Treaty community talk an ‘event of peace and respect’

In June, we invited community members to connect with Elders and learn more in-person from some of the people closest to the Treaty process in Victoria. 

Statewide Treaty will be a formal agreement between the Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. It aims to create a fairer future for all Victorians and will focus on important issues like improving health, education and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Uncle Andrew Gardiner is a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owner and elected member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. 

He encouraged attendees to grapple with the truth of how Aboriginal people have been marginalised, ‘pushed out and pushed away’ for generations throughout our history. ‘Victoria and Australia has a dark history but a brighter future’, he said. ‘We have to look at the past and learn from it…and acknowledge past atrocities [that are] absolutely factual.’

The way he puts it, negotiating now for Treaty aspirations with the Victorian Government ‘means looking 3,4 generations into the future and improving capacity for other people.’

‘It’s not about putting anybody else back. We’re travelling down the Treaty pathway together,’ he said. 

Uncle Andrew was joined on stage by Nerita Waight, CEO of Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and elected member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. 

Nerita provided an overview of what Treaty could involve and the responsibilities and governance of the First Peoples’ Assembly whose members are all Traditional Owners of Country chosen by their communities to represent their hopes, needs and ideas on the journey to Treaty in Victoria. 

Nerita highlighted improving justice, education and housing outcomes as imperatives for Aboriginal people in Victoria. ‘We want our Elders to live in dignity’, she said, ‘and create more opportunity for our young people - our future lawyers and doctors and engineers.’ 

Treaty offers ‘opportunities for innovation, grounded in who and what we are,’ she said. ‘It’s not just for ourselves…we want all young people growing up and learning hand-in-hand, not on opposite sides of the aisle.’

The principles of self-determination and equal footing underline the work of the Treaty Authority - the independent body overseeing Victoria’s Treaty negotiations. 

Uncle Andrew Jackomos described Victoria’s Treaty Negotiation Framework as a ‘landmark, historic document.’ 

It’s the guide book, he explained, to ‘ensure negotiations are fair and equal between parties.’

‘The success of Treaty will depend on the support of all Victorians behind the Treaty process,’ he said. ‘Learn and understand. There are no wrong questions.’  

Professor Andrew Gunstone, Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria, spoke to international research that shows ‘when done well, treaties lead to some amazing outcomes’. 

‘Truth-telling is about past, present and future’, he said. ‘We should acknowledge the truth has always been there - it’s also about ‘truth listening’ and ‘truth enacting.’  Non-Aboriginal people need to educate themselves…stand up and call out racism.’

Drawing around 300 community registrations, our free community talk, with a panel discussion and Q&A, was facilitated by the editor of Victorian Aboriginal News, Uncle Charles Pakana. 

Uncle Charles described it is ‘an event of peace and respect.’ Attendees also reflected on the positive atmosphere and commented that it was ‘an excellent opportunity to learn about Treaty progress from very qualified speakers.’ 

Uncles Charles’ final call to everyone attending was simply ‘Share the truth.’