YORTA Yorta Traditional Owners from Victoria’s north-east have elected local community leader Graham Briggs as their inaugural representative to the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
The Assembly is the elected representative body of Traditional Owners from across the state that negotiated Australia’s first Treaty between First Peoples and government.
Mr Briggs, from Shepparton, was admitted as the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation’s Reserved Seat holder late last week. This is the first time the Corporation has sent a representative to fill the seat.
Mr Briggs has over 25 years of experience working across government and the justice and community-controlled sectors. He said he feels incredibly honoured and humbled to step into the role and that he carries a deep sense of responsibility to his ancestors and his people.
“This moment has been a long time coming. This seat is the voice of our Elders, our families, our young ones, and all those who fought for our rights long before today,” he said. “To finally sit at the table, to have our own place in discussions that shape our future, is something our ancestors have been pushing us toward for generations.”
“Having Yorta Yorta representation means our cultural authority is respected, our stories are heard, and our priorities are placed front and centre. We must speak for ourselves as no one else can speak on our behalf.”
Assembly Co-chair and Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Dhudhuroa and Dja Dja Wurrung woman, Ngarra Murray, congratulated Mr Briggs on his election.
“The Assembly is hard at work preparing for Australia’s first Treaty to commence. This is a pivotal moment for First Peoples where we make sure that what we’ve negotiated through Treaty results in better outcomes for our people,” Ms Murray said.
”We have had strong representation on the Assembly through our general elected Members and I’m excited that Graham will be joining us as the Yorta Yorta Reserved Seat representative and as a powerful voice in this new Treaty era.”
