At the recent Reconciliation Victoria 2019 Statewide Reconciliation Forum held at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, members and visitors experienced the unique opportunity to hear various perspectives delivered by three strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates.

At the recent Reconciliation Victoria 2019 Statewide Reconciliation Forum held at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, members and visitors experienced the unique opportunity to hear various perspectives delivered by three strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates.

With the theme “Connecting the Dots: Victoria’s Changing Reconciliation Landscape”, the scene was set for powerful and meaningful discussion.

On the forum’s panel were: Lidia Thorpe, first Aboriginal woman in the Victorian Parliament; Thomas Mayor, advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and author of Finding the Heart of the Nation; and Belinda Duarte, Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria.

While individual panel members held and gave voice to differing opinions on current matters ranging from the Victorian treaty process to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, all three agreed that the path forward required support from non-Aboriginal Australia.

In speaking directly to Reconciliation Victoria members, Ms. Duarte said: “So the question to reconciliation and your role in that – fundamentally, our business is our business. And we will sort through that business. If it makes you uncomfortable, then stand in our shoes. 

“Stop asking us to justify how we do treaty, treaties, constitutional reform, a voice to parliament – if you can add or offer any skills that allow us to thrive, that allow us to hold our power and drive it [then] come and talk to us.

“Because this is looking at how we can ensure that we are with trusted allies to work through to support our work.”

Mr. Mayor said: “We’re always talking about having a greater voice; And we always end up saying we need your support, and I want to thank you [non-Aboriginal people] all for being here today to listen to this conversation. 

“You guys are so important to us. If we’re going to win a referendum and enshrine our voices and make it the rule that we are heard before decisions are made, then it’s going to be you guys that are going to be able to do that, not us alone.”

In the face of differing views on certain matters discussed during the event, the question was asked as to what such a range of views would mean to reconciliation and therefore how could it be led by Aboriginal people.

Ms Duarte responded: “It’s highly emotive, this stuff. It hurts us to our core. We’re fighting for equity. 

“The psyche that’s been built in the nation is that the problem exists with black people; and I challenge you as your sit in your seats whether you’ve actually thought that of the three of us up here. [But] we need to agitate and challenge.”

In commenting along similar lines, Ms. Thorpe said: “Protesting changes everything.

“The reason why we’re talking about treaty [in Victoria] is because we had the city constantly shut down by the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance.

“William Cooper protested on the 26th of January 1938, and then NAIDOC was born. So people power changes stuff.”

Continuing the conversations

In commenting on the event’s theme and forum, Reconciliation Victoria CEO Diana David said: “Victoria is leading the way and the whole country is watching in terms of advancing and strengthening a pathway to Treaty and self-determination with the Victorian Aboriginal community and soon to be announced the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

“I am proud to be a part of this history in the making, a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us – and this is also a unique opportunity for all Reconciliation Victoria members and supporters to listen, learn and take action. 

“Now is the time for Reconciliation Victoria to be bolder and braver and step up – and that’s what we will continue to do. Reconciliation Victoria plays an important role in facilitating these critical conversations with the wider non-Indigenous community, and our forum was an opportunity to do that. Reconciliation Victoria will continue these conversations moving forward into the new year and beyond.”