The 2023 AIATSIS Summit Youth Forum will draw together young native title holders, students, community organisers, advocates and other stakeholders to discuss the experiences of Indigenous youth in, and opportunities to engage with, native title, governance and nation-building.
Noongar representatives Jack Collard and Rickeeta Walley will open and facilitate the Forum and discuss their views on Noongar youth engagement in nation-building.
Lilly-Rae Jones and Latoya-Sharnae Jones will talk about the work of the Indigenous Country and Governance Unit (the Native Title Research Unit) and how youth perspectives might inform that work.
By bringing young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people together who have a shared interest in native title, governance and nation-building, delegates will have the opportunity to form valuable relationships and networks to support one another along their journeys.
| Session | Activity |
|---|---|
| Plenary | Daily Summit plenary as per program |
| 1 |
Welcome to Country and introductions from Jack Collard and Rickeeta Walley |
| 2 | Morning tea |
| 3 | Yarning Circle: Noongar youth perspectives on nation-building |
| 4 | Lunch |
| 5 | Indigenous Country and Governance Unit presentation on native title and how First Nation youth can inform our work |
| 6 | Men’s and women’s yarning circles: Indigenous youth perspectives on nation-building |
| 7 | Conclusion |
This event has now concluded.
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Meeting room 7
Please note this agenda is subject to change.
At the end of the session, we have arranged for a videographer to be available for those that would like to share their reflections and opinions of the session. We would love for you to share your thoughts with us.
These will be compiled to create a video to put on the AIATSIS website.
Youth Forum hosts
Lilly-Rae Jones
Lilly-Rae is a proud Wiradjuri woman who has lived on Ngunnawal country for most of her life. She is passionate about preserving and promoting First Nations culture, languages, and traditions.
Her journey working with community began in 2017 as an ATSI worker and First Aider with St. John Ambulance ACT. Lilly-Rae now works at AIATSIS as a Research Officer working closely with native title claims in the Indigenous Country and Governance Unit.
Latoya-Sharnae Jones
Latoya-Sharnae Jones is a Balardong, Whadjuk Nyungar and Yamatji woman from Whadjuk Nyungar boodja in Perth (WA), who currently lives on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra, ACT.
Latoya-Sharnae is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and complex interactions with the judicial system. Social justice, youth recidivism and law reform are additional areas of her interest.
Latoya-Sharnae works within the Indigenous Country and Governance Unit at AIATSIS, doing research on Native Title Water Rights. She is also a current student at the Australian National University studying a double bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences and Law (Honours), set to graduate at the end of 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Youth Forum presenters
Rickeeta Walley (she/her)
Rickeeta is a proud Nyoongar woman with additional family ties to Yamatji country. She was born and raised on Nyoongar country, where she started learing Nyoongar culture through dance and song practices, language and on-Country time with her father and Elders.
Rickeeta graduated from UWA in 2016 and immediately went on to work in Cultural Education. She has been working as a part-time Aboriginal Education Officer with Kings Park for 6 years, as well as being a part-time Aboriginal Educator and Researcher for her family business Aboriginal Productions.
Rickeeta’s work and passion lies within language and Cultural rejuvenation/reintegration for the next generation, and improved outcomes for all Indigenous peoples through education, meaningful decision-making, and self-determination.
Jack Collard
Jack is Nyoongar man with cultural and ancestral ties that span from the sandy wetlands of Whadjuk boodjar to the granite outcrops that are home to the Mungart trees on Ballardong boodjar.
Graduating from the University of Western Australia with a major in Political Science and International Relations, in 2022, Jack is now Executive Director for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander International Engagement Organisation (ATSIIEO).
He is the program coordinator for the Natural Resource Management pathways program which Nyoongarises the curriculum and paints a picture for Nyoongar kids in the wheatbelt where they see themselves as the Moondang Kaaradjiny (The Carers of Everything) once again.
