One of Australia’s biggest Indigenous-themed sports events, Dreamtime at the G, will focus on and promote Treaty under a partnership being launched today.
The Richmond Football Club and its sister organisation, the Korin Gamadji Institute, are announcing their support for Treaty and for Aboriginal communities.
The support will include the ‘Treaty for Victoria’ message prominently at the match, including on Richmond’s club guernseys.
“This is history in the making,” said Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Jill Gallagher.
“Support is building for our Victorian Aboriginal communities to take the next step towards Treaty,” she said.
The Dreamtime match will take place as the Treaty process advances to the next phase. In May, an Aboriginal election will begin, as Victorian Aboriginal communities set up the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
Today the Commission is releasing dates for the Aboriginal election. They are:
- May 10: Enrolment opens
- May 27: Candidate nominations open
- June (date TBA): Candidate nominations close
- July 8: Voting opens
- July 21: Voting closes
- August: Results released
Today the Commission is also announcing that Aboriginal people will be able to vote online. Postal and in-person voting will also be available.
“This is the perfect time, and place, to promote Treaty,” said Ms Gallagher.
“After 200 years, it’s time,” she said.
Dreamtime at the G is the centrepiece of the Sir Doug Nicholls round, honouring one of Victoria and Australia’s most influential leaders.
The Richmond Football Club and the Korin Gamadji Institute have supported emerging Indigenous leaders for more than a decade.
The Commission is establishing the First Peoples’ Assembly in 2019.
The Assembly will be the key voice for Aboriginal people in the next phase of the treaty process.
It will decide – along with the Victorian Government – the ‘ground rules’ for negotiations, including what is on the negotiating table.
The Assembly will be made up of Victorian traditional owners, elected by Aboriginal people in Victoria.