14 September 2010

Press release:

Perth visit by top New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi Pakeha activist, author & educator – Robert Consedine

One of New Zealand’s most experienced Treaty of Waitangi educators has been invited by the Committee for Perth to introduce and lead a ‘Healing Our History’ workshop in Western Australia based on the successful Treaty of Waitangi workshop model he has developed in New Zealand over the past 25 years.

In the mid-1990s Consedine introduced the Treaty Workshop process to First Nations and European Government and community groups in Canada who have since adapted the Aotearoa process.

The Committee for Perth, established in 2006, is an influential member-based organisation driven by Perth's business and community leaders promoting and enabling change that improves the cultural diversity of Perth.

The Perth visit by Consedine will include meeting the West Australian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, civic and business leaders and those involved in the reconciliation process.

It is a response to an invitation from Dr Richard Walley, a Noongar Aboriginal leader, and a member of the Order of Australia and Marion Fulker, CEO of the Committee for Perth.
In 2003 Western Australia's largest indigenous group, the Noongar People of the south-west, lodged the 'Single Noongar Claim' in the Federal Court.
Represented by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC), the Noongar People are seeking legal recognition of their native title rights over a 194,000 sq km area of land and waters in the south-west region which includes the city of Perth.
In May this year Walley and Fulker attended a Treaty of Waitangi Workshop lead by Consedine in Napier, New Zealand.

Walley commented that the Treaty of Waitangi workshop ‘was a complete experience from the opening welcome to the closing blessing.’

Both Walley and Fulker reported that they were personally ‘very touched by the New Zealand experience and can see that development of similar workshops in Perth could have significant impact on relationships and interaction between the Noongar people and the broader community.’ Fulker commented, ‘I believe the experience was so powerful due to the non-confrontational way of bringing people together from all nationalities and backgrounds to step forward as a united nation.”

Waitangi Associates is now in its 22nd year delivering Treaty of Waitangi workshops throughout the country to over 200 institutional government and organisational clients. The primary purpose of a workshop is to mobilize Pakeha support for building the Treaty relationship and Maori self-determination.

This visit to Perth is the first introduction of Aotearoa Treaty workshop model in Australia.

Robert Consedine will be working in Perth for the week beginning 20 September and in Perth/Sydney until 6 October 2010

ends

© Scoop Media