The Indigenous Issues subgroup monitors matters affecting indigenous people at federal, state and local level and after consideration advocates or gets involved in issues of importance.
We hold the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Closing The Gap issues as high priority. This group concentrates on developing support for our First Nations peoples . We do this through our discussions with our local Indigenous and support for projects operating in the shire. Youthland and Bundian Way and Historic Bega Walk are three such projects.
Also of current interest are the campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility and the Megan Davis review of out-of-home care in NSW.
We made a submission to the federal bushfire inquiry concerning cultural burning and have an interest in it locally.
We keep in touch with the local Aboriginal land councils and support events such as the Giiyong festival and Harmony Day and have corresponded with the Bega Valley Shire Council about the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the Bega Valley. We support local Indigenous musicians being mentored in schools,.
We normally meet on a Wednesday in the third or fourth week of the month at 3.30pm in the hospitality room behind the Catholic church in Pambula.