Victoria may introduce a new holiday to celebrate indigenous culture, as part of ongoing negotiations for a state treaty.
The holiday would commemorate the date a treaty is signed and celebrate Victoria’s diverse indigenous cultures and languages.
Multi-clan traditional owner and Victorian Assembly of First Peoples co-chair Ngarra Murray told the ABC the proposal was about inclusivity.
“A day that is all about inclusion, to be able to celebrate together as a community,” Ms Murray said.
“Because the treaty is not just about the people, but about all the people who live here in our country.”
Negotiations on Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people are scheduled to begin between the Victorian government and the First Peoples’ Assembly in November.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said her government is determined to work towards a treaty.
In addition to a State-level Treaty, there will be separate Traditional Owner Treaties in regions of Victoria to ensure “local knowledge can inform community-level decision-making”.
Although the Assembly said a negotiating report had not been finalized nor the powers of Aboriginal groups revealed, it made clear it expects to have substantial decision-making roles.
Members of the First Victorian People’s Assembly, Rueben Berg (right) and Aunt Esme Bamblett
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says her government is fully committed to Treaty implementation
“We want a process and timeline to provide the Assembly with real decision-making powers on First Peoples’ matters,” the First Peoples’ Assembly report said.
In addition, the Assembly will require an advisory role to the government on policies beyond those that primarily pertain to Aboriginal people.
“Where decisions are not primarily about the mob, but still impact us, we want the Assembly to be able to ensure Victorian government ministers and the public service receive advice directly from First Peoples,” the report says.
The Assembly will also seek “the power to hold the Victorian government to account for its promises and the ability to scrutinize policies, practices and services to ensure they live up to and meet the mob’s expectations”.
The First People’s Assembly in Victoria is made up of 33 elected representatives from across the state.
The Indigenous Voice proposal to Parliament, which was a step towards a nationwide treaty modeled on the Uluru Declaration from the Heart, was soundly defeated in last year’s referendum.
Despite being backed by the federal government, the Yes vote failed to achieve victory in any state, including Victoria, and was rejected by 62 per cent of voters nationally.