Page 4720 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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This motion recognises that each party in the Legislative Assembly has put time and effort into considering issues for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our local community. While we may not always agree on the best way forward, there is joint commitment to improve the lives of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in the territory and focus on efforts that reduce racism and inequality.
The ACT Greens have developed a reflect reconciliation action plan, or a RAP, which we launched in May this year and in which we committed to tabling this motion in the Assembly. The development of the RAP has involved our entire joint staff team, members of which have proactively ensured that our commitments are followed through.
Whilst we recognise the Ngunnawal people as the local traditional custodians, I also note that Ngunnawal country is surrounded by neighbouring tribes, including the Wiradjuri to the west, Walgalu to the south, Yuin to the east coast, Ngarigo to the south east, Gundungdurra to the north east, and Ngambri, who travel to Ngunnawal country for initiations, marriage arrangements, trade, seasonal foods and the sharing of lore and ceremony with the Ngunnawal people, as they have done for thousands of years.
This collaboration and exchange continues in some form through to today, and so I also acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other clan groups who add value to our community and who contribute to a broader understanding of Aboriginal culture and traditions and connection to land and language in this region.
I mention specifically the United Ngunnawal Elders Council, members of whom we have consulted in developing this motion and whose connection to this region has existed for tens of thousands of years. I also acknowledge the contributions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body chair, from whom we also sought advice. I acknowledge the specific ongoing contributions of the caring for country mobs, the registered aboriginal organisations who have an important role in providing advice in the development of conservation management plans for Ngunnawal heritage and places with archaeological significance. It is their knowledge from which we draw our learnings and from which we grow in understanding.
As noted in the motion, this year is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. It is time to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of Indigenous languages. This motion is but one small way that we can draw a link between language, development, peace and reconciliation. This is one small way we can help keep language alive and relevant. This is one small way in which we recognise that connections to language are central to identity and culture.
It acknowledges, too, that in our own region the Ngunnawal people, just as those from other clan groups, were denied the right to speak their own language. We have heard accounts from times gone by where Aboriginal people, some still alive today, were held forcibly on the missions in our region and not allowed to speak in language. It was forbidden and they were punished for doing so. This meant that the elders who
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