The Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB), responsible for steering Queensland’s path towards Treaty while the First Nations Treaty Institute (The Institute) and Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry (The Inquiry) are being established through legislation, is in Mount Isa this week for more Community Yarning Sessions.
The independent body, which co-designed the Path to Treaty Bill with the Queensland government, has been seeking the public’s advice on how the Institute and Inquiry should be governed once the Bill becomes law.
Co-chair of the body, Aunty Cheryl Buchanan, a proud Guwamu woman from southwest Queensland, encouraged anyone to come along and ask questions and said we need to start thinking about the solutions and how they could form a part of a Treaty once it’s negotiated with government.
“We want to engage people in a discussion about what their thoughts are for the First Nations Treaty Institute establishment and the council that will be attached to that and oversee its workings,” Buchanan said.
“But the other thing we want to do is truly encourage people to be involved with the local Truth-telling and let them know about the Inquiry that will also take place that will be involving government institutions.”
Listen to the interview with Co-Chair Aunty Cheryl Buchanan:
| Date | Community | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March | Mount Isa | Civic Centre 23 West St, Mount Isa 10:00am – 2:00pm |
| 4 April | Roma | Ernest Brock Room, Cultural Centre 57 Bungil Street, Roma 10:00am – 2:00pm |
| 5 April | Cunnamulla | Paroo Shire Council, Supper Room 2 Jane St, Cunnamulla 10:00am – 2:00pm |
| 6 April | Charleville | Bidjara Conference Room 51 Wills Street, Charleville 10:00am – 2:00pm |
Community Yarning sessions will be updated on the ITTB website as more locations are identified www.truthandtreatyqld.org.au
The latest Community Yarning Sessions come as new research on Queensland’s Path to Treaty process suggests talking more about the beauty of Indigenous culture is the best way to get it over the line.
A survey conducted by the Indigenous-owned management consultancy IPS on behalf of the Queensland Government, has found 78 per cent of respondents asked about Queensland’s Path to Treaty had an “average or lower understanding” of First Nations culture and heritage. More than half of the 23-hundred people surveyed expressed a desire to learn more.
Chief research officer Dr Katie Roe says the best path forward is to focus on the beautiful and amazing aspects of Indigenous culture, particularly the strong connections to family and the land.
She believes the time is right for Queensland to reach broad agreement on
Treaty.
The Path to Treaty Bill was introduced into Queensland parliament in February with a vote on the Bill expected sometime in May.
For more information on the key structures that will progress Truth and Treaty in Queensland, take a look at the Path to Treaty Bill 2023 on the Queensland Legislation website.
