Yarra Council declared its support for the global Black Lives Matter movement at a Council Meeting last night.
The motion was prepared in consultation with Yarra’s Yana Ngarna advisory group, made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, and was passed unanimously by all Councillors without debate.
Yarra Council commits to fighting racism, preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody, and advocating for broader understandings of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community experiences, issues and stories.
Yarra Council recognises a need to encourage positive relationships between law enforcers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Yarra. We are committing to several actions to support this.
We are committing to taking a look at all the historical people and events represented in statues, plaques, monuments and other signage, and examining anything that may be associated with oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This does not necessarily mean we are committing to removing or replacing any historical markers.
The intention is to understand and ultimately share the full extent of our history here in Yarra, and tell a complete story. This story cannot be complete without also including our Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We will share the full resolution when it becomes available.
