The Assembly will play a powerful role in supporting indigenous communities through the Treaty process. The vote will determine which Victorian Traditional Owners are elected to 21 of 32 Assembly seats.
The other 11 seats are guaranteed for formally recognised Traditional Owner groups. (Additional seats will be created if more groups are recognised.)
Indigenous Polling Booths Open
Sadly for the local Bpangarang People, they are not officially recognised.
However Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher said there were a number of Bpangarang people running in the election.
“The Victorian Aboriginal communities have access to three pieces of legislation,” Ms Gallagher said.
“One is the native title act. Groups can go through a process of being recognised under that act, but in Victoria sometimes that can be very hard to do.
Voting Open for Australia's First Treaty
“... So different groups have gone through the various processes to be recognised as traditional owners.
“In Victoria we currently have 11 groups who have gone through the process , but at this stage Bpangarang is not one.
“We know they're trying, but in Victoria we still have about 30 per cent of peoples that are currently going through the process to gain official recognition.
“But this is a Statewide election and Bpangarang people are eligable to be nominated and to run - and I know a number of them are doing so.”'
Vic Treaty Vote 250 Years In The Making
The Assembly will help create the framework for negotiations, which will set how Treaties can be agreed in Victoria.
“Our Ancestors have been demanding Treaties for hundreds of years,” Ms Gallagher said.
“Today, we take a big step towards making it happen. You cannot underestimate how significant this moment is.
Aboriginal Treaty Edges Closer In Victoria
“Australia is one of the only Commonwealth nations without a Treaty with its First Peoples. That is so wrong. And we are slowly but surely setting it right.”
This Saturday in Shepparton there is a community fun day celebrating the formation of the First Peoples' Assembly.
With Shepparton the closest voting location to Benalla organisers, on top of arranging some fun activities, will also be arraning voting booths and registration desks at the event.
To vote, eligible indigenous community members must enrol.
That can be face to face or online at www.firstpeoplesvic.org
Once enrolled, people can vote face to face, via post, or online.
For more information, or support, people can call 1800 TREATY (1800 87 32 89).
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