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THURSDAY 10 AUGUST 2023 TORRES NEWS
Path to Treaty’s next steps under advice Queensland’s Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB) has handed its advice to the Queensland Government on the Path to Treaty’s next steps, just under 12 months since the signing of the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty Commitment on 16 August last year. ITTB advice is part of co-design processes to inform establishment of the TruthTelling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute. Minister for Treaty Leeanne Enoch thanked the ITTB for their work. “I thank and congratulate the ITTB for their work over the past year in ensuring that we hear from the voices of communities across Queensland,” she said. “These perspectives are vital as we finalise the detailed arrangements for the Truthtelling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute. “I particularly want to recognise the co-chairs, Cheryl Buchanan and Sally-Anne Atkinson for their vast body of work, not just in this advice
received today but also their critical role in the co-design of the Path to Treaty legislation. “The ITTB’s advice is another step towards preparing to engage in truth-telling and healing, laying the foundations for future treaty-making in Queensland based on the voices of Queenslanders.” The advice will help shape the next steps as Queensland continues on its Path to Treaty. The Path to Treaty Act 2023, passed in May 2023, established the legislative framework enabling the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute. This landmark Act was co-designed with the ITTB. Ms Buchanan said the advances they had made in the past year were “truly amazing”. “[The] passing of the Path to Treaty Act 2023 - it brings me so much hope,” she said. “It’s important to recognise the struggle and advocacy of those who came before us, and continue the legacy of our Elders and advocates. “But it is equally as important to recognise those who are contributing now – community have played an
integral role in what we’ve achieved. “Collectively, we are ushering in long awaited change for Queensland.” Ms Atkinson said ‘Treaty’ was about the legacy they wanted for future generations. “At the engagement sessions we’ve been conducting, community have been clear that we need to ‘future proof’ treaties so that the next generations to come can adapt those agreements, to meet our changing times,” she said. “We need to create positive futures – culturally, politically, economically and socially.” The ITTB conducted extensive community consultation across Queensland to capture the voices of Queenslanders as a basis of the advice which would help the Queensland Government shape the next steps as it continued on the path to treaty, truth-telling and healing. For more information about the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, visit: www. truthandtreatyqld.org.au
For more information, visit:
www.qld.gov.au/treaty
Members of Queensland’s Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB) with Ministers Craig Crawford & Leeanne Enoch & local MP Cynthia Lui at the Cairns sitting of the Queensland Parliament in May this year. Pic supplied.
Ruby Ketchell learning to film at a Matildas - Australia’s national women’s team – game in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane. Pic supplied.
Ruby inspired by opportunity BY CARLI WILLIS 2022 year 12 graduate Ruby Ketchell took an opportunity to work at her local Indigenous radio station four months ago, never dreaming it would land her in Brisbane covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup last month. She did it by earning herself a spot with the ABC’s International Development program, aimed at bringing together First Nations Australian women with women from the Indo Pacific and Asia Pacific to learn mobile journalism. The successful applicants were flown to Brisbane to cover the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“I think it was kind of easier for a lot of us being women of colour because everyone kind of just got along straightaway,” she said. “Everyone realised how similar we all were, and the similar traditions we had, and it was easier to connect like that. “We have a fun little joke, because there’s so many of us everywhere, we have so many new holiday destinations to go to now.” Back at her home station, Bumma Bippera Media in Cairns, she said she would continue to host the Torres Strait Hour on Thursdays from 1-2pm, which was also broadcast over the National Indigenous Radio Service. Every other day she ran an easy listening
‘Yes’ campaigners shed light on Voice to Parliament vote
program where she played tunes BBM listeners loved to help get them through the afternoon. But, she said, the ABC program had helped her realise how much she loved to film. “Since being here with them, I’ve learned so much to do with all of this, but probably learned a little bit about myself as well,” she said. “To be with a kid and all this equipment, I’ve learned that I actually really liked doing all this. “I think this is the perfect opportunity to be a part of something that, I don’t know, just kind of opened your eyes to a whole different world of things.” PICS BY CARLI WILLIS M Continued from P3 Young Eldrina Warria said the information helped her decide on a ‘Yes’ vote.
Enid Tom (front right), Kaurareg Elder and ranger says she is a Yes! person.
Kaurareg Elder Milton Savage (R) opens the event with a Welcome to Country. Charles David proudly grabs his free ‘Yes’ shirt.
Bishop Tolowa Nona, Fr Michael Martin & Debra Nona. Pic: Anthea Patrick.
Elder Frank Cook has his say at the Waiben meeting.
