Shooting Stars Operations Manager, Latoya Bolton-Black and Pathways Coordinator, Rokiyah Bin Swani were selected to attend the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit last month in Canberra on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. They were among over 800 First Nations women in attendance at this significant and historic event, which was delivered by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Wiyi Yani U Thangani (wee YAH-knee you TUNG-gah-knee) means ‘women’s voices’ in Bunuba language, and it is the name of the five-year systemic change project that culminated this summit. The project, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO, aims to elevate the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women. This project’s vision and values align very closely with those of Shooting Stars, and so it is already exciting to see the summit take place, let alone the excitement and pride in the involvement of Shooting Stars staff.
Discussions and sessions at the Canberra summit have led to the development of new approaches to improve the future, advocating for the rights, health, safety, wellbeing and prosperity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women. Delegates issued a Summit Communique and Youth Statement, which outline perspectives, calls to action and recommendations, calling upon governments to commit to a new National Framework for Action that will become a ‘blakprint’ for delivering lasting change. Plans were also outlined for a First Nations Gender Justice Institute at the Australian National University, which will contribute necessary research, analysis, leadership and ideas, which will guide what advocacy looks like in this space.
Rokiyah reflected on her experiences at the summit with gratitude, and said “The statement and recommendations [are] a result of deep and powerful conversations led by First Nations women.”
Commissioner June Oscar spoke of the event, thanking all attendees for their contributions, and stating “We are the change.”
“The power and the passion of Indigenous women – our optimism and our determination – have been on full display here at the Summit over the last four days and this has shown what we have always known – that First Nations women have the knowledge, the wisdom and the spirit to design our future and drive social and economic change in our communities.”
If you are interested in reading more about the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project and its supporting documents, see below:
wiyiyaniuthangani.humanrights.gov.au
Summit Communique
Youth Statement
Videos of the Summit
Live stream recordings of the summit
