The Essendon Football Club is committed to recognising, respecting and celebrating the unique relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have with this great place we all call home.

As such, the Essendon Football Club is proud to announce their continued partnership with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria in 2023.

The partnership, aligned with Essendon’s Dreamtime at the ‘G game – a key fixture of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round – and coinciding with the Victorian Treaty Elections, aims to provide a platform to raise awareness about Treaty.

Treaty forms part of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for three key things: Voice, Treaty and Truth.

Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, the co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria said she couldn’t wait for the Dreamtime match.

 “Ours is the oldest living culture in the world and I just love seeing it shared and celebrated. This is a deadly jumper design and of course I’m thrilled to see Treaty for Victoria getting a run this year at the Dreamtime game.

The Dreamtime match is a great event and this year it coincides with our Treaty Elections, so it’s just perfect to have the teams helping to spread the word.

We need all mob in or from Victoria to know they are welcome on the journey to Treaty. We need Aboriginal people to have their say and choose the people who will represent mob proudly in the upcoming Treaty negotiations.

This is an important time. For many generations our people have been fighting for Treaty, a chance to make sure we have the freedom and power to make the decisions that affect our lives. And now Treaty is very much within our reach – negotiations are going to start later this year.”

Leanne Brooke, Essendon Football Club’s Executive General Manager of Community, Indigenous Affairs and The Long Walk, added her personal sentiment, commenting that “Treaty is extremely important. It puts self-determination and Aboriginal peoples and communities at the centre of decisions and policies that affect our everyday lives.  

As a Gunditjmara and Keeray Wurrung woman living and working in Naarm, a process grounded in culture and lore and designed by Aboriginal people gives me hope and optimism that the First Peoples of Victoria will create a future where our mobs can make a real difference in our communities.”

The Essendon Football Club encourages our community to engage in the conversation and learn more about Treaty.

All eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from or in Victoria are welcome to cast their votes to choose the people who will negotiate the first Treaty in Australia.

Aunty Geraldine Atkinson continues, “So if you’re mob and you’re over 16, please show your support and have your say in the Treaty Elections, because your vote matters.”

The Treaty for Victoria elections will take place from May 18 to June 3, 2023.

To find out more about Treaty and these historic elections, head to TreatyElections.org.