Queensland’s Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB) is continuing community engagement on the state’s treaty process, following the passage of historic legislation.
The Path to Treaty Act 2023 was passed in a parliament sitting in Cairns last week, creating the framework for treaty negotiations with the Queensland government and the state’s sovereign Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ITTB, made up of ten Indigenous and non-Indigenous members, were integral in the drafting of the Act, and will be responsible for establishing a formal Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry, and the First Nations Treaty Institute.
Over the last few months, the ITTB have been travelling across Queensland listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on how the key structures should be governed and what they want from a treaty with the state.
The consultations will also inform the selection process for the Institute and the Institute Council so that it is authentic and inclusive of First Nations diverse experiences and perspectives.
Following the Community Yarning sessions which are likely to continue until November 2023, the ITTB will consider input they’ve received from community and prepare a report to the Minister for Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford providing recommendations on the set up of the structures that will carry this significant work forward.
Co-chair of the ITTB, Aunty Cheryl Buchanan believes the community consultations need to run alongside the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and Treaty-making process, to be sure mob are informed on Truth and Treaty in Queensland.
The next Community Yarning Session will be held in Redlands on Thursday, the 18th of May.
To find out more on Queensland’s Path to Treaty and the Community Yarning Sessions you can visit ITTB’s website here:
