As a proud Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung, Trawlwoolway and Lardil man raised in Mildura, I now call Naarm home after 7 deadly years. I stand as a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria as a dedicated advocate for transformational change. The pathway to Treaty backed by our mob’s voices is a fundamental step for our people’s rights in protecting Country and continuing to empower our young people, families and communities.
I am passionate about creating spaces that are equitable and empowering for all our mob in this chapter of our Treaty journey. I’ve watched and supported the work of the Assembly closely, advocating for our people and social justice in different roles focused on education, youth justice, participation and well-being.
This next phase for the Assembly is crucial as the role of the Treaty is another vital step in our fight for justice. I will contribute as an active member that recognises the collective power of our people, and the rich diversity that is and should continually be celebrated within our communities.
This change will not occur overnight; however, I believe with the determination and strength of our communities, we will drive the change needed.
Member Updates
November 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Shepparton
As an elected member in the Metropolitan region, it is my ongoing privilege and responsibility to provide an update. This report seeks to highlight the work taking place within the Assembly and my personal involvement in the various work, discussions, and engagements to date.
As a metro member, I have heard the calls for us to be heading to all areas of the Metro region and have been pushing for the importance of having Assembly metro forums in all four regions of metro, inclusive of North, South, East and West. We are endeavouring to do all of these and will seek to develop ongoing consistent processes to do gatherings or attend established events. We have sought to deliver one in the West and South by the end of the year and will return to the North early in the new year.
My involvement has been active in all Assembly forums held to date, which includes the FPAV ACCO forum #1 and #2 and the Vic Traditional Owner forum. This has also included other commitments and other engagements, and community visits plus speaking engagements like at the panel at the NIYEC Dream Design Summit. My involvement as a member as of late, has included being actively involved where possible, in all various committees of work that is and has taken place amongst the assembly work which also includes the Treaty and Yurpa committees plus the workstreams developed to support progress towards treaty, with my main and active involvement being on the Future Assembly stream and the Strengthening Families, Cultural and Communities stream plus various involvements in the others.
In honour of transparency, I will be stepping back from other employment to be able to fully participate within my role at FPAV, to ensure I can give majority of my attention to Treaty business and the work of the FPAV.
The ongoing importance to take and support ongoing Treaty readiness and education of community members.
There seemed to be a strong endorsement of the powerful recognition statement of Wemba Wamba through the additional pathway process and enthusiasm to hopefully see more Nations explore that process.
Throughout the gatherings there was consistent message of the importance of regular and ongoing engagements in the areas that may not have accessibility to organisations and places like that of areas like the Northern suburbs. This will be a focus for us in the new year to ensure ongoing engagement across the whole of the metro region.
Support of the concept of future rep body and the opportunity for expanded functions and community are interested to continually define and determine key elements, as the work progresses.
Overall, there seems to be renewed momentum towards the work and support of treaty. Excitement.
We are in an exciting and intriguing time for our mobs here in Vic, we have fought hard over many generations to be in the position we are today, and we continue to hear support for Treaty with both optimism and a level of scepticism due to previous government policies and failures. It will be key as I have highlighted before that for our community, we keep engagement lines open to support, workshop and engage our communities.
I look forward to continuing this important work and going forward, please if you require support and help, please feel free to get in touch with us at FPAV and where and whenever possible, I have and will always strive to attend treaty engagements, community events and other engagements. I continue to put this call out to any community who are interested in having members engage, attend or talk to the work of the Assembly. Please feel free to reach out to me on indic@firstpeoplesvic.org.
September 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Swan Hill
Member update not submitted.
June 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Portland
Member update not submitted.
March 2024 — Meeting of Assembly at Lakes Entrance
As a proud member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (FPAV) in the Metropolitan region, it is my honour to provide this update. This brief report is my attempt to highlight the magnitude of work taking place within the Assembly, and personally some of the work, discussions, and engagements to date that I have been involved in.
My name is Indi Clarke and I am a Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti, Boon Wurrung, Trawlwoolway and Lardil man. Firstly, I would like to encourage all community members who are able to attend the upcoming Statewide Treaty Gathering on the 5th, 6th and 7th April 2024 to come along and be a part of this powerful gathering. If you require support and help, please feel free to get in touch with us at FPAV. I was proud to be a part of the collective push for this gathering among the Assembly and feel it is timely and important as we enter this next chapter of the Assembly and in our journey towards Treaty/treaties.
Where and when possible, I have and will always strive to attend Treaty engagements, community events and other engagements. I recognise I may have limits in places and put this call out to any community who are interested in having members engage, attend or talk to the work of the Assembly. Please feel free to reach out to me on indic@firstpeoplesvic.org
My involvement has been active in both the North and West Metropolitan community forums among other engagements and community visits where I have heard powerful and great contributions, and feedback from community. Below I’ve provided some of the key reflections and discussions points I’ve heard from community that I will be reflecting back to the Assembly.
- The importance of inclusivity in the Assembly and the work of Treaty to come. This is including but is not limited to; continuing to work on the Elders’ Voice and Youth Voice. The need to acknowledge areas of where growth and learning is needed; greater accessibility and engagement of our mobs across the intersection of being LGBTIQA+ representation, mob living with disability and continuing to provide space for these conversations.
- Need to support and ensure engagement of our mob who are parents, carers and/or guardians to mob with disabilities. Acknowledge the contribution and work of VACSAL and others in this space.
- General support for the work of Treaty and excitement, however, still wanting to know and how we can seek to learn from international jurisdictions and examples
- The impacts, fatigue and exhaustion of political elements like the referendum and opposition withdrawing support.
- Interest in having regular community engagement or FPAV engagement where pre-existing and regular gatherings are happening.
Overall, I’ve heard support for Treaty and an enthusiasm for us to take the torch and make head way for our community and keep engagement lines open to collaborate, workshop and update our mob. A lot of work is taking place and to be transparent, I feel it is only in the last couple of months that for myself as a newer member, I have been able to understand and recognise the true depths of work done to date and the work to come. I look forward to continuing this important work and as put earlier, please feel free to reach out to me on for any engagement or a yarn.
