Original toot date: 13 February, 2023
I don't recall a time I was not an ally of our indigenous peoples. My parents ensured I grew up respecting and appreciating Aborriginal and Torres Straight Islander people and understood their struggles. If memory serves me correctly, I signed a sorry day book a fellow student at school created back in 1998. I will continue to fight for indigenous rights and proper recognition of their trauma; because sorry is a good start, but the healing is not yet done.
Today is not Sorry Day. The image below provides some information on why today is significant.
#sorry #alwayswasalwayswillbe #AboriginalLivesMatter #WeWontForget #IWontForget
Original toot date: 29 January, 2023
On January 26, I had the opportunity to speak with Mayor of Moonee Valley Council Pierce Tyson, Cr. Rose Iser and Moonee Valley City Council CEO Helen Sui, about Indigenous healing and how we can be more sensitive to our First Nations people on January 26.
We also discussed a local project I have been wanting and proposing for several years and Mayor Tyson was gracious enough to invite me to send him my proposal, in the hope that he may be able to advocate for it on my behalf (watch this space). Both Cr. Iser and Ms. Sui were encouraged by my enthusiasm to create local change for indigenous peoples, and were incredibly supportive and enthusiastic.
I also had an opportunity to speak with Niddrie Greens candidate Declan McGinness, where we discussed how collaboration not politics, will see the most positive changes for our communities come to fruition.
I thank all of these wonderful people for their warm hospitality and genuine care in what I had to say.
#MooneeValley #communitymatters #communityengagement #indigenousrights #alwayswasalwayswillbe #AboriginalLivesMatter #January26 #invasionday #DayOfMourning #survivalday #AustraliaDay
Original toot date: 27 January, 2023
Yesterday, I had the privilege and honour of attending Bunjil’s Marroun Healing Ceremony 2023. It was a moving day not just of mourning, but a day filled with hope of creating a truly inclusive future for everyone in our community and our country.
Thank you Aunty Di (Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder; Dianne Kerr) for you beautifully heartfelt welcome and sharing what the day means to you.
Thank you Courtney Ugle of the Noongar mob and the AFLW for sharing your deeply personal and difficult story and for being an example of what we can achieve despite adversity and continuing to seek an inclusive and equal community for all.
Thank you Nhanbu Togip for teaching us your traditional dance and including us in your customs, it was an honor to be taught by you.
Thank you David Arden for your sharing your music; music that is deeply personal and enlightening.
Finally, thank you Moonee Valley City Council for hosting the event, working tirelessly to bring healing to our Indigenous communities and being an example to aspire to.
#alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland #alwayswasalwayswillbe #indigenousrights #indigenous #aboriginal #aboriginalaustralia #AboriginalLivesMatter
Original toot date: 24 January, 2023
I write to you from Wurundjeri Country in Naarm. I stand with our First Nations People. I support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. I support changing the date of Australia Day. I acknowledge this land was stolen and it's sovereignty never ceded.
Will you join me in being a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people?
#alwayswasalwayswillbe #alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland #aboriginalaustralia #aboriginal #aboriginalland #indigenous #IndigenousLivesMatter #IndigenousPeoples #AboriginalLivesMatter #indigenousland #firstnations #firstnationsaustralia #australiaday #invasionday #SurvivalDay #changethedate
Aboriginal deaths in custody are not just statistics. They are people, with families and communities left devastated by their loss. We must work towards a future where this no longer happens.
Will "the voice" help?
On January 26, I had the opportunity to speak with Mayor of Moonee Valley Council Pierce Tyson, Cr. Rose Iser and Moonee Valley City Council CEO Helen Sui, about Indigenous healing and how we can be more sensitive to our First Nations people on January 26.
We also discussed a local project I have been wanting and proposing for several years and Mayor Tyson was gracious enough to invite me to send him my proposal, in the hope that he may be able to advocate for it on my behalf (watch this space). Both Cr. Iser and Ms. Sui were encouraged by my enthusiasm to create local change for indigenous peoples, and were incredibly supportive and enthusiastic.
I also had an opportunity to speak with Niddrie Greens candidate Declan McGinness, where we discussed how collaboration not politics, will see the most positive changes for our communities come to fruition.
I thank all of these wonderful people for their warm hospitality and genuine care in what I had to say.
#MooneeValley #communitymatters #communityengagement #indigenousrights #alwayswasalwayswillbe #AboriginalLivesMatter #January26 #invasionday #DayOfMourning #survivalday #AustraliaDay
Mark Lauer
Hugh Binks
Shannon Meilak - Advocate
Myles
Frédéric Maquin
Shannon Meilak - Activist