On Sunday the 18th of October, VAN’s Charles Pakana (founder and editor) and Professor Andrew Gunstone (Reconciliation Lead) met up with around 20 members of the Baynton Sidonia Landcare First Nations Learning Group in Baynton, a bit over an hour north of Naarm (Melbourne).

Presenting on the future of reconciliation and the current state of the Victorian Treaty process, this presentation marked the first presentation given by the pair under the VAN Speaks banner (see here for more information on VAN Speaks).

Both presenters were incredibly impressed with the group’s commitment to partnering with and learning from Traditional Owners, particularly the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung).

In commenting on that, Professor Gunstone said: “The commitment of the group’s members is something that I’d like to see replicated throughout the Victorian reconciliation movement.

“The knowledge group members brought to the conversation was incredibly well-informed.”