Meeting Name	First Nations Advisory Committee
Date	Tuesday 9 April 2024	Time 6.00pm
Venue	Level 4, PHIVE (5 Parramatta Square), Civic Reception Room + MS Teams
Committee Member Attendees	· Jayne Christian (Chairperson) (in person) · Raelene Billedo (online) · Roslyn Fogg (in person) · John Robertson (in person) · Edwina Crawford (online) · Isaac Roberts (online)
Councillor Attendees	Councillor Phil Bradley (online)
Council Staff Attendees	· Sarina Solar - Community Capacity Building Lead (Convenor) (in person) · David Moutou - Group Manager Social & Community Services (online) · Rodrigo Gutierrez - Community Capacity Building Manager (in person) · Sasha Allen - Senior Project Officer, Infrastructure Grants & Major Projects (in person) · Miguel Asuncion - Project Officer - Local Business Liaison (in person) · Phillip Daffara - Project Team Lead, City Strategic Planning (in person) · Rob Cologna – Group Manager City Strategic Planning (in person) · Katie Papagianis – Project Team Lead, Strategy (in person)
Apologies / Leave of Absence	Committee Members · Bruce Gale (Deputy Chairperson) · Julie Clarke Jones Council Staff · Karen Maber - Dharug Keeping Place Officer
Secretariat	Roxanne Thornton, Chief Governance & Risk Officer (in person)
HPRM Reference	F2022/01409         D09387717

PRE MEETING

Prior to the opening of the meeting, the First Nations people along with Sarina Solar (Convenor, Community Capacity Building Lead) met for 15 minutes, without any other people present. This portion of the Advisory Committee was not recorded, as it was not part of the Advisory Committee meeting itself.

Meeting commenced at 6.30pm.

No.	Item
1	Acknowledgement of Country The City of Parramatta Council acknowledges the Burramattagal Clan of The Dharug, the traditional owners of land of Parramatta and pays its respects to the elders past, present and emerging.
2	Apologies The Committee noted apologies from Bruce Gale (Deputy Chairperson) and Julie Clarke Jones.
3	Confirmation of Minutes – 13 February 2024 MOVED by Jayne Christian and SECONDED by Roslyn Fogg The Minutes of the previous First Nations Advisory Committee meeting, held on 13 February 2024, were CONFIRMED, with a notation that Roslyn Fogg’s name is incorrectly spelt in the Minutes. CARRIED
4	Disclosure of Interests There were no disclosures of interest for this Advisory Committee meeting.
5	Places To Love: Stories Under the Stars (A Warami Festival and Reconciliation Week event) This item was incorrectly referred to as ‘Update on Laneway Activation Project’ on the Agenda.
	Description	Sasha Allen (Senior Project Officer, Infrastructure Grants & Major Projects) and Miguel Asuncion (Project Officer - Local Business Liaison) led the First Nations Advisory Committee through a presentation on the Laneway Activation Project. A copy of the presentation is ON FILE.
	Outcome	· The Committee requested Council staff to forward  information/ collateral for the Committee to share amongst their networks/ contact. · The Committee asked staff to consider reaching out to particular contacts – names were provided to staff. · Aunty Ros’ grandson Lachlan Moore able to speak to Sky Country from a Dharug perspective. · Aunty Ros suggested a workshop on cultural burns through local land services in Penrith. · Raelene suggested reaching out to Catholic Diocese schools (e.g. Our Lady of Mercy College) and Colleen Mitchell at the Department of Education. · Suggestion to share EOI with emerging artists (e.g. through PAS, Pari, etc.). · Suggestion to reach out to Kimberwalli and Yabun Festival organisers. · Elders tent should be: o A space for Elders to have a yarn o Can be an open marquee but should be in n a sheltered/private space o Council should provide tea/coffee and seating · Truth telling tent o Could be a programmed series of talks/speakers and/or a moderated panel discussion o NAIDOC Week 2023 involved Aunty Julie Jones, focus on “Yes vote” o Suggestion for this year’s theme: “What next?”, “Reconciliation Week: Now More than Ever” Sasha to share event proposal and link for expressions of interest.
6	Parramatta River Vision This item was incorrectly referred to as ‘City Future Collaboration with Dharug and Barramattagal’ on the Agenda.
	Description	Phillip Daffara - Project Team Lead, City Strategic Planning led the First Nations Advisory Committee through a presentation on the Parramatta River Vision. A copy of the presentation is ON FILE. The two prioritised river vision collaborative actions identified by government landowners along the Parramatta River between Westmead and Wentworth Point that affects future collaboration with Dharug & Barramattagal are: Priority 1 “The river is a place to create a shared future cultural identity. The river is central to truth-telling histories - indigenous and colonial and frontier wars within the river catchment. A place to create a cultural experience of story-telling and learning to bring value, meaning and healing (interpretation opportunities).” Priority 2, “Codesign River places and projects with First Nations Peoples as the Central River Parklands is delivered in the future” (50+ years). Questions to the Committee: What do the First Nations Advisory Committee think about these vision actions from State Government landowners? What feedback would you like Council to give back to the State Government Agencies/ landowners?
	Outcome	Phillip Daffara sought feedback and advice from the Advisory Committee on two vision actions identified by State Government Agencies to achieve the Central River Parkland that involves Dharug. Feedback from the Committee included: · There is nothing wrong with the priorities as statements but the Dharug community needs to be actively involved in the codesign processes. · The River Vision’s principle that sees the river as a living system is good. Does this mean that the weirs will be removed to allow the living system to work to allow the mixing of salt and fresh waters and the eels to move and lie down? The river as a living system is currently blocked and as part of truth-telling it is important to look at removing the weirs. · Sydney Water needs to take responsibility for stormwater runoff and sewer overflows that pollute the river. · Dharug Country is bigger than the river corridor. Make sure State Agencies think about the tributaries. Healthy Country, Healthy River, Healthy People. · Replace FN with Barramattagal and Dharug in the wording of the Priority 2.   · We are very cautious when Dharug are not named. We need safe spaces and protocols to give more detailed information about projects along the river. Often in the past, we are asked too late in the process. Engage from the beginning and Agencies need to be aware of how they frame the conversations as this often limits our input. · Include Dharug engagement with other multi-stakeholder groups and specialists (e.g. ecologists, archaeologists). · We note agencies have been engaging with us (Four walks on Country in recent times), but we can see that they are not talking to each other and sharing information.  Bringing agencies together to create a bigger picture is important (refer Priority 2). Phillip Daffara will put the Committee’s feedback to the State Government Agencies at the next action planning workshop to develop collaborative actions (18 April).
7	Update on Parramatta 2050
	Description	Rob Cologna (Group Manager City Strategic Planning) and Katie Papagianis (Project Team Lead, Strategy) led the First Nations Advisory Committee through a presentation on Parramatta 2050. A copy of the presentation is ON FILE (D09396481).
	Outcome	· Strong support for ‘gather’ and ‘create’ as pillars / themes. · Suggestion of ‘collaborate’ as a potential third pillar / theme, instead of ‘innovate’. · Roslyn Fogg suggested that there should be more detailed engagement with the Advisory Committee at a different stage. · Roslyn Fogg and the Committee asked what was meant by a ‘Dharug partnership’ and what this would look like? · Roslyn Fogg and the Committee discussed options for what that the agreement might look like including some form of MOU or Treaty as possible options · Roslyn Fogg expressed the importance of this not being politically driven – that this is an authentic need/interest – this needs to be done correctly · The Committee indicated that this needs to be the beginning of a more detailed conversation.
8	Update on Keeping Place
	This matter was deferred and will be considered at the next meeting.
9	Other Business – First Nations Strategy
	Sarina Solar updated the Committee to confirm they were aware the First Nations Strategy is scheduled for 2 May 2024.
10	Next Meeting Date – 11 June 2024

Meeting closed at 8.12pm.