Permanent Aboriginal ceremonial site could be created under City of Melbourne plans to honour indigenous culture

AN Aboriginal ceremony site, stolen generations memorials and “culturally safe places” could be set up in inner Melbourne in a move to honour indigenous culture — but one indigenous elder is not happy with the idea.

THE city council is to consider setting up a permanent ceremonial site for Aborigines in inner Melbourne, creating “culturally safe places”, and erecting “stolen generations” memorials.

But a prominent Aboriginal elder has called the proposals “condescending”, saying “We didn’t push for this”.

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An Aboriginal ceremonial site could be established in the inner city.

The proposals, outlined in two action plans to be considered at a council meeting on Tuesday, include:

TRAINING 50 managers to improve their capacity to manage Aboriginal staff.

HAVING Aboriginal performers, or content, at staff Christmas parties and at other major council gatherings.

FINDING opportunities to name or rename spaces to reflect the particular area’s Aboriginal heritage.

CONSULTING traditional owners to include “caring for country” practices in the council’s work.

Melbourne is set to become a city with an Aboriginal focus.

The council’s draft Aboriginal Melbourne Action Plan says that the City of Melbourne is the first local council in Australia to have an officially endorsed reconciliation action plan.

“As a capital city, our vision for reconciliation is to lead by example,” it says.

The action plan aims to facilitate the indigenous contribution to the city by ensuring that “Aboriginal representation is provided in all aspects of council business and (by) creating culturally safe places in the municipality for Aboriginal people”.

An important plank of the plan is to explore the feasibility of a permanent outdoor ceremonial site for traditional owners in the inner city.

An Aboriginal bush food and fibre garden would also be set up in a council park or garden, in partnership with the indigenous community.

Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter is sceptical about plans for promoting indigenous culture.

However, Wurundjeri tribal elder Ian Hunter said ideas such as setting up culturally safe places, and training city managers specifically to deal with their Aboriginal staff, seemed condescending.

“We are normal people,” Mr Hunter said. “We didn’t push for this.”

The policy director of the free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, Simon Breheney, said that the Melbourne city council appeared to be obsessed with race.

“Erecting totems to racial division is an illiberal idea that separates Melburnians from one another and fosters disharmony,’ he said.

“Rather than playing a dangerous game of race politics, the council should cut rates and focus on service provision,” Mr Breheney said.

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