Olympian and advocate in NAIDOC conversation

AS part of Victorian NAIDOC Week, Cafs hosted Nova Peris OAM via webinar; the first Aboriginal Olympic gold medallist and first female Aboriginal federal parliamentarian.

Calling from Darwin, Peris descends from the Gija people, and had been up on country prior to the online Always Was. Always Will Be. conversation.

Cafs CEO, Wendy Sturgess said it was powerful, feeling as if Peris was in the room while she spoke, and staff asked questions.

“It was a very heartfelt, beautiful conversation. She’s got a deep connection to the land, she’s charismatic and very direct in what she says,” Ms Sturgess said.

Peris has served roles as an ambassador for the WHO, and international Indigenous human rights, is a patron of Beyond Blue, and has an interest in youth suicide prevention.

Topics covered included Black Lives Matter, Peris’ experiences, unconscious bias, and supportive actions allies can undertake. The importance of reconciliation plans, and COVID-19 implications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around health, wellbeing, food and sustainability were explored.

The Stolen Generation and Cafs complicity, having run an orphanage and children’s home, was also a key discussion point.

“It’s a long time ago, but we still stand up and hold ourselves accountable for what happened in the past. That’s what people thought was the best thing, but we clearly know that’s not true,” Ms Sturgess said.

Cafs signed up to the National Redress Scheme, settles claims, “says sorry” for removing Aboriginal children, and wants to make amends.

“BADAC are our near neighbours and an important leading organisation in the Central Highlands, so we’re finding ways to connect so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can come, look at their records and see, in a search for identity, what we can provide,” she said.

Watch the chat at cafs.org.au/News/naidoc-week-2020-at-cafs-featuring-nova-peris.