FIRE Carriers

A Conversation about Treaty

This week FIRE Carriers from several local schools were invited by local MP Vicki Ward to meet with the Hon. Gab Williams MP, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples. Joining us at Sacred Heart Primary School in Diamond Creek, were FIRE Carriers from CLC, St Thomas’ in Greensborough North and Sacred Heart Primary School, as well as a representative from the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group. Gab Williams spoke to us about the thoughts and processes behind the development of the treaty, and the importance of Voice, Treaty and Truth. She encouraged us as FIRE Carriers to create awareness about the purpose and processes of the Treaty with those around us, not only at school, but also at home and in the wider community. Victoria is the first state in the country to be on the path to negotiating the nation’s first treaty with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, the journey to treaty is a significant and incredibly proud step forward for our state. Following on from this treaty, local councils will be encouraged to create their own treaties with local Indigenous groups. 

On Tuesday the 23rd of August us FIRE Carrier Leaders went to  Sacred Heart Primary school to listen to Gabrielle Williams and Vicky Ward talk about Treaties and the meaning of them. Most of our session was based on us students asking questions about Treaties and learning lots of new things. Lots of schools also came like CLC, St Thomas and the Sacred Heart year 6 leaders. They told us the meaning of Treaties. Treaties are an agreement between two different cultures to agree on peace between each other. It is also a ‘Promise for Peace’. One of the students from our school asked a very important question which was, ‘how can us FIRE Carriers help the Indigenous people?’. They told us that we can help by talking about treaties to an adult since they didn’t grow up in the time where kids were learning about it. Kids nowadays have a big privilege since we get to learn about them. Just by asking an adult if they know what a treaty is can help. If they don’t know, you can help teach them what it means.

Mabel V

On Tuesday the 23rd of August, the Fire Carriers were lucky enough to be invited to Sacred Heart Primary School to hear about the treaty and how it affects the indigenous people. Gab Williams who is an Australian politician came and talked about the treaty with us. I asked a question: How can the Fire Carrier program help with the treaty? They replied by saying that we can help by talking to friends and family about the treaty. This will let people know that not only the Fire Carriers can talk about a treaty but they can too. It was really great and I loved it.     

Fletcher S