Ngata, I acknowledge the Elders, Traditional Owners and First Nations People living/connected in the South West Region of Victoria.
I’m Michael “Mookeye” Bell, a Gunditjmara/Boandik Man of the Far South West of Victoria. I’ll be turning sixty this year and I’m married to Sandra Bell, a Yorta Yorta Woman, and we have two adult sons Billy & Micko. Billy’s partner is Lisa O’Brien with his son Archie, and Lisa’s two older boys Tyler and Bailey are all a part of our family.
I believe in creating a treaty within the state of Victoria. I see this term of Cultural Governance as being significant in enhancing our pathways to strengthen our voices on matters that define us and impact on us.
A strength of mine is working in partnership with others from our communities, as it is important in negotiating a state-wide treaty for all First Peoples who live in our state of Victoria.
For me a State-Wide Treaty needs to acknowledge the rights that have been created by our T/O groups, ACCHO’s and Peak Agencies whilst enhancing the wellbeing of all the First Nation Peoples of Victoria and our environment.
Wurruk
Member Updates
March 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Lakes Entrance
My name is Michael “Mookeye” Bell, I’m from the Gunditjmara Nation in South West (SW) Victoria and I live in Heywood. I have been elected for the South West Region that takes in Geelong, Ballarat, Hamilton, Heywood, Portland, Warrnambool and the South Coast in Victoria.
As a SW Representative I attended a Treaty Youth Session in Heywood with the FPAV Youth Co-convener. It was good to see young people at the session, with many being too young to vote but they wanted to understand Treaty.
We attended the Wayne “Swisher” Bell Memorial Cricket Match in Halls Gap on 11th Feb 2024. This event is in its 10th Year and last year FPAV attended to promote enrolments and Treaty Status, with the same focus for this match with over 100 Community Mob attending the event.
I’ve liaised and had meetings with the CEOs of the Western District ACCO Collective (WDAC) in regards to the Treaty Status. The WDAC brings together the following ACCOs: Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative, Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative, Kirrae Health Service Inc, Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-operative and Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative.
To support the business of the FPAV in Treaty Negotiation, the FPAV has created committees and working groups for Treaty Negotiation.
- I’m a co-convener for the Treaty Committee, as elected by the members of the FPAV and we have had 20 activities for the Treaty Committee since late November 2024. I co-convene with Narita Waight from the Metro Region and Elected FPAV Council Member
- Since the start of the Second Term of the FPAV we have seen the establishment of the Self Determination Fund (SDF) and the Treaty Authority which are very important for Treaty in Victoria.
- The purpose of the Treaty Committee is to support the FPAV Chamber to make decisions in relation to Treaty & Self Determination Fund. All FPAV Chamber Members are invited to be a part of the Treaty Committee.
- The Treaty Committee received updates from Self-Determination Fund (SDF), at this point in time the SDF has called for engagement from Traditional Owner Groups to build capacity of their members for future Treaty Negotiations.
- I’m a member of the Yurpa Committee that works on the FPAV Cultural Governance, I’ve attended two Yurpa Committee Meetings since November.
- Yurpa Committee is leading the Treaty State-Wide Gathering to be held in Geelong.
- I’m also a member of the FPAV Audit – Risk Committee that has had two meetings since November 2024. Uncle Peter Hood is the Chairperson of the committee
- FPAV has established a Yoorook Committee to lead the FPAV response to the Yoorook Recommendation and submit submissions. I’m a member of the FPAV Yoorook Committee.
- With the holiday’s now over and organisations and families are back online, I plan to connect with people and organisations over the next period. We have a Colac Gathering on 18 March 2024 from 5pm along with other Gatherings in the South West.
Wurruk
