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Aboriginal elders say the ACT needs its own truth and justice inquiry to shine a light on untold genocides and discrimination in the region. The call came after Victoria announced an Australian-first Indigenous reconciliation royal commission, which would help inform the state’s treaty process. The commission would be based off the panel set up by Nelson Mandela in post-apartheid South Africa, and would include public hearings about injustices faced by Aboriginal people in the state. Ngunnawal elder Caroline Hughes said the ACT should conduct its own similar inquiry. “It is about our experiences of injustices as Ngunnawal people and the wider aboriginal community,” she said. “It’s not just about voices and stories, it’s about truth telling which is crucial to healing and reconciliation. “We know of genocides and massacres that have occurred on country. “It’s not about finger pointing or blame, but it’s about recognising the truth.” Ms Hughes said truth telling was crucial to reaching a treaty agreement, helping decision makers understand the people they were working with. The government has been progressing talks with traditional owners about a treaty, with $317,000 recently put aside to support the process. “What we are calling for as Ngunnawal people is that we are included in those talks and the facilitator is someone we are involved with in the choosing of,” Ms Hughes said. “We want someone who is definitely bipartisan [and] doesn’t have a background of an attachment to any groups.” The commission in Victoria will have the same powers as a royal commission and is expected to begin in July this year. There will be five commissioners appointed and at least three of them must be Indigenous. Asked whether the ACT should conduct its own inquiry, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith said all governments should consider their past to better understand and heal historical and ongoing wounds. “It is important to note that the Victorian treaty process is more advanced than our own discussions here in the ACT,” she said. “The ACT government is committed to supporting a treaty process in the ACT, noting that this must be led by the traditional owners. Treaty is a complex process, and what it means for the traditional owners in the ACT may be different to the approach taken in other jurisdictions.” Ms Hughes said the Namadgi Agreement, signed in 2001, should be torn up. It committed to the establishment of a special Aboriginal lease of the park on the understanding that native title claims would be withdrawn. Ms Stephen-Smith said she understood that Aboriginal signatories to the agreement did not have access to independent legal advice at the time. “We acknowledge that this is problematic and I have sought advice on how we can move forward and what options are available,” she said. “It is important to have these conversations directly with traditional owners and that any decision made is based on the principles of self-determination.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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Aboriginal elders say the ACT needs its own truth and justice inquiry to shine a light on untold genocides and discrimination in the region.
The call came after Victoria announced an Australian-first Indigenous reconciliation royal commission, which would help inform the state’s treaty process.
The commission would be based off the panel set up by Nelson Mandela in post-apartheid South Africa, and would include public hearings about injustices faced by Aboriginal people in the state.
Ngunnawal elder Caroline Hughes said the ACT should conduct its own similar inquiry.
“It is about our experiences of injustices as Ngunnawal people and the wider aboriginal community,” she said. “It’s not just about voices and stories, it’s about truth telling which is crucial to healing and reconciliation.
“We know of genocides and massacres that have occurred on country.
“It’s not about finger pointing or blame, but it’s about recognising the truth.”
Ms Hughes said truth telling was crucial to reaching a treaty agreement, helping decision makers understand the people they were working with.
The government has been progressing talks with traditional owners about a treaty, with $317,000 recently put aside to support the process.
“What we are calling for as Ngunnawal people is that we are included in those talks and the facilitator is someone we are involved with in the choosing of,” Ms Hughes said.
“We want someone who is definitely bipartisan [and] doesn’t have a background of an attachment to any groups.”
The commission in Victoria will have the same powers as a royal commission and is expected to begin in July this year.
There will be five commissioners appointed and at least three of them must be Indigenous.
Asked whether the ACT should conduct its own inquiry, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith said all governments should consider their past to better understand and heal historical and ongoing wounds.
“It is important to note that the Victorian treaty process is more advanced than our own discussions here in the ACT,” she said.
“The ACT government is committed to supporting a treaty process in the ACT, noting that this must be led by the traditional owners. Treaty is a complex process, and what it means for the traditional owners in the ACT may be different to the approach taken in other jurisdictions.”
Ms Hughes said the Namadgi Agreement, signed in 2001, should be torn up. It committed to the establishment of a special Aboriginal lease of the park on the understanding that native title claims would be withdrawn.
Ms Stephen-Smith said she understood that Aboriginal signatories to the agreement did not have access to independent legal advice at the time.
“We acknowledge that this is problematic and I have sought advice on how we can move forward and what options are available,” she said.
“It is important to have these conversations directly with traditional owners and that any decision made is based on the principles of self-determination.”
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
