A Compact to Celebrate All Western Australians. Presented By
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A Compact to Celebrate All Western Australians. Presented by Celebrate WA THE COMPACT CONTENTS Our Story Our Voice: The focus of this Compact is to work together and A Compact to Celebrate All Western Australians agree on how to acknowledge the histories, the Forewords 4 diverse cultures and the contributions made by Celebrate WA invites: Aboriginal people to the state of Western Australia. John Poynton AM, Chairman of Celebrate WA ! It presents a process to be undertaken, to consult Professor Colleen Hayward AM, Aboriginal Board Member of Celebrate WA " • Aboriginal communities across the State with the Aboriginal community across the State • The State Government of Western Australia through a set of recommendations and themes that • The Opposition and other political parties position the way forward to make meaningful a state- Introduction 6 • WA’s nine Regional Development Commissions wide change. • Local Government Authorities Context # • Corporate and philanthropic sectors The Compact aligns with Celebrate WA’s strategic Process $ pillar in ‘Celebrating Cultural Collaboration in Purpose $ to commit to support and work through this WA’ and the goal to foster and promote cultural Compact to acknowledge and celebrate the histories inclusiveness in the Western Australian community. and cultures of all Western Australians. Summary of Findings 8 6 December 2013 Five Key Recommendations % Tangible Outcomes for 2014 &' Next Steps 12 Acknowledgements Design Thinking Process &( The facilitators and project coordination team We would also sincerely like to thank all of those acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people on who participated in the day for their commitment to Invitations to join The Compact 14 whose land this conversation took place; those who a respectful conversation informed by considered have gone before us, those who are here today, and thoughts, personal perspectives and experiences. those who will come in the future. We would also like to thank Community Partner Themes to Emerge 20 We wish to thank the Board and sta) of Lotterywest and the State Government of Celebrate WA for their leadership and vision Western Australia through the Department and continuing support of this conversation. of Premier and Cabinet for providing the funds to make this important event possible. The Report 34 2 3 FOREWORDS John Poynton AM Professor Colleen Hayward AM Chair of Celebrate WA Aboriginal Board Member of Celebrate WA The Aboriginal people of Western Australia have Aboriginal representatives from across the State. As a Board member of Celebrate WA it has that Celebrate WA has committed to increase a long and deep connection with the vast landscape Celebrate WA facilitated and listened to the been particularly pleasing for me to facilitate this Aboriginal representation on its Board as this of our State. When we mark WA Day each year conversation, but was not a direct participant. initiative with the support of our valued Community will enable the organisation to stay focused on it is vital that this relationship is recognised, Our role was to capture the viewpoints, ideas and Partner, Lotterywest. I believe it is the first time that ensuring the inclusion of Aboriginal communities acknowledged and celebrated. goals of the Aboriginal representatives who attended. Aboriginal representatives have held a detailed and individuals across our vast State. discussion about what role to play in WA Day – In 2012, when State Parliament established an annual The process of bringing together existing and our State’s major celebration. I would like to personally thank Barry McGuire and WA Day holiday, one of the bipartisan goals was to aspiring Aboriginal leaders was unique. The Board Dr Richard Walley OAM for their combined create a point in time when a wider range of voices of Celebrate WA is deeply appreciative of the The bipartisan goal behind renaming WA Day was to Welcome to Country on the Premier’s arrival; and cultures could be heard in the celebration of our Lotterywest funding that ensured the meeting could ensure greater inclusion of the Aboriginal community facilitators Dr Jackie Huggins AM and Anne history and future aspirations. take place. I personally appreciate the e)ort and in celebrating the achievements of our community Dunne AM for planning and guiding the day’s commitment of all the Aboriginal representatives and our aspirations for the future. In holding this discussions; and the Celebrate WA project team in WA Day was particularly seen as providing a high who took the time to participate on behalf of their discussion and creating this Compact, we are their dedication to the consultation process and the profile public opportunity for greater expression of far-flung communities. providing real evidence in the lead up to 2014 WA development of the Compact and Scoping Study. our Aboriginal heritage and the ongoing contribution Day that the first steps have been taken on the road of Aboriginal people to our community. For Celebrate WA, this document is a road map, to greater inclusion. Finally, my thanks to all the delegates for their with signposts that direct us along the best routes to insights on the day, I believe this report shows As the custodian of WA Day, Celebrate WA has ensuring greater Aboriginal “ownership” of all future The result of this initiative will be a greater emphasis that their contribution has been heard and their been given the unique role of making sure that all the celebrations of Western Australia. on Western Australia’s Aboriginal history and time has been valued. cultures that comprise and contribute to our State are traditions in future WA Day activities. I am pleased engaged and included in our public holiday. Celebrate WA’s intention in 2014 and beyond is to act on the themes that emerge in this document. In 2013, in the lead up to our second WA Day, the Our Board intends to help turn talk into action Board of Celebrate WA decided it was important by ensuring greater Aboriginal representation, to have a direct conversation with the Aboriginal engagement and input into WA Day events. communities of Western Australia about how they would like their past, present and future stories to be In 2014 we will be aiming to increase the recognition of included in the event. Aboriginal contributions to Western Australia through specific event activities; in the way we tell the stories This discussion paper records their initial response. of Western Australia in the media and online; and in a It is the result of an intimate conversation between greater visible Aboriginal presence in our celebrations. 4 5 INTRODUCTION Context Process Celebrate WA is positioned as the State’s premier In April 2012 the Government of Western Australia Early in 2013 led by the Aboriginal Board Member of develop a road map for Aboriginal participation leadership organisation, championing everything passed legislation changing the name of Foundation Celebrate WA, Professor Colleen Hayward AM, the in WA Day celebrations within the confines of a positive about Western Australia and its people. Day to WA Day with the Western Australia Day Board and management at Celebrate WA activated one-day meeting and within a small and select group It is a not-for-profit organisation supported by the (Renaming) Bill 2011 being passed by both Houses a unique project inviting 24 Aboriginal established of leaders. Celebrate WA acknowledges that this Government of Western Australia, Lotterywest and of Parliament. While the new bill acknowledges and emerging leaders from across the length process was neither exhaustive nor complete in its leading businesses. European arrival in 1829, the 2012 legislation now and breadth of the State to discuss Aboriginal representation of all Aboriginal peoples from across formally recognises the true and valued place of involvement in WA Day activities. At the conclusion Western Australia. Delegates in the consultation Celebrate WA is managed by a highly skilled and Aboriginal people in the State. The bill change had of the day of conversation, leaders would be invited were not formal representatives of their communities strategically focussed Board of Directors led by bi-partisan support with then Labor spokesman on to present their findings to the Honourable Colin – rather they provided invaluable advice about WA Chairman, John Poynton AM, that help drive the Indigenous A)airs, Hon Ben Wyatt stating it ‘allows Barnett MLA, Premier of Western Australia. Day and how to potentially involve communities in organisations vision and diverse program of events. a more inclusive day of celebration that involves the discussion. Aboriginal people, and the many thousands of This Aboriginal consultation meeting was held on Until 2012, Celebrate WA coordinated WA Week migrants who have come to WA since 1829’. Whadjuk Noongar Boodja (Clan Whadjuk, Noongar This meeting is seen as the first step in an ongoing and associated festivities in October each year. land), at the State Reception Centre on Fraser conversation with the Aboriginal peoples of WA 2012 welcomed in a new era for the State with WA Avenue on Kaata Gurrup, Kings Park on Thursday, to understand and establish how Aboriginal people In 2008 the Premier, The Hon Colin Barnett Day being a universal celebration inclusive of all 21 November 2013. might choose to participate in WA Day celebrations first suggested the idea of a name change of the Western Australians, recognising Aboriginal history, and to determine the next steps in enabling that Foundation Day public holiday ‘to more e)ectively early European settlers and the many people from The rich diversity of living Aboriginal cultures in to happen. celebrate the state’s origins and achievements’. all over the world who have made, and continue to Western Australia makes it extremely di*cult to Foundation Day was designed in 1972 to make, Western Australia their home. commemorate a single moment in time and as such did not account for the way WA had been shaped by history.