A ‘self-determination fund’ to generate wealth and help Traditional Owners prepare for Treaty negotiations in Victoria has been created by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
The assembly said former Treaty Advancement Commissioner and Gunditjmara woman Jill Gallagher made the foundational donation of $100 to launch the fund, with the state government committing $65 million to it.
Co-chair of the assembly and proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation Marcus Stewart said creation of the fund followed an agreement reached last month with the Victorian Government over the so-called building blocks to enable Treaty-making in Victoria.
“The self-determination fund will be a real game-changer, as it will empower Traditional Owner groups to do things their way and let us start to bridge the economic divide that colonisation has inflicted on our people,” Mr Stewart said.
The assembly has set up the legal entity, a subsidiary company, wholly owned by the assembly, but to be managed by a group of experts — all First Nations people — that will administer the fund.
Assembly co-chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson said the design of the fund ensured it would always be managed by First People for First People.
“I think we’ve struck a really good balance,” she said.
“We have the democratically elected voice for community, the First Peoples’ Assembly, controlling the fund and setting the strategic direction and having the oversight and so on.
“Then we have the fund’s directors providing their expert advice and guidance on the actual running and management of the fund.”
The following appointees will run the self-determination fund on an interim basis while a public expression of interest and selection process is undertaken to fill the director roles in an ongoing capacity.
- Kerry Arabena: A descendant of the Meriam people from the Torres Strait, a former social worker and environmental scientist, public health expert, director of the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, and consultant.
- Nadina Brockhurst: A Kamilaroi woman, a commercial manager and board member of the Victorian Women’s Trust.
- Chris Croker: A Luritja man, a mining engineer and senior business executive, managing director of Impact Investment Partners, and steering group member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network.
- Rohan Henry: A Gunditjmara man, an experienced project manager in the environmental and water management sector serving on various committees, independent panels and boards.
- Geoff Scott: A Wiradjuri man, a former head of land councils, senior public servant, and manager of representative bodies such as National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.