Mike Lowe

I know that the land was never ceded and that the impact of colonisation was devastating to First Peoples whose population was almost wiped out in a generation due to the effects of disease, starvation (due to being forced off the land and destruction of traditional food sources such as Murnong daisies) and then the killing times of massacres and poisonings and shootings. Then there was the racism, discrimination, and the stolen generations all leading to inter-generational trauma whose effects are still being felt and seen today.

I grew up in England, so can’t comment from first hand experience, but I observe that most Australians who went to school here are largely ignorant of First Nations history and culture.

Victoria needs a treaty, and it needs to be accompanied by a mass education of the population about why treaty is needed, including the history of colonisation and the culture of First People’s and their spiritual connection to country and all that it means. We all benefit from being able to come into right relationship with the land and with the First Peoples of the land.

We need to educate ourselves and each other about these issues. It can be particularly hard for families whose ancestors were involved in the dispossesion and killings of First Nations people, but for them to learn their own true family history and face the consequences is going to be an important part of moving towards Makarrata.

We need to educate ourselves and each other about these issues. It can be particularly hard for families whose ancestors were involved in the dispossesion and killings of First Nations people, but for them to learn their own true family history and face the consequences is going to be an important part of moving towards Makarrata.