MILDURA and Swan Hill are set to outline Victoria’s pathway to a treaty with Aboriginal people when an assembly of elders visits the region on August 17 and 18.
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria this year established its interim Elders’ Voice to State Parliament, which will inform the development of a Victorian treaty with Aboriginal people.
The tour aims to restore a cultural process that has “survived for thousands of years and will ensure Victorian elders can provide knowledge, history, wisdom and resilience to the assembly on its historic path to treaty and truth”.
The interim Elders’ Voice will hold community consultations with elders in Mildura on August 18 and Swan Hill on August 17.
Gunditjmara Elder Aunty Charmaine Clarke said elders would bring vital knowledge to the treaty negotiation process.
“The strength of Aboriginal elders, and their long fight for justice, has brought us to this point in our state’s history.
“We will listen to the collective wisdom and knowledge they share to inform our journey,” she said.
“We encourage elders across Victoria to attend these community consultation events to have their say on the form the permanent Elders’ Voice will take.”
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder Uncle Andrew Gardiner said the consultation process would be underpinned by four cultural pillars – respect, connectedness, knowledge base and lore of the land.
“Our permanent Elders’ Voice is something our community has been calling for since the beginning of the treaty process,” Uncle Andrew said.
“It has always been a priority of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
“I am proud to stand alongside Aunty Charmaine and help drive this important discussion.”
The interim Elders’ Voice will travel around the state over the next three months and will develop the permanent Elders’ Voice through community consultation.
