The Co-chairs of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria appeared today before the Yoorrook Justice Commission, as part of the state’s formal truth-telling process, to explain how Treaty will empower Aboriginal communities to develop and deliver practical solutions at a local level.
Assembly Co-chair, Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dhudhuroa and Dja Dja Wurrung woman, Ngarra Murray, said that understanding and addressing the wrongs of the past was a crucial step to creating a better future together.
“The dispossession and oppression of our people may have occurred in previous generations, but we are still living with the consequences, we are still overcoming the disadvantage and injustice that invasion caused,” said Ms Murray.
The Co-chairs answered questions from the Yoorrook Justice Commission about the Assembly’s written submission regarding the systemic injustices experienced by First Peoples in relation to the land, sky and waters, and highlighted the unique and profound connection First Peoples have to this country.
“When it comes to Aboriginal people and Country, the experts are of course Aboriginal people. The more this fact is respected and embraced, the more our communities will thrive,” said Ms Murray.
Assembly Co-chair, Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg, said First Peoples have specialised knowledge about caring for Country that has been developed and refined over thousands of generations.
“Treaty can provide Aboriginal communities with the tools to repair, rekindle and expand our ability to care for country. When our communities are thriving again and we’re strong and proud in our cultures and languages, everyone benefits.
We want everyone who calls Victoria home, to be able to share in, celebrate and benefit from the wisdom and knowledge that our cultures and languages have to offer,” said Mr Berg.
The Assembly will start negotiating a statewide Treaty with the Victorian Government later this year and the Co-chairs said the recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice Commission will have a big influence on the agenda.
“We’re still in the process of gathering ideas and feedback from our communities, but the priorities we’ll take into the first round of talks are firming up and are very likely to focus on transferring relevant decisions making powers from Government to First Peoples,” said Mr Berg.
Read Ngarra Murray’s opening statement to the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
The hearing was live-streamed here: https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au
