Historical Frontier Violence research team present at a Public Economic Forum

Why Truth-telling and reconciliation is a 'must' for Indigenous economic empowerment

The research team on our Historical Frontier Violence project recently visited Canberra and presented a Public Economic Forum on why Truth Telling and Reconciliation are critical for Indigenous economic empowerment.

Hosted by the Melbourne Institute at the National Portrait Gallery, we explored emerging evidence from an eight-year study examining how Australia’s colonial past continues to shape relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The research finds that communities exposed to historical frontier violence remain more divided along racial lines today, with greater resistance to Indigenous self-determination.

Thank you to our panellists Libby Ferrari (CEO, Reconciliation Queensland), Sara Frazer (Engagement and Education Coordinator, Reconciliation Queensland), Professor Andrew Gunstone, PhD (Co-chair Reconciliation Victoria) and Dr Ivan Ingram (Director, the Healing Foundation) who joined the research team Associate Professor Julie Moschion (University of Queensland), Associate Prof Cain Polidano (Melbourne Institute), Dr Angela Chen, PhD and Professor Michelle Evans (Dilin Duwa) to share in this rich and important conversation.