Yarning led by a team of First Nations colleagues

Welcome to country by Nathan Moran, Chief Executive Officer of the MLALC

The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council is a significant organisation in our community, we seek to become the most highly visible and most recognised Aboriginal organisation in the Sydney Metropolitan Region. Metro’s continued existence and strength is an important symbol and a vital ongoing resource to its members. We do this as a tribute and as a reminder of the struggles and achievements of Elders and those who have gone before to fight for land rights and justice for our people.

Yarning with First Nations People: led by Bruce Shillingsworth and Nicole Laupepa

Session 1 – An interactive YARNING led by a panel of First Nations colleagues – covering a wide range of topics; The Voice to Parliament, Truth telling, Treaty and the matter of peace and justice in Australia – guided by the Uluru Statement From The Heart.

Panelists – 

Thomas Mayor – facilitator

Thomas Mayor is a Torres Strait Islander man born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin. A former wharfie, he is the National Indigenous Officer at the Maritime Union of Australia. Thomas is a published author of four books, the most recently published is Dear Son – Letters and reflections from First Nations fathers and sons.

Carol Vale

Carol is the founder of Murawin. At Murawin we have a passion for strengthening cultural competencies and professional capabilities . Our core values of inclusiveness, cultural safety and  respect underpin every aspect of our work. Our people consist of a talented team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal professionals who bring an extensive range of experiences in policy development, project management, evaluation, social research and stakeholder engagement across a myriad of areas including Aboriginal Affairs, Child Protection, Disabilities, Health, Education, Justice and Urban Design sectors. We are passionate about breaking cycles that perpetuates disadvantage. Our team works across numerous portfolio areas and locations with our clients to engage, challenge and assist groups journey towards action to developing practical responses to their ‘wicked’ problems. We are committed to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage and facilitating opportunities that strive for economic and social empowerment.

Shane Charles

Shane Charles is an inspirational Aboriginal leader with a solid track record across a range of sectors including education and training, justice and cultural heritage within both Aboriginal and mainstream organisations. Shane effectively manages complex partnerships and brokering solutions between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal parties, including locally and internationally. As a passionate, multiskilled advocate for reconciliation Shane enjoys sharing his cultural knowledge as a Traditional Owner of Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung and Yorta Yorta.

(Waskam) Emelda Davis

(Waskam) Emelda Davis is founding chairwoman for Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) (ASSIPJ) a social justice and community development not-for-profit. Emelda has extensive working experience in capacity building for Indigenous, ASSI, Pacific and CALD communities. Her expertise covers media, education, training, arts entertainment having worked for federal and state government agencies as well as grassroots organisations. More recently in 2020 Emelda was awarded the NSW Premiers Medal – Settlement Services International Human Rights Award, completed a Masters by Research in ASSI oral history ‘Children of the Sugar Slaves – Black and Resilient’ with University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and is a 2021 candidate for Team Clover City of Sydney Council elections. www.assipj.com.au

Nathan Moran – CEO Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council

Nathan is a proud Biripi Dhungutti Goori who has worked in both government and non-government with & for Aboriginal communities of NSW for over 25 years. Previously working with NSW AECG, NSW Department Education, Biripi LALC, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, TAFE NSW and Aboriginal Housing Office NSW. He has served as Director or Board member on a number of identified and mainstream organisations including Mid North Coast Regional Aboriginal Land Council, Association Resource Cooperative Housing(NSW), Redfern All Blacks, Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance and Werrin Medical Service. Has Qualifications in Property Management, Social Housing, Business Administration, Finance Governance, Diplomacy, Training & Assessment, Designing Training & Assessment systems and Coaching. He is a former UTS law student, Lloyd McDermott squad member, UNSW & UN South East Asia Aboriginal Leadership Program graduate, AIATSIS Aboriginal Leadership Program graduate and Koori Radio Volunteer Broadcaster. Nathan is passionate about 1st Nations Lore, Culture & Heritage, Arts, History Politics and Sport, and is committed to achieving equity in human rights for Australia’s 1st Nations on par with or better than other 1st Nations people in former comparable British colonies such as NZ, Canada, South Africa or USA. https://metrolalc.org.au/

Adrian Russell Wills – please see https://yellowcreativemanagement.com/adrian-russel-wills/

Adrian is a Wonnarua man originally from Bourke NSW who is committed to explore the outsider, the fringe dweller, the rebel. Adrian comes from a strong line of ancient storytellers who maintained their culture, law and language through song, dance, and remarkable visual art which stands among the oldest in the world. Adrian sees his role as a writer / director purely as an extension of those ancestors before him. His point of distinction is that he explores stories that take an audience beyond what they would naturally seek out, confronting and challenging them to go beyond their own experience. Adrian boasts an extensive career writing and directing for film and television in particular the documentary 88, looking at the Bicentennial celebrations of the British colonisation of Australia.

Tickets from: Eventbrite