The open forum event allows for greater understanding of the October 14 Voice referendum.
The open forum event allows for greater understanding of the October 14 Voice referendum.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) has welcomed one of Australia's most prominent Aboriginal intellects and activists – Noel Pearson for an open forum to allow for greater understanding of the October 14 Voice referendum, and what it means for all Australians.
It's one of the latest in a stretch of Yes campaign events which have been held around the nation.
"It's like we are climbing Everest, and now we're on the last stretch of the journey," Noel Pearson told the audience.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous) Professor Braden Hill hosted the event, took questions from the audience, which saw more than 100 ECU staff and students converge outside Edith Cowan House at ECU Joondalup campus.
"It has been wonderful to have such esteemed leaders like Noel Pearson come to talk to our students, staff and broader community. This is such an important national conversation, and I am proud that ECU has had the courage to endorse a Yes position and played such an important leadership and educative role."
"To hear about the very many practical ways the Voice proposal would make meaningful change to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities for not only compelling but inspiring, particularly coming from such a leader in constitutional reform."
ECU staff and students were given the opportunity to ask questions about the Yes campaign.
A chance to be heard
Noel Pearson, a prominent Yes campaigner made an impassioned plea to ECU staff and students to bring Aboriginal people 'out of the shadows' by accepting what he called a 'practical proposal' on October 14.
"Our children are going to have absolutely no hang ups about this, they'll have no reservations about recognising their fellow Australians," Mr Pearson said.
"Now we're on the cusp of achieving constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.
"This is but the last stage of the journey that began in the early decades of the 20th century, all we are doing is standing on the shoulders of the giants who faced a harder country than the Australia of today."
Listening to the Voices
Noel Pearson comes from the Guugu Yimidhirr community of Hopevale on South Eastern Cape York Peninsula.
He is a land rights activist, history and law graduate of the University of Sydney, and a member of the From the Heart Advisory Group and the Voice to Parliament Referendum Working Group.
"With the Voice to Parliament referendum quickly approaching, opportunities to engage with someone like Noel Pearson on questions as critical as this is so important to informing our decisions at the ballot box on October 14," Professor Hill said.
