Voice of the first peoples
JORDAN Edwards has his eye on the future — for himself, his son and his people.
Aged just 21, Mr Edwards is an emerging leader among Geelong’s Aboriginal community, and craves more responsibility.
He’s among more than 70 indigenous Victorians keen to shape an Australia-first treaty by nominating for election to the state’s First Peoples’ Assembly.
The five-week voting period opened yesterday, with all Victorian Aboriginals and traditional owners living outside the state invited to help choose the assembly members.
In the state’s southwest region there are 12 candidates, including Geelong-based Trevor ‘Reg’ Abrahams, Julie Jose, Michael ‘Mookeye’ Bell, Kaley Nicholson, Jesse Williams and Mr Edwards.
The election of the First Peoples’ Assembly is a key moment in the move to draft groundbreaking Victorian treaties.
Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher said the assembly’s job would be to establish the framework for treaty negotiations, not to negotiate the agreements themselves.
“This is a monumental occasion, electing a group of Victorian Aboriginal leaders that will be the voice of Aboriginal people in Victoria to prepare for treaty negotiations,” she said.
Ms Gallagher said it was important “everyone can have their say” in the treaty process, welcoming the diversity of candidates for the assembly.
With heritage from the Waddawurrung (Geelong), Keerraywurrung (Warrnambool) and Arrernte (Alice Springs) people, Mr Edwards was Victoria’s Mr NAIDOC youth ambassador in 2016.
Now he is heavily invested in the treaty process.
“I don’t think anyone knows yet what a treaty would mean or look like,” he said.
“But there are good examples, like New Zealand or Canada, that we can look at to give us a foreseeable future.
“History shows us treaties can take about 100 years to kick in, so this is about shaping a future for my son, and more likely his kids. If we do the work now our communities will benefit in the future and we can all grow together.”
In his job at Melbourne Museum, Mr Edwards shares his knowledge of the rich history and culture of the first people to walk the continent now known as Australia.
Mr Abrahams, 56, has devoted his life to advancing indigenous causes, and is a long-time staffer at the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in Geelong.
A Gunditjamara man, he said his close ties to indigenous groups throughout western Victoria made him an ideal applicant for the assembly.
“I will fight for my people,” he said. “Some Aboriginal people are really angry about the past, and they don’t know how to express that. But you have to contain that anger and try to move forward in a positive way. That’s what I’m hoping this will be about.
“Treaty to me is about rectifying the past injustices for my ancestors and all other Aboriginal peoples living in Victoria. I want to be part of the conversation.”
The vote to choose members of the First Peoples’ Assembly closes October 20. Information is available at www.firstpeoplesvic.org