To whom it may concern
Co-design process: Submission
Hi there, I live in the Northern Rivers and am 72. I was born in Sydney and grew up there, married and had 3 children. I lived on the Central Coast for 10 years and then moved here in 2008. I studied arts but found my passion in therapeutic work and trained as a Holistic, Relationships and Somatic Counsellor. I part own and co manage a little Church that is a yoga and therapeutic centre. I am still passionate about therapeutic work and moved here to be around people I felt would support me to be authentic. I love the land, am utterly at home in nature and I love my Community. I want to make a difference. I support people who are less fortunate than myself as much as possible. I am particularly interested in creating a better platform for our indigenous people. I believe we need to learn from them not the other way around. I sing in a Community Choir and we regularly sing at events that support causes we care about including acknowledging and respecting indigenous people, the climate and the land.
Why do you think the Uluru Statement from the Heart is important?
I feel it is very important to allow the Uluru Statement of the Heart to be activated formally. This would acknowledge our respect of our first people as just that, their importance as guides to us on the true knowledge of land and Community. They put their wisdom and hearts into creating this and we need to hear them from that place. Until we do that we are not giving them a chance to live fairly with us. We need them to be able to live with freedom and respect in their country, from their hearts.
Why do you think it's important to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, rather than include it only in legislation?
Unless we go the whole way to voice to Parliament we are not acknowledging the benefit of indigenous wisdom which can help us create relationship and empower these people and their traditions.
How could a Voice to Parliament improve the lives of your community?
We would be able to put into action the voices of the people who know from their traditional teaching of the land and customs of their people. Many areas where we have difficulty come from not listening to this sort of wisdom.
Why is it important for Indigenous people to have a say in the matters that affect them?
If we do not allow them to have a say we keep imposing on them what we think is what they need. We cannot succeed creating a respectful relationship with them this way. They cannot receive what they need without expressing their views on this. we need to listen and ask more questions so we can truly understand their needs and help them live more healthy and empowered lives
We need to listen to and act in accordance with the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Yours sincerely
NSW 2481
