The regional visit will allow Echuca Elders to provide direct feedback and advice to the commissioners who are leading Australia’s first and only formal truth and justice process.
During the visit to Echuca, commissioners attended the Elders’ yarns and took part in an on-Country tour accompanied by local Elders.
Dr Wayne Atkinson, a Yorta-Yorta Elder and one of the commissioners of Yoorrook who attended the meeting, said he was glad to have begun the yarning circles with local Elders.
“We are now in our second of four weeks of scheduled meetings across Victoria to understand the priorities of our Elders,” he said.
“First Peoples in Victoria have been asking for a truth and justice process for years and are pleased to see Yoorrook starting our work.”
The regional visits and Elders’ yarns are a key part of the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s Roadmap to Hearing Elders’ Voices, which outlines Yoorrook’s journey to the formal start of historic work, first hearings and interim report.
Commissioners will hear directly from Elders on their priorities for investigating past and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples since colonisation.
“At all stages of the Yoorrook process, we have support measures in place to support Elders and First Peoples who chose to share their stories,” Dr Atkinson said.
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