My name is Alice Pepper and I am a proud Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Gunditjmara & Arrernte Woman. I have lived and worked in Gippsland all my life in my community advocating for a better future and for the rights of our people in these systems that don’t really work for us.
3 years ago I stood for the Assembly to be part of the Treaty process and made a commitment to help develop the Framework for Treaty Negotiations in Victoria. The opportunity to be a part of the journey for positive change is here and I aim to use this opportunity to help protect our culture and our land and waters and empower our people.
In my first speech as a First Peoples’ Assembly elected member in Chamber I said ‘It is important for us to be able to address the issues we face through this journey to Treaty so that our future generations can stand strong on Country, living their culture, living healthy and longer, and aspiring to be who they want to be’
For me that hasn’t changed, this will be the real measure of our success on this next part of the journey towards Treaty. Having our people at the table making the decisions for our future, that is real self-determination.
Member Updates
September 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Swan Hill
Region: South East
Reserved Seat: No
SE planning meetings:
South East members meet regularly on a monthly basis with different treaty staff from different areas to action work that needs to be done around Planning Treaty Regional Gatherings, Communication Strategies and resources, Treaty Yarning Circles, collating Key points & feedback from community & Engagement Strategies.
SE Regional Treaty Gatherings:
were run last June 19th Bairnsdale, June 20th Morwell, June 21st Warragull and the second round of gatherings are due around 10th October before the November Chamber looking at a venue in Sale TBC.
Treaty Yarning Circles:
Facilitated Treaty Yarning Circles with GEGAC Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Staff – Bairnsdale, Ramahyuck Board – Sale & Community. Future Yarning Cirlces that I will be attending will be held in September at Ramahyuck – Morwell, Latrobe Cummunity Link – Morwell & Wonthaggi Community Forum will be a combined Metro Sth East effort.
Youth Voice working Groups:
The Youth Conveners have been having weekly planning meetings with our team to action work that needs to be done around Collation of youth specific information needed to feed into negotiation brief, Planning of youth Forums to be held across the state, Engagement in Statewide Youth events, Youth specific communication strategies, networking and building relationships with key organisations and groups within the youth Space, building youth data base through registrations & Youth Surveys.
Youth Voice Forums:
Bairnsdale youth voice forum May 30th 50+ Youth attended and engaged in cultural activities Treaty Yarns and Activities based around Treaty Negotiations and debates on subject of Indigenous Language being taught in Schools. Currently planning next two regional Forums through youth Voice Working group in the NW area and Metro areas to be delivered in October & November.
Treaty Day Out 2025 Planning Meetings:
Community Engagement: planning meetings with Engagement Manager and SE Members for Treaty Day out 2025 planned for the Gippsland Region March 2025.
Other Meetings & Events June – Sept:
FPAV Chamber meeting Portland 26th – 28th June, Swan Hill 4th – 6th September
FPAV Council Meetings: 7
Workstreams: Inherent Rights 2 , Future Assembly 4
Committee Meetings: Self Determination Fund 0, Yurpa 4, Treaty 4, Youth Voice Working Group Meetings 2
Youth Voice Structure Meetings: 4
SE Planning Meetings: 3
Treaty Authority Launch event: 17th July
Meet & Greet Karen Diver Senior Advisor to the president for Native American Affairs University of Minnesota Duluth: 8th August
Open Yarn with Maori Leaders from Aotearoa Kelvin Davis & Te Rau Kupenga building relationships in support for our Treaty: 9th August
Statewide ACCO Sector Treaty Forum, realizing our collective Power discussions: 26th August
Treaty & Truth Parliamentary Lunch, key speakers Premier Jacinta Allen, FPAV, Yoorook Justice Commission, Treaty Authority: 27th August
June 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Portland
Member update not submitted.
March 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Lakes Entrance
Member update not submitted.
