Nova Peris OAM OLY, along with other local first nations guests including Yorta Yorta woman Allira Potter, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles and Simon Flagg CEO of Wathaurong, shared their deeply personal experiences of being a first nations person in Australia, at The Give Where You Live Foundation’s 2023 Conversations That Matter: Reconciliation event.
Over 450 people attended the event which was presented in partnership with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, on Wadawurrung Country by GeelongPort, to mark 2023 Reconciliation Week.
The event opened with a traditional smoking ceremony and welcome to Country from Wadawarrung Traditional Owner, Corrina Eccles and Anthony Hume on the didgeridoo.
Guest speaker Nova Peris OAM OLY who is a descendant of the Gija people of East Kimberley, the Yawuru people of West Kimberley & the Gagudju people of West Arnhem Land opened by acknowledging she is a storyteller through her own journey and lived life as an Aboriginal woman.
“Some people in Australia find me polarizing because of what I stand for. But you’ll all understand why, because being silent is not an option for us as a minority, especially as a First Nations woman.”
“I hope that today you will understand our deep and ongoing connection to our countries, hear the story of strength, pride, our ability to open our arms to generosity, and that you can empathise with why it is that we call upon you to see the challenges we face, and why we need your help to dismantle the walls of discrimination and call out inequalities when you see it.”
Nova shared that she couldn’t have achieved what she has throughout her life if it wasn’t for her grandparents and mother.
“I remember myself as a kid growing up, my Nana never really talked about the pain of the past. The past denied everything that made her human. It denied the love from her mother, she was not allowed to speak her language, her identity of being Aboriginal.”
“My mother’s story is one of optimism. Her story is one of what equal treatment looks like, it is what being afforded equal opportunities looks like.”
In talking about her family’s history, she spoke about using the past as her strength.
“Knowing my history, this is what has given me every inch to have mind over my body, mind over any pain.”
“All of my achievements are nothing compared to the strength and resilience of my grandparents. I inherited that grit. I turned negative concept into positive mindset.”
In recognising that over the last half century in Australia, many significant steps towards reconciliation have been taken and achieved, Nova said,
“But we must remember that reconciliation isn’t a destination it is an ongoing journey that reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful change, future gains, are likely to take just as much if not more effort.”
In closing Nova, hoped that sharing her history and story gave an insight into the lives of not only her own, but many Aboriginal people.
“I say this many times to my fellow countrymen and women, as an Australian, you don’t lose your 250 years of history when you acknowledge ours, you gain 50,000 years of history.”
“Because when you understand your foundation, your history, you have another level of empathy, compassion and gratitude for what we have. Our freedoms. Our first Nations brothers and sisters.
Conversations That Matter launched in 2022 with Grace Tame and is part of the Give Where You Live Foundation’s commitment to raising important issues, giving people a voice and creating positive change.
It has been designed to start discussions in our community that will, in line with the Foundation’s mission, help create an equitable, fairer G21 region where all people and places thrive.
Bill Mithen, CEO, Give Where You Live Foundation, said as well as giving people a voice, Conversations That Matter: Reconciliation aimed to highlight the importance of truth listening.
“At Conversations That Matter: Reconciliation, we encouraged the community to really sit and listen deeply to the voices of our First Nations brothers and sisters.”
“The theme for 2023 National Reconciliation Week is ‘Be a Voice for Generations.’ It encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in their everyday lives. The best way for non-indigenous people to truly embrace and understand reconciliation, is to listen and learn from the experiences and truth of first nations people. Together we can create generational change.”
During the event a group of local first nations people guests including Gunditjmara man Tom Molyneux, Wakaya woman Bek Lasky, Larrakia man Matt Stokes, and Adnyamathanha woman Marsha Uppill joined MC Allira Potter for a Yarn.
The group yarned about their own stories and family histories as well as their recent experiences of being a first nations person in Djilang today.
In closing the event, Arrente woman Renee Howell used her voice to share the important stories of the past and her family’s history by reading her mum’s poem Who am I and performing her original song Arrente Woman.
Conversations That Matter: Reconciliation was presented by GeelongPort, and sponsored by WorkSafe Victoria, GMHBA, TAC and Scale Facilitation.