Update from Chamber: First Peoples’ Assembly ready to move on Treaty umpire
Members of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria met on Yorta Yorta Country last week for their February Chamber meeting and agreed on a path towards the creation of an independent Treaty Authority that will oversee and facilitate the future treaty-making to take place between Traditional Owners and the State Government.
Aunty Faye Lynam welcomed members to Country before the meeting and Michael Bourke oversaw a smoking ceremony. Members also heard from Ebony Joachim discussing her experience in sharing culture, language and history through various educational initiatives.
Deadly welcome to Yorta Yorta Country this morning before Assembly Members met for today’s Chamber session. Big thanks to Aunty Faye Lynam, Michael Bourke & Ebony Joachim. 🖤💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/OZLBRjKFDF
— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) February 25, 2022
Meeting Agenda
The meeting’s agenda covered a range of topics – from how to increase community participation in the development of the Treaty negotiation framework and how best to reconfigure the Assembly’s engagement work now that covid restrictions have lifted. But the key vote of the day was on the proposed approach for establishing a Treaty Authority.
Treaty Authority
Assembly Co-Chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, who chaired the meeting, said it was vital that the new institutions created as part of the journey to Treaty embody and uphold Aboriginal Lore, Law and culture.
“The Government has said it is committed to listening to First Peoples and is willing to think outside the confines of the usual bureaucracy to ensure the approach taken is in keeping with First Nations culture. So, the establishment of a Treaty Authority will be the first big test of that. We’ve heard the nice words, now we find out if they will be matched in practice,” said Aunty Geri.
The Assembly members agreed a rigorous and transparent process was needed for how the Authority’s members are selected and that the Authority should be established ‘by agreement’ between two equal parties rather than the standard approach for creating statutory bodies that report to a Government Minister. The Assembly will also seek adequate funding for the Authority to ensure it can act independently and free from any destabilising effects of funding cycles.
The Assembly remains hopeful that details of the model can be agreed with the Government by June.
“We need to make sure governments don’t try to impose the colonial way of doing things onto the Treaty process. This should be them coming to us & being willing to sit down with respect for our lore” explains our co-chair @marcusbstewart https://t.co/WcxDbwGRJC
— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) February 24, 2022
Update from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
The Victorian Government’s Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gabrielle Williams, attended the meeting for one session to provide an update and take questions. She reiterated that the Government agrees “nothing is off the table” for Treaty negotiations and that the Government needs to prepare to hand a level of power and control back to Community. The Minister also discussed the need for the Self-Determination Fund to create a level playing field and work needed to bring the broader community on the journey.
Cultural Governance
In the two days before the meeting, the Members participated in a cultural governance workshop. This included a walk through Yorta Yorta County with Uncle Lance James and Aunty Cheryl Bourke to visit “the Flats” where an Aboriginal community lived following the Cummeragunja Walk Off in 1939 before steadily becoming established across Mooroopna, Shepparton and surrounding areas.
Ahead of the Chamber Meeting tomorrow in Shepparton, our Assembly Members took some time out for a walk through beautiful Yorta Yorta Country. Thanks for the tour and yarn Uncle Lance James! #Treaty pic.twitter.com/uZAwvC3s74
— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) February 24, 2022
Treaty Day Out
The following day, the Members joined approximately 3,000 community members at the Rumbalara Football Netball Club for the Assembly’s inaugural “Treat Day Out” to a massive line up of stellar First Nations performers.
Great #TreatyDayPics keep rolling in… pic.twitter.com/gDIRtXi0bQ
— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) February 27, 2022
Coming up
The next Chamber meeting will be held on Friday 25 March.
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