Marguerita Stephens

I had the enormous honour to work for a time as an historian at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) and later to work with Aunty Fay Muir on a book which explored both the impact of colonisation on the Kulin people, and their concerted resistance to the invasion. The work challenged my deep ignorance about what happened to the First People of Naarm and has been life-changing. It is a history of extraordinary courage, determination and survival on one hand, and gross abuse and inhumanity on the other. There were always allies and there was always the belief in white supremacy that drove British imperialism. Survival and revival has been dear-bought and speaks to the extraordinary depth of culture and connection to Country and Kin.

I did my schooling in the 1960s and we learned almost nothing about First Peoples’ culture, language and history. Social Darwinism still dominated institutional and everyday thinking in those days.(And arguably still does across the nation)

I think the Treaty process will be very important as has been the Yoorook Commission. The testimony and records of the Commission should be made mandatory study for Late secondary students. Q5. In what ways do you think non-First Nations Victorians can contribute to the process of truth-telling and treaty? Listening. And I suppose speaking truths about our own continuing prejudices and ignorances. But first, listening.

Listening. And I suppose speaking truths about our own continuing prejudices and ignorances. But first, listening.

Listening. And I suppose speaking truths about our own continuing prejudices and ignorances. But first, listening.