Yesterday, I once again attended Bunjil's Marroun Healing Ceremony hosted by Moonee Valley City Council.
It was an excellent opportunity to connect with our Aboriginal Aunties & Uncles and hear first hand from our Indigenous people, what January 26 means to them.
Everyone, including the non-Indigenous community, was invited to actively participate in the ceremony, rather than passively watching one. We all burned gum leaves during the smoking ceremony, cleansed ourselves with smoke, and lastly, learned the appropriate dance before performing it.
The ceremony and event was (and always is), a truly inclusive experience and incredibly important in connecting our community with our Country and Aboriginal people.
It is my sincere hope that next year, Brimbank City Council hosts a similar event, so that the Brimbank community can participate locally, rather than have to visit a neighbouring municipality.

#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland #aboriginal #AboriginalAustralians #Indigenous #blaklivesmatter

I was proud to be out at pre-poll yesterday to help debunk the many lies of the No campaign.
Lies I heard from No campaigners yesterday:

- Once 'The Voice' is in the constitution it's permanent, it cannot be be take out...FALSE!
Sections can and have been removed from the constitution in the past. In 1967 section 127 was removed along with discriminatory words from section 51.

- That 'The Voice' is racist...WRONG!
Having an Indigenous voice is a mechanism for inclusion and fairness. Fighting for non-Indigenous people to make decisions about Indigenous people is white supremacy/nationalism.

- That there is no need for an Indigenous Voice and we should have just one voice...FRIGHTENINGLY MISGUIDED!
Advisory Committees are established to make improvements to specific sectors; it is why we continue to have climate advisory committees, arts advisory committees, disability advisory committees and more. Should they all be dissolved too so that there is just "one voice"?

One of the two big sales pitches the 'No' side had yesterday, was that the Voice is 'divisive'. How can voting for inclusion be divisive? This should not be a partisan issue, it is Peter Dutton who has made this referendum divisive. This referendum is about voting for inclusion and an opportunity to be heard. How is that divisive?
The second sales pitch is 'if you don't know, vote no'. They are treating YOU like idiots! Are you an idiot? I think not!
If you don't know, find out! There is plenty of information out there for anyone who wishes to search for it. And I am not talking about information from the Yes or No side either. There is plenty of independent information, scholarly articles and history books that will help you understand this particular referendum. Educate yourself, don't let the No campaign gaslight you...I believe you ARE smarter than that!

#yes #yes23 #yes23au #referendum #no23 #auspol #blaklivesmatter #indigenous #yes2023

I was positively elated to see this pass at the Council meeting last week. Whilst it was incredibly upsetting to see an attempt to undo this motion through the guise of community consultation, I am incredibly happy that the move to shift citizenship ceremonies to 3 days either side of January 26, has been adopted. I hope that January 26 will become a day of recognition and healing in Brimbank.

Back in January, I raised this issue myself and was berated by some Councillors who objected to my proposal. My ask was simple enough; citizenship ceremonies to be shifted away from January 26 and instead, an Indigenous healing ceremony to take place. I used Moonee Valley's Bunjils Marroun Healing Ceremony as an example.
The consequence of this was that I was labelled as a racist, accused of having no idea what Indigenous people wanted, and had my words taken out of context and used to spread misinformation about myself by certain Councillors, simply because I was not a member of their Council committees and did not support their personal views of the subject.

Despite the distress it caused to me at the time (and has continued to do since), I am glad that I chose to stand up for our Indigenous people and advocate for a more inclusive event on January 26.

https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/news/council-moves-australia-day-citizenship-ceremony/?fbclid=IwAR2VaYFBFbTovRPZfoYvThkc0B8OWosWpAYMYe5iWN855IdtefFD9MLsG9w

#Indigenousrights #aboriginalrights #blaklivesmatter #deadly #indigenous #aboriginal #ATSI #Brimbank

Sharing some photos taken by others at the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism rally yesterday.

#nonazis #facism #racism #transrights #freetherefugees #queerrights #blacklivesmatter #blaklivesmatter #repost

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxRpFGvp4fr/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

#voteyes
#voteyesaustralia
#voteyes2023
#aboriginalrights
#AboriginalLivesMatter
#blaklivesmatter
#voicetoparliament
#alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland
#voteyesforfirstnationsvoice

Original toot date: 02 March, 2023

Be sure to keep an eye out for your opportunity to #HaveYourSay on this incredibly important issue!

https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/mr/january_26_consultation

#alwayswasalwayswillbe #alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland #IndigenousRights #indigenous #aboriginal #aboriginalrights #blak #blaklivesmatter #survivalday #invasionday

Be sure to keep an eye out for your opportunity to #HaveYourSay on this incredibly important issue!

https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/mr/january_26_consultation

#alwayswasalwayswillbe #alwayswasalwayswillbeaboriginalland #IndigenousRights #indigenous #aboriginal #aboriginalrights #blak #blaklivesmatter #survivalday #invasionday

My interests include:
#DisabilityRights #DisabilityJustice
#Gardening #Permaculture
#RegenerativeAgriculture
#SolarPunk #HopePunk
#AbolishTheCarceralState #ACAB
#BLM #BlakLivesMatter
#StopBlakDeathsInCustody
#RaiseTheAge
#ProtectTransKids #TransRights
#TransJustice
#Decolonialism #Anticolonialism
#AntiRacism
#Creating #Crafting #Building #Making
#Dogs #DogsDogsDogs! #RescueDogs

pinned toots will be added to and/or changed over time