential in life.

Journey (our aims)

• Engage other young indigenous peoples with life.
• Support young Indigenous peoples in life and career pursuits.
• Celebrate all successes among the membership.
• Promote self-awareness, healing and wellness among the membership and our communities.
• Contribute to the revival of Indigenous cultural and spiritual values, beliefs and practices for today's world.

Gigs (our objectives)

1. In conjunction with the membership, design and develop a range of initiatives which engage, mentor and support Indigenous young peoples in safe spaces (ie camps, cultural events, healing workshops, leadership programs, sporting carnivals, education and careers markets, ongoing mentorship and support schemes).
2. Encourage the development of local NIYMA groups.
3. Link NIYMA members and groups through a website, a bi-monthly newsletter, and radio shows.
4. Sponsor annual awards for Indigenous young people's achievements.
5. Design and implement a bi-annual corroboree of young people - a celebration of achievements, survival and life!
6. Design and implement opportunities for young people to engage with healthy Elders in safe spaces.
7. Evaluate and review our activities and operations with input from the membership and partners.

Vibe (our philosophies, values and principles)

• Safe spaces - given many of our young people come from dysfunctional home and social situations, NIYMA aims to create safe spaces through events and networks which give support, build resilience and coping skills, and contribute to balanced experiences of life.
• Modelling of right relations - NIYMA members aim to look after themselves and model healthier ways of interacting with our peers and the world than we've become accustomed to. In short, we aim to practice and promote respect.
• Re-engage with healthy Elders - we recognize that our Elders have contributed much to our societies that have paved the way for the opportunities we enjoy. We aim to give proper respect to these Elders, and work with them as cultural guides and mentors.
• Independence - we believe we must put in what we wish to receive. As such, NIYMA aims to be a dynamic member-based organization, where the membership gets out of it what they choose to put in, and where we work with partners on equal and respectful terms.

Style (our tag-line for the way we do business)

...respecting those before us, inspiring those here today, believing in those to come...