Glenelg Aboriginal Partnership Agreement 2011 - 2020 Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 Cover artwork: Walatha Keetawanta (Embrace Futurity) by Daniel Joseph “This painting depicts the Glenelg Shire area, from the Glenelg River and the ‘Nelson Endeavour’ cruise boat that weaves and winds, into the creator serpent in the sky. This joins into the tail of McNaught’s Comet, which was visible during the painting of this image. Travelling through to the Casterton area with the Warrock Homestead and the Granite Boulders, we join into Kelpie Country and the Avenue of Honour. It is the sentinels of Aboriginal culture, our Diggers, and the lighthouse, which all represent a united front offering protection to our sacred land. It is the arrival of whaling ships in our bay around this period of time, which completes the circle of change. For the future and harmony between people, may this image be a flicker of hope in the void of Eternity.” Daniel Joseph 2007 Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 Table of Contents 1. Draft Preamble ....................................................................................................................... 1 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3 3. Glenelg Shire Map with Traditional Owner Place Names and Clans ............................ 8 4. Statement of Commitment .................................................................................................. 9 5. Profile of the local Aboriginal Communities ................................................................... 11 6. Evaluation, reporting and updating ................................................................................ 13 7. Signatories ............................................................................................................................ 14 Appendix No. 1 – Historical Setting ......................................................................................... 19 Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 1. DRAFT PREAMBLE Glenelg Aboriginal Partnership Agreement 2011- 2020 The Glenelg Shire Council (the Council) and Aboriginal organisations have worked together to develop this [Agreement] in order to promote Recognition, Healing and Reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents. This Agreement supports the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in resetting the relationships between Aboriginal peoples, the broader community and governments and mapping out a path for the Aboriginal peoples of the Glenelg Shire to be free from discrimination and secure in their identities and life choices. This document acknowledges the hurt and suffering endured by local Aboriginal communities since European settlement. The consequences of European arrival has led to the dispossession of Aboriginal peoples in terms of culture, belief systems, history, language, land and its abundant wealth, and a complete ‘way of being’ that served Aboriginal peoples in this area for many thousands of years. In addition, the processes of colonisation marginalised Aboriginal people to the extent that they had become outcast in every sense of that word, with grave consequence to their social, physical and emotional health, their capacity to achieve their education aspirations, earn incomes and be proud and productive members of either society. This Agreement seeks to facilitate and nurture the healing processes necessary to address and alleviate that hurt and to rectify the economic, legal, social and cultural disadvantages placed on Aboriginal peoples over the last 181 years, living in the area now known as a part of the Glenelg Shire. This Agreement recognises that Glenelg Shire encompasses the traditional lands and waters of the Gunditjmara, Bunganditj and Jardwadjali people. It acknowledges that Gunditjmara, Bunganditj and Jardwadjali members of Glenelg Shire’s Aboriginal community have a unique and deeply spiritual relationship with those lands and waters. The Agreement also recognises that there are people from other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities living in the Shire. This document reflects on the rich and diverse contribution that Aboriginal people have made and continue to make toward the identity, wellbeing and prosperity of Glenelg Shire. It seeks to foster mutual respect and harmony between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents, both now and in the future by encouraging an understanding of Aboriginal history and culture among non-Aboriginal residents in parallel to and through the processes of ameliorating the systemic and structural disadvantages of exclusion and by creating opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to regain their cultural meaning, wealth and place in both societies. Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 1 1. DRAFT PREAMBLE (continued) This document advocates collaborative forward planning between Council and the Aboriginal community organisations in order to achieve social and economic development outcomes that will benefit all Glenelg Shire residents. Despite the disadvantages faced over the past 181 years, Aboriginal peoples have continued to strive for a better life for their communities. Many have and continue to achieve, succeed and build better lives, communities and enterprises intended to contribute to the wider community’s knowledge, understanding and pleasure, as well as the economic wellbeing of everyone in the Shire. However, this document acknowledges that because of the very uneven playing field, Aboriginal peoples require additional resources to support them to participate fully in the community and meet and overcome adversity. This Agreement is written in two parts: • The first part sets out the broad principles that underpin the agreement and frame the purpose and context of the Agreement. • The second part lists specific agreed tasks, to be completed within the agreed time frame and allocates responsibility for the completion and reporting on the work, as well as requiring an independent evaluation of what is being done to ensure that the aims of the Agreement are being best met. This Agreement builds on past agreements and is intended as a living document that, while having specific actions and outcomes, allows for ongoing mutually agreed changes. The situation that this Agreement is aiming to alter has taken over 180 years to evolve and will require many years and progressively more challenging agreements to rectify. It is acknowledged that all signatories to this Agreement are willing to accept this challenge. Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 2 2. INTRODUCTION There are a number of Government Policies and Plans that underpin the development of this Agreement. They include; Commonwealth Government - Closing the Gap In 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) set specific and ambitious targets for Closing the Gap: • To close the life-expectancy gap within a generation • To halve the gap in mortality rates for Aboriginal children under five within a decade • To ensure access to early childhood education for all Aboriginal four years olds in remote communities within five years • To halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for children within a decade • To halve the gap for Aboriginal students in Year 12 (or equivalent) attainment rates by 2020 (amended to 2015 in April 2009) • To halve the gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Australians within a decade. Victorian Government - Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework The Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework (VIAF) 2010 - 2013 outlines a clear plan to guide government action to address the gaps between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal Victorians. Delivering better outcomes for Aboriginal people experiencing, or at risk of disadvantage, is the focus of their efforts. They will do this by continuing to develop partnerships with communities, delivering effective services and advocating for Aboriginal Victorians. Glenelg Shire Council Council is committed to involving the shire’s diverse community in decision making to improve processes, services, and infrastructure that will positively impact their lives and wellbeing. In particular, Council is committed to working with the Aboriginal people, youth, older adults and people with a disability in the community to address current and future needs (Council Plan: Embracing the Future 2009-2013). Adopted by Council on 24 May 2011 3 2. INTRODUCTION (continued) Glenelg Shire Council (continued) Furthermore, Council has agreed to develop and implement with the Aboriginal community a document outlining how to acknowledge and respect the Aboriginal heritage of the shire and work together to achieve the goals of Council and the Aboriginal community. Previous Agreements This Agreement is the third document developed between Council and the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to facilitate recognition and healing. The first Memorandum of Understanding was finalised and signed in January 2002. The key achievements from that agreement include: • Flying the Aboriginal flag whenever the Council flag is flown • Handing back of the mission bell to the Aboriginal community • Council meeting at Lake Condah on 29 June 2004 • Cultural tours for councillors and staff in November 2003 • Successful negotiation of Heywood property maintenance contract with Winda-Mara • Participation of an Aboriginal leader in Australia Day event • Community Dreaming, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Somebody’s