The Sunday Paper Podcast

After a long hiatus we're finally bringing you season three. We're kicking off the season talking to Seran, a member of Solidarity for Eelam Tamils, a group focussed on education and awareness around the struggle of Eelam Tamils in so-called-Sri-LankaAnd just a warning that this episode contains non-descriptive references to sexual violence including towards childrenTamil Eelam is one of the most heavily occupied regions on earth. Eelam Tamils live under continued colonisation, ethnic cleansing and genocide by the Sri Lankan state. In some areas, there are still 2 occupying Sri Lankan soldiers for every 1 civilian. New colonies are set-up and constantly supported by the state.During the month of may, Eelam Tamils commemorate the lives lost in one of the Earth's largest massacres of the 21st century. Official statements by the International Truth and Justice Project point to around 170,000 lives lost in just the Mullivaikkal massacre during May 2009, and Eelam Tamil accounts point to a number higher than 200,000. It should be noted, that this is just one massacre, in a history deeply marked by Sinhala-supremacist anti-Tamil pogroms and government-approved massacres stretching back to the 1940s and 1950s. There has been no accountability or justice, and Sri Lanka has criminalised discussions of genocide, and banned memorialisation of those killed. This year, there was increasing legal and military repression of Eelam Tamil voices crying out for acknowledgement of genocide.Eelam Tamils are still subject to mass SA, mass disappearance (one of the highest rates of enforced disappearance on earth), displacement, torture, and even mass sterilisation in the Vanni region of Tamil Eelam. Other countries of Sri Lanka's imperialist family have continued to deny the rights of the thousands of Tamil refugees who have fled, and continue to flee oppression and torture in Eelam.We discuss the historical Eelam Tamil resistance movement against this genocide, what we refer to as "iyakkam". We also discuss the forms resistance takes today, and how recognition of genocide may be important to our hopes of future liberation.You can follow the work of Solidarity for Eelam Tamils on Instagram, and keep an eye out for upcoming events.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land and Boon Wurrung land. These lands were invaded, stolen and remain under occupation. Colonial violence continues as does Indigenous Resistance.The Sunday Paper and podcast remain independent, not for profit and reader and listener supported.Our theme music was made by DOBBY.Matt Chun is our executive producer.The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

*This episode includes mentions of gendered medical abuse*.Last episode, we discussed the history of Sister Kate's children's home and the policy of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, which officially ended in the 70's and 80's, but in reality continues to this day through policing and carceral racism.Over the other side of the world, In Nunarput, or so called Greenland, the Inuit people are experiencing their own stolen generation through the continuing genocidal policies of their coloniser Denmark.The Inuit are Indigenous to several regions in the arctic including Nunarput, northern areas of Turtle Island and Chukotka north of Russia. Nunarput was formally colonised by the kingdom of Denmark and Norway in 1721, it was transferred to Danish rule when the kingdom separated in 1814. Nunarput officially ended its status as a colony of Denmark in 1953, and gained ‘home rule' in 1979 and a referendum in 2009 gave the island ‘self government'. However foreign policy, defense and security are still controlled by Denmark, and the government of Nunarput is still largely made up of Danish settlers.In this episode Mell speaks to Michael Bro, an Inuit and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate who has been outspoken on issues concerning the rights of Inuit people across the arctic as well as his homeland of Nunarput.If you want to know more about Inuit struggles, follow Michael on instagram @michaelsevvv and check out the resources on his linktree.Check out the film ‘Orsugiak - Greenland's White Gold', a documentary by Inuit about the exploitation of Nunarput resources. - Link incoming* gofundme campaign to help bring Inuit kids back to their parents* Petition to bring Keira Kronvold's baby homeThis episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance.The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain independent, not for profit and reader and listener supported.Our theme music was made by DOBBYMatt Chun is our executive producer.The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by me, Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Just a warning that today's episode includes (non-descriptive) mentions of the physical and sexual abuse of children as well as mentions of historically used racist language.This week, we're looking at a campaign for the return of stolen Whadjuk Noongar land, in the colonial city of perth, western australia.One of the most brutal genocidal strategies carried out by colonial governments resulted in the stolen generations. From the mid 1800s, a series of policies throughout the states and territories allowed for Aboriginal children to be removed from their families and put into state care or adopted to white families. Aside from being separated permanently from family and community, these children were frequently forced into hard labour, abused and even murdered. The policy of child removal was not officially ended until the 1970's, and continued into the 1980's in the colonial state of queensland. The forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families continues today through policing and carceral racism.Under a 1905 act in colonial western australia, A.O Neville, the so-called ‘chief protector of aborigines' was made the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children and embarked on a campaign to abduct children with lighter skin and raise them under European servitude, with the aim to breed out Aboriginality.In 1933, during Neville's eugenics program, an anglican nun known as Sister Kate set up a home for ‘light skinned' Aboriginal children in the outskirts of colonial perth. Contact with family was forbidden and the children were encouraged to believe they were white.In 1953 Sister Kate's home was taken over by the Uniting Church and conditions rapidly deteriorated for the children, who suffered horrific psychological, physical and sexual abuse, forced labour and neglect for decades.Following a national inquiry into the stolen generations in 1997, known as the ‘Bringing Them Home' report, the Uniting Church committed to help repair the damage that they had caused to the children and their families. Recommendation 41 of the Bringing Them Home Report states that churches should ‘review their land holdings to identify land acquired or granted for the purpose of accommodating Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families and in consultation with Indigenous people and their land councils, return that land'In 2007 an agreement between the Uniting Church Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress led to the establishment of the Beananging Kwuurt Institute, a social space to provide support for Aboriginal people on the former site of Sister Kate's.In December last year the Uniting Church shut down the centre and are attempting to take the land away from Noongar people again. Barkandji woman Bev Burns believes the church will sell the site to developers in order to pay the redress bill for past abuse.Bev was asked by the Noongar elders to speak for this interview, as some of them have faced threats and wish to remain anonymous.If you want to learn more about the Occupy Sister Kate's campaign: You can follow Land Back for Stolen Generations on Instagram. You can also go to actionnetwork.org/petitions/uniting-church-must-return-land-back-for-stolen-generations to sign the petitionYou can donate at BSB 062 948 and Account number 39179787.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance.The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain independent, not for profit and reader and listener supported.Our theme music was made by DOBBY.Matt Chun is our executive producer.The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

We've been talking in the last few episodes about food, plants, animals and Indigenous struggles for land. Today, an official ceasefire comes into effect in Gaza, a deal that the powerful US imperialist and zionist colonial invaders have been forced to make with the besieged Indigenous resistance fighters who they were unable to eliminate after almost 15 months of genocidal bombardment.As Palestinian writer and organiser Tara Alami wrote in October 2023: ‘true decolonisation includes lifting the siege, halting military aid and the weapons trade, ending the occupation of Palestinian land — and liberation from Zionist settler colonialism and imperialism in Palestine and the region at large'. ‘A ceasefire' she writes ‘is the first demand in a long, unwavering struggle for liberation'.The struggle for land back and return continues, as it does for indigenous people all over the world.On this continent, one such struggle is that of the Larrakia people in Lee Point, Northern Territory.Today you'll hear from Laniyuk, one of a small group of Larrakia women who are running the campaign to return Lee Point to the Larrakia people.Laniyuk is a Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French political creative whose art practice is grounded in cultural, language and land reclamation. She writes and performs poetry, speculative fiction, short memoir and is a visual artist. She gives lectures, moderates panels and runs workshops. We featured her poem titled ‘Only Words' on Episode Five of Season Two. The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain independent and reader and listener supported.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance.Our theme music was made by DOBBY.Matt Chun is our executive producer.The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun.Naarm action for Lee Point 20th January at Defense Housing Australia,120 Bay Street Port Melbourne from 4.30 to 5.30pm.Return Lee Point to Larrakia People Campaign Website: returnleepoint.comLaniyuk's Instagram: @laniyuk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week, we're bringing you a conversation with Oglala Lakota artist, activist, and ethnobotanist Stephen Swift Bird.Stephen is from the Pine Ridge Reservation and Wakiyan Luzahan Tiyospaye.Their work involves the restoration of traditional Lakota plant knowledge and home lands, as well as educating people about the importance of Native Species and co…

Last week Rahaf Al Khatib talked about the Zionist appropriation and theft of Palestinian food culture, and how she is working to educate people through her cooking.This is the second part of her interview, where she talks about her upcoming community space, Beit Siti. In 2022 Rahaf started documenting her grandmother's recipes and sharing tips and tricks such as how to roll Eid biscuits on Instagram. She called this initiative Beit Siti, and the idea soon evolved into a community concept and catering service.In the meantime Rahaf started Falastini Food Truck and created the menu based on recipes she remembered from her childhood.Now Rahaf has started renovating a full sized kitchen and shop space for Beit Siti, which is due to open next year. In this second part of my conversation with her, she explains her vision of Beit Siti as a place to nourish community with food, culture and learning.Check out Beit Siti on Instagram and keep an eye out for their opening date and upcoming community events.Thank you for listening and thank you as always for your support.The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain independent, not for profit, and reader and listener supported.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance.Our theme music was made by DOBBY.This episode also features the track ‘companions of Abu Ali' by The Popular Front.Matt Chun is our executive producer.The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com“Food is political. It'll always be political. Food has always been used as a weapon to make people weaker, to bring people down, to make people easy to control” - Rahaf Al KhatibSince 1948 the Zionist Regime has weaponised access to food and agriculture as a way to control Palestinians, and as a tool of Genocide.But another way in which Palestinian foo…

Today's episode is a short one. While we prepare some more conversations about resistance struggles and community work, we're playing you a couple of poems that appeared in Issue One of The Sunday Paper. ‘The First Poets' by Sara Saleh‘Only Words' by LaniyukBoth poems are read by laniyuk.Check out more of Sara's work on her website saramsaleh.com and check out more of Laniyuk's work on Instagram.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance. Our theme music was made by DOBBY. Matt Chun is our executive producer. The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Mell talks to Alissar Seyla, a Levantine Arab multidisciplinary artist and writer, and the founder of ‘Rage Cafe'.Rage Cafe is a quasi-monthly community circle exploring art from South West Asia and North Africa. Its goal is to provide connection in times of grief and a safer space celebrating and uplifting the diversity of SWANA artistic works and movements as a way of combating dehumanisation and misinformation about Arabs and their homelands in these dark times.Rage Cafe is holding a fundraiser for Lebanon at Eastmint in Northcote, Naarm on the 23rd of November at 7pm, find the details here. You can donate directly to Beirut Synth Centre and Tunefork Studios relief effort here.Check out Alissar's art and other work on her website and instagram. The Sunday Paper Podcast is made on Wurundjeri Land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance. Our theme music was made by DOBBY. Matt Chun is our Executive Producer.The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week our host and producer Mell tells a personal story about her involvement in the Mahmoud's Hall protest at The University of Melbourne earlier this year, and being charged with academic misconduct by the University four months later. Mell also chats to Angelita Biscotti, another staff member charged with misconduct for their involvement. Angelit…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week Mell talks to Grand Chief Sinewami, King of Gureshaba, about the Kanak people's fight for independence from France. Joining the conversation also is Roscoe Lee Brown from Radio Rata and Cathy from Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm. If you want to learn more about Kanaky, show your support or donate, there is a fundraiser on Saturday the 9th of Nove…

Last season, we focused on playing pieces from Issues One to Three of The Sunday Paper. This season we are going to be furthering the conversation on resistance and anti-imperial struggles around the world. We're starting off close to home this week, with an on-the-ground report from a protest that happened in Canberra last Monday.Before I start this story I should explain for international listeners that Aboriginal Nations on this continent were invaded and occupied in 1788 by the British Empire. The Indigenous people never ceded their sovereignty, so this country is still illegally occupied with the current King Charles as the supposed head of stateKing Charles has been visiting this colony in the past week and in response, The Black People's Union, along with other grass roots Aboriginal groups and individuals, organised protests to ‘unwelcome' the King at each location of his visit. I drove up to Canberra to join the protest there.This episode was made on Ngunnawal, Ngambri and Wurundjeri land. This land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance. Our theme music was made by DOBBY.This episode also features the track ‘Inglan is a Bitch' by Linton Kwesi Johnson.Our executive producer is Matt Chun.The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by me, Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comIntro:Today we're playing you a conversation with Tess Cullity. Tess is the founder of Slingshot Books, a tiny radical publishing house creating playful and politically potent books for kids and their grown-ups.Slingshot Books also publishes The Sunday Paper in a not-for-profit capacity. Tess talks about working on Issue Three as well as the work of rad…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week we're playing you another piece from Issue Three of The Sunday Paper, ‘Murlapaka: A Symbol of Kaurna Resistance', by James Tylor.James is a multidisciplinary artist and writer of Kaurna, Māori and European heritage. He writes about environment, culture and history. In this piece he describes the Kaurna community's work in reviving the cultural…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comAs the Al Aqsa flood operation of October 7th was underway in Palestine, the australian colonial government was in the midst of a publicity campaign promoting a proposal for Indigenous people on this continent. On October 14th, citizens of the australian colony, only 3.8% of whom are Indigenous, were asked to vote yes or no to the following proposed law:

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis past Friday was the third year anniversary of the Gilboa Prison Break, when six Palestinian prisoners escaped from a high security prison in the north of occupied Palestine. Although all six escapees were recaptured within two weeks, their escape became a symbol of Palestinian resilience and ingenuity as well as bringing the world's attention to th…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comWe are continuing to play you pieces that appear in Issue Three of The Sunday Paper. This week we are playing the first article, titled ‘Tarakum'. This piece was written by a Palestinian PhD candidate in political science who, for his safety, has chosen to write under the pseudonym ‘Nabil Mustafa'. This piece, about The events of October 7th and Palesti…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week we are playing you readings of the poetry that appears in Issue Three of The Sunday Paper. We are also going to be talking to the artists who created the prints and embroidery that appear in Issue Three. Sara M Saleh is an award winning writer, human rights lawyer and organiser living on Bidjigal land. She is the daughter of migrants from Pal…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week, we are playing you the second part of a two part interview with Professor Gary Foley. Professor Foley is an activist, academic and writer of Gumbaynggirr descent. He has played a leading role as an Aboriginal political organiser since the early 70s.In the first half of the interview, we heard Professor Foley speak about police violence and co…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comWe are continuing to feature writers that appear in Issue Three of The Sunday Paper. The 9th article in The Paper is by Professor Gary Foley and discusses the importance of archiving and record keeping as a form of resistance. Something we've all become increasingly aware of the past 10 months as the media, government and institutions consistently obfus…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week we're playing Louis Allday's piece: ‘Husayn Muruwwah – The Martyr of Lebanon, Palestine and The Arab Liberation Movement.' Louis Allday is an editor, writer and historian. He has a PhD in History and is the founding editor of Liberated Texts, a project dedicated to reviewing and (re)publishing works that have been neglected, overlooked or sup…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week we're throwing back to two pieces that appeared in Issue One of The Sunday Paper which was released in 2021.Issue One is back in print for a limited time, so if you haven't already, grab your back issue while you can over at The Sunday PaperThe first piece you'll hear this week is ‘Our Shared Resistance', written by Amy McQuire.Amy McQuire is …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comThis week we have Tara Alami reading her piece ‘Spirit of The Guerrilla' from Issue Three of The Sunday Paper.Tara Alami is a Palestinian writer and organiser from occupied Jerusalem and occupied Yafa based in Tiohtia:ke (Montreal).Tara is a widely published writer and researcher, she has written for The New Arab, Mondoweiss and The Maple among others. …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comWe're continuing to play you readings from the articles that appear in Issue Three of The Sunday Paper. This week, we have Jasper Cohen-Hunter reading ‘Internalised Colonialism and the Inevitability of Resistance'. Jasper is a Wurundjeri, Woiwurrung Ngurai-illum man and a member of The Black Peoples Union.The BPU is a revolutionary organisation that aims to empower Indigenous people on this continent through the pursuit of full self-determination and sovereignty.  The piece you're about to hear is a theoretical rationale for Indigenous led anti-colonial resistance, but that's not all it is, I spoke to National President Keiren Stewart-Assheton about what the BPU are doing right now to enact decolonisation and create the groundwork for revolution.The Sunday Paper has been made from conversations across many lands and lineages, including: Yuin, Kaurna, Wani-Wandi, Ngambri, Wangal, Wiradjuri, Wurundjeri Woiwurrung, Bidjigal, and Gamilaroi Nations; Palestine, including Hittin, Tarshiha, Akka, Tirat Haifa, and Deir Ghasseneh; Lebanon, including Beirut and Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp; Syria, including Neirab refugee camp and Yarmouk refugee camp; Egypt; England; Ireland; China; Haudenosaunee Confederacy, specifically Tiohtià:ke.The theme music was made by DOBBY.The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.comFor this first full-length episode of The Sunday Paper Podcast, were bringing you the last piece from issue three of the paper, ‘Every Day Resistance' by Zeina KilaniZeina is a Palestinian refugee born on Turtle Island and living on Turrbal land. She is a mother, lawyer, researcher and writer.This piece was compiled by Tess Cullity, who also runs Slingshot Books, a radical publishing company for kids and their grown ups.Slingshot also publishes The Sunday Paper in a not for profit capacity, to ensure its enduring presence in the media landscapeWe'll be hearing more about Slingshot books in a coming episode, but for now, you'll hear Tess reading the subheadings and footnotes in Zeina's piece.The music is ‘Martyr Ghassan Kanafani', created by The Popular Front and compiled by Basedest Nasheeds.Thanks to Isaac Blank for help with the music.The Sunday Paper has been made from conversations across many lands and lineages, including: Yuin, Kaurna, Wani-Wandi, Ngambri, Wangal, Wiradjuri, Wurundjeri Woiwurrung, Bidjigal, and Gamilaroi Nations; Palestine, including Hittin, Tarshiha, Akka, Tirat Haifa, and Deir Ghasseneh; Lebanon, including Beirut and Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp; Syria, including Neirab refugee camp and Yarmouk refugee camp; Egypt; England; Ireland; China; Haudenosaunee Confederacy, specifically Tiohtià:ke.The Sunday Paper Podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun

This introductory episode features:Zeina Kilani, Jasper Cohen-Hunter, Aphrodite Shomaly, Tara Alami, Hasib Hourani and Youssef IbrahimWith thanks to Shareeka HelaluddinThe music featured includes ‘Liberation of Palestine', by Songs of The Resistance and recordings from Free Palestine rallies on Wurundjeri LandThe Sunday Paper has been made from conversations across many lands and lineages, including: Yuin, Kaurna, Wani-Wandi, Ngambri, Wangal, Wiradjuri, Wurundjeri Wowurrung, Bidjigal, and Gamilaroi Nations; Palestine, including Hittin, Tarshiha, Akka, Tirat Haifa, and Deir Ghasseneh; Lebanon, including Beirut and Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp; Syria, including Neirab refugee camp and Yarmouk refugee camp; Egypt; England; Ireland; China; Haudenosaunee Confederacy, specifically Tiohtià:ke. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe