First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria: North west representatives reflect on inaugural meeting

The assembly, which is the first democratically-elected body of Indigenous people in the state's history, will help establish the framework for Treaty negotiations with the Victorian government.

The 32-member assembly met for the first time on Tuesday and Wednesday at Parliament House in Melbourne.

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative chief executive Raylene Harradine, who is an assembly member, said the assembly spent a large portion of the meeting establishing its executive board and the new co-chairs, Marcus Stewart and Geraldine Atkinson.

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"Geraldine has a breadth of knowledge, especially in education because she has worked in that space," Ms Harradine said.

"I thought her and Marcus were the perfect people to lead the group through the next couple of years. We're in good hands."

Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chair Trent Nelson, who is the representative of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, was elected into the assembly's executive board.

"I'm really honoured to be part of the assembly and to be voted into the executive," he said. "It was a really emotional moment the other day in parliament.

"It's life-determining. The chance is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm really honoured and I hope to do them proud."

The assembly also met with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews as part of the meeting.

"One of the key questions we were keen to ask the Premier was around his commitment to meet with us on a regular basis," Ms Harradine said.

"He agreed to that, which was great. He also spoke of his support for the process and was very supportive of what we're doing."

Mr Nelson said he understood some Indigenous people would be wary of the Treaty process.

Read more: BDAC chief executive Raylene Harradine elected to the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria

"Rightly so, some have concerns about the negotiations with government," he said. "There's a bit of a trust factor there. That's natural.

"But there can be a lot of negative conversations in the community that are not factual and that can be detrimental to Treaty and how it performs in the community.

"We need to stay strong and united."

Mr Nelson said the representatives for the north west region - which include Jacinta Chaplin, Jason Kelly, and Melissa Jones - would work together to make sure local voices are heard in the assembly.

"It's important for us to work together around strategic meetings with the community," he said. "We will talk about what is happening with Treaty and what the people in community want to happen.

"There are going to be all these different discussions in the assembly and we will need to mediate those ideas within the community."

The assembly will continue to meet throughout 2020, although dates are yet to be confirmed.

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