The IofCA Trustbuilding program is enriched by initiatives carried out interstate with different communities. One such recent initiative was a meeting in Wagga Wagga with First Nations people, arranged at the request of the Muslim community in the Riverina to help them understand the experience and issues being faced by First Nations People.
Ron Lawler a team member of IofCA’s trustbuilding program reports:
At the request of the Muslim community in Wagga Wagga, an important dialogue for truth-telling and listening was held with local First Nations leaders and allies. Dr Waseem Afzal, an academic at Charles Sturt University, arranged the event on behalf of the Muslim Association of the Riverina (MARWA). Dr Afzal approached me with an interest for such a discussion as his community had never had the opportunity for it.
A dialogue was organised at the Wagga Wagga Community Centre with a panel comprising of Uncle Hewitt Whyman, Yota Yota-Wemba Wemba elder and founder of a number of Aboriginal community-controlled services in Wagga Wagga, Bernard Higgins, Wiradyuri businessman/animator and myself. Auntie Dot Whyman, a Wiradyuri elder gave an engaging welcome to country. Along with about sixty members of the Muslim community we were also joined by Elder Auntie Jocelyn Williams and Vickie Burkinshaw, Wagga Wagga Woman of the Year and President of the Wagga Women’s Health Service management committee.
After a wonderful lunch provided by MARWA a rich discussion opened up where many issues were discussed. There was much interest about the issue of language and its role as a container of culture. Uncle Hewitt recalled his time in Caux at the IofC Global Indigenous Dialogue held two years ago. He played the taped message he recorded from IofC International Chairperson, Dr Gerald Pillay, regarding the referendum
The opportunity for this dialogue was appreciated by the Muslim community and have expressed their interest to continue the conversation.
Initiatives of Change Australia will continue its Trustbuilding work with online forums, delivered by volunteers with First Peoples across Australia. If you are interested in engaging in the forums please contact mike.brown@iofc.org.