Community event to shine light on reconcilation, treaty and local action

A COMMUNITY event will bring together leading voices in reconciliation and treaty to discuss how communities can take meaningful action.

Reconcilation Queenscliffe will host the Where to From Here community conversation in Point Lonsdale on November 23.

The event will feature special insights from founder of Victorian Aboriginal News Uncle Charles Pakana and executive director of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice professor Andrew Gunstone.

Uncle Charles and Professor Gunstone have been travelling Victoria engaging with communities about reconciliation, treaty and truth-telling.

The pair said this discussion comes at a crucial time for Victoria’s reconciliation journey.

“In Victoria we have entered a new era of reconciliation, which builds on the efforts and challenges of 2023.

“It is an era of modern treaty. An era during which right wing forces will marshall all their might to further promote misinformation, outright lies and a society in which mistrust runs rampant.

“It is only through solidarity and strength that true Reconciliation can be achieved.”

Professor Gunstone said that since the 2023 Voice Referendum, there had been a significant increase in racism to Indigenous people.

“There has been pushback to many of the gains won by the reconciliation movement over the past thirty years.

“It is critical that non-Indigenous peoples engage in substantive not performative reconciliation and support Voice, Treaty, and Truth.”

The session will be moderated by Borough of Queenscliffe councillor Isabelle Tolhurst.

Reconciliation Queenscliffe co-chair Fay Agterhuis said the event aimed to inspire genuine, local action.

“This conversation is about moving from awareness to meaningful action, and understanding what reconciliation means here, in our own communities, and how each of us can play a part in creating lasting change.

The afternoon event will also include a Welcome to Country, a performance by local First Nations artist Madeliene Cope and a panel discussion. Attendance is free, however bookings are advised.

For more information, head to events.humanitix.com/rec-queenscliffe-treaty-talk