Yesterday, thousands of First Peoples and allies joined the final day of Yoorrook’s Walk for Truth and marked the beginning of a new era of Truth-telling.
After four years of leading Australia’s first ever truth-telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission will soon deliver its final recommendations and establish an official public record of colonisation in Victoria.
To mark this historic moment, Commissioner Travis Lovett, a Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man, invited First Peoples and allies to join him on a 500-kilometre Walk for Truth. The walk began in Portland, where colonisation began in Victoria, and culminated yesterday in Naarm on the steps of Parliament, with a gathering of thousands.
Message Sticks were collected from communities all along the journey and were delivered at Parliament house. These were not a gift, but rather a call for Government to hear the Truth that came out of Yoorrook.
Congratulations to Commissioner Travis Lovett for leading the Walk and to the 10,000 Community members and allies who joined along the way.
This historic journey closed yesterday with ceremony, speeches, dances and a powerful show of support for both Truth and Treaty.
For the past four years, Yoorrook has not only led Truth-telling across this state – it has begun a process of healing.
Yoorrook has sat with Community and listened to their stories. It has built an authoritative historic record, grown public awareness of our true shared history and sought to learn its lessons, providing recommendations to the Assembly and Government.
This would not have been possible without the courage and resistance of our peoples who shared their life experiences with Yoorrook. Thank you to everyone who told their stories, shared their history and provided evidence that will help shape the future.
We also want to share our heartfelt thanks to the Yoorrook Commissioners who ensured our stories were not only told, but listened to. The Chair, Aunty Eleanor Bourke, and Commissioners, Travis Lovett, Sueanne Hunter, Professor Maggie Walter and the Hon. Tony North.
Yoorrook ensured all Victorians can learn about the Truth of our past and hear our stories.
Truth and Treaty go hand in hand.
Right now, we are in negotiations with the Victorian Government for the first ever Statewide Treaty. Part of these negotiations have focused on the role the Assembly will play in making sure our people can continue to have our truths heard, recorded and shared beyond Yoorrook.
“Today marks the end of the Walk for Truth, but it also marks a new beginning for Truth-telling in Victoria. We are on a path towards Treaty in Victoria, and we’ve always had Truth-telling and healing at the heart of our work. To create a future where Truth and Treaty are embedded in the very fabric of Victorian society.”
– Rueben Berg, Assembly Co-chair
Treaty recognises that Aboriginal people are the experts on our own lives. Treaty is about making sure our Communities can develop and deliver practical solutions that work for us at the local level.
“The Assembly has a strong purpose, and that is to reclaim our people’s power and freedom to make the decisions that affect our families, our communities, our Country, our lands and waters. I encourage everyone who walked, literally, with Commissioner Lovett, to Walk with us on the Journey to Treaty.”
– Ngarra Murray, Assembly Co-chair
Yoorrook has played a crucial part in our journey to Treaty, and we will make sure their legacy is carried forward.
Special thanks also for: the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Thane Garvey, Djirri Djirri cultural performance, reflections from Uncle Rick Morris and the Welcome at Parliament by Uncle Perry.
