The Wamba Wemba people have become the first Indigenous group to hold a guaranteed seat on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria without recognition from the government, marking a major step forward in Aboriginal decision-making powers in the state.
The Wamba Wemba people of north-west Victoria have become the first Indigenous group to hold a guaranteed seat on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria without recognition from the government, marking a major step forward in Aboriginal decision-making powers in the state. A unanimous decision on the Wamba Wemba reserved seat came after a vote was put to the full Assembly on Thursday morning during its chamber meeting on Gurnaikurnai Country at Lakes Entrance, in the state’s east.
The First Peoples’ Assembly unanimously voted to give a reserved seat to the Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation, the first group to be included that has not been recognised by the state.consists of a mix of reserved seat holders and democratically elected general members, who hold their seats for a three-year term, but its make-up has drawn criticism since its inception four years ago from the Indigenous community for not being representative of all traditional owner groups in Victoria. Wamba Wemba’s new seat will bring the number of seats in the Assembly to 33, with 22 seats elected by communities in particular regions and the remaining 11 elected by traditional owner groups with formal Recognised Aboriginal Party (RAP) statu
Wamba Wemba Indigenous First Peoples’ Assembly Victoria Aboriginal Decision-Making Traditional Owner Groups