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2007 PROVINCE INDIGENOUS FORUM
IN HOLY SPIRIT PROVINCE WA & SA

The 2007 Province Indigenous Forum on Monday May 28 th was a day of storytelling and time to reflect on the lives of five Indigenous people, about their family and their hopes and dreams when they were growing up. They also explored future challenges for everyone.

Approximately seventy people, including twenty four young men from Aquinas College, Trinity College, Rostrevor College and Clontarf Aboriginal College gathered at Aquinas to listen to the many stories.

Nyungah elder Aunty Kathy Yarran spoke passionately of her love to learn to read and write and the disappointment when she was not able to go to school. Aunty Janet Collard told stories of her family, the reserve where her family lived and the times when the family moved around the South West of area. Aunty Peg Forrest, a stolen Generation person, reflected on when she was taken away from her family to live at New Norcia orphanage. Despite everything these elders were also keen to relay the happy times of their growing up.

Yawaru woman Pam Hunter from Derby spoke about her Grandfather, his life as a stolen Generation child from the Cape York Peninsula and his journey to Western Australia. Pam, together with her son Derek, daughter Jodie and Lindsay her “adopted” son for the day spoke of growing up in the Kimberley, the lifestyle the need for positive role models, code switching and the big challenge of preparing young people to cope with the future.

Ivan Copley a Peremangk-Kaurna man focused on the work that he does with the Bureau of Census and Statistics, the 1967 Referendum and the 1997 Bringing Them Home Report and the possibility of funding for Indigenous projects in 2008.

The day finished with reflections and challenges from Brother Kevin Ryan to build relationships, take risks and to take some small step to commit to walking with Indigenous people.