THE long-awaited treaty in Victoria is an opportunity for the state\u2019s Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to redefine how they see each other, according to Wadawurrung traditional owner Corrina Eccles.<\/p>\n
Ms Eccles was the keynote speaker at a free community forum hosted by the Surf Coast Shire at the council chambers last week as part of NAIDOC Week.<\/p>\n
The theme of this year\u2019s NAIDOC Week is \u201cVoice. Treaty. Truth\u201d, and Ms Eccles\u2019 informative presentation, titled \u201cTalking Treaty\u201d, outlined the reasons why a treaty was needed, how it would be created, and what it might contain.<\/p>\n
Victoria is the first Australian state to enter formal treaty negotiations with Aboriginal people, who have never ceded sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Ms Eccles spoke about the journey of Wadawurrung people in what is now known as the Geelong region both before and after white settlement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWadawurrung language, knowledge and footprints have been embedded in this land for thousands of years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I read over all our special records and I listen to stories, I describe (colonisation) as an earthquake \u2013 we didn\u2019t see it coming, we didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe earthquake didn\u2019t stop; it wasn\u2019t something that only lasted a couple of days. It was invasion.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said treaty was not about blame, but about stating the facts and attempting to right the wrongs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an opportunity to recast the relationship between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Victorians.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not about saying that your land is our land, give it back \u2013 that is wrong. It\u2019s about acknowledging we were here, we were living here on this land; it wasn\u2019t terra nullius.\u201d<\/p>\n
The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria is being formed to work with the state government to develop a treaty negotiation framework (effectively, the ground rules), a treaty authority (an independent umpire) and a self-determination fund. Aboriginal Victorians are being encouraged to enrol to vote for candidates.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us as a Traditional Owner group, we have to do our own process for who will be the right person to represent Wadawurrung as a seat in that assembly,\u201d Ms Eccles said.<\/p>\n
Geelong MP Christine Couzens said \u201cthere will be a voice to Parliament\u201d at the end of the treaty process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to acknowledge the past, the truth telling, and hear the voices.<\/p>\n
\u201cTreaty is history in the making; we are actually making history right now as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE long-awaited treaty in Victoria is an opportunity for the state\u2019s Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to redefine how they see each other, according to Wadawurrung traditional owner Corrina Eccles. Ms Eccles was the keynote speaker at a free community forum hosted by the Surf Coast Shire at the council chambers last week as part of […]<\/p>\n