VAN Talks Podcast
Heading back to our roots and building on the work we undertook in the leadup to the 2023 Referendum, Victorian Aboriginal News (VAN) Talks focuses on the positivity that is Aboriginal Victoria. Covering everything from Voice, Treaty and Truth and Reconciliation through to Aboriginal businesses and Traditional Owner initiatives, the VAN Talks podcast is the only podcast that travels across the State to deliver interviews and stories that are the truth of Aboriginal Victoria.
Episodes
96 episodes
S03-E16: Reflecting on five years of Treaty work with Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg
Nearly six years ago, I traveled across Victoria shadowing Aunty Jill Gallagher, then the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner, and catching up with numerous traditional owners who had stepped forward as candidates for election to the Firs...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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24:16
S03-E15: Bringing Aboriginal cultural safety and influences into the education system
In this episode VAN's Charles Pakana sits down for a yarn with Aboriginal reform advocate and activist, Bunurong woman Zoe Upton. Together they discuss topics ranging from engaging with Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups, increasing the n...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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22:19
S03-E14: Victoria's dingoes barely protected under legislation
As we continue our deep dive into the Victorian Government's decision to extend the unprotection order on dingoes up until 2028, VAN's Charles Pakana travels to Apollo Bay to speak to Yuin man and academic, Dr Jack Pascoe. In this interview, th...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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20:01
S03-E13: The science and facts supporting the need to protect Victorian dingo populations
As we continue pursuing the facts behind the Victorian Government's strange decision to extend an Order in Council, taking unprotection of dingoes across much of the state through to 2028, VAN's Charles Pakana sits with with Professor Euan Ritc...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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26:29
S03-E12: Bringing Aboriginal culture into our daily lives
In this episode VAN’s Charles Pakana sits down with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung cultural educator Thane Garvey to discuss ways in which Aboriginal culture - language, caring for country, etc. - can be brought into our day-to-day lives.
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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22:11
S03-E11: The harsh reality of "black-cladding" of businesses
While a growing number of people and businesses seek to support Blak businesses, there is an unfortunate prevalence of businesses following a practice of "black cladding" to rip off the unaware
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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20:44
S03-E10: One year on from the referendum - a yarn with Thomas Mayo
Ever the optimist and activist, exactly one year on from the failed referendum to achieve a First Nations Voice in our Constitution, Thomas Mayo speaks about his book Always Was Always Will Be and his ongoing encouragement for all Australians t...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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22:16
S03-E09: Victorian Government signs dingo death warrant
In a move many describe as primarily politically motivated, the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has extended a dingo UNprotection order across areas of Victoria through to 2028. Traditional Owner groups, e...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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20:16
S03-E08: We visit Budj Bim on Gunditjmara Country and learn more about the story behind this cultural site
Sitting at Tae Rak on Gunditjmara Country in the state's South-West, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with the Budj Bim General Manager Joseph Saunders, discussing the story behind the place.
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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20:45
S03-E07: Talking Treaty - Reconciliation Victoria turns the table on Charles Pakana from Victorian Aboriginal News
In a bit of a change, it's Charles' turn to be interviewed about Treaty as he is joined by Reconciliation Victoria's Communications lead, Anna Van Vliet. They explore various questions that have come in to Rec Vic from members of its 30+ local ...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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27:25
S03-E06: "Treaty". A fairly generic word that can either be weaponised or seen as an amazing opportunity
A simple interview with Constitutional law expert Professor Cheryl Saunders about the legal meaning of "treaty" evolves to embrace a broad range of important related matters.
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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24:12
S03-E05: Putting Blak into philanthropy through decolonisation of attitudes and practices
OK, so it may seem a bit of a dry subject - philanthropy - but when you start to explore how, through its decolonisation, it can deliver major benefits to the broader community, the lightbulbs start to flicker on in our minds. We speak about th...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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25:45
S03-E04: Sky News' Peta Credlin and Senator Jacinta Price mislead on Treaty event and Victorian Treaty
Once again Sky News commentator Peta Credlin and the Federal Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Jacinta Price, have been proven wrong in commentary. This time, it's all about Victorian Treaty and a specific community education ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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19:06
S03-E03: When the multicultural communities take the lead in reconciliation across Victoria
Throughout 2023 and 2024, two research leads at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice undertook an innovative project to build reconciliation capabilities, strengths and leadership with the Victorian multicultural communitie...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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32:13
S03-E02: The changing Blak face of Ballarat and the need for local truth-telling
In this incredibly candid interview, VAN’s Charles Pakana talks with local Ballarat elder, Noongar man Uncle Al Harris, to discuss the state of reconciliation within the Victorian regional city of Ballarat. One of the major calls is for a local...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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26:58
S03-E01: Time closing in on community's dispute window regarding the Assembly and a statewide Treaty
On the 17th of September this year, the opportunity closes for the lodgement of either a comment or dispute regarding the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria meeting minimum standards to negotiate a statewide treaty. To gain a greater understan...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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14:47
S02-E40: Despite colonial efforts, the Woi-wurrung language is alive and growing
During a recent visit to Coranderrk, VAN’s Charles Pakana caught up for a yarn about the Woi-wurrung language with advocate, speaker and teacher Brooke Wandin. Without any doubt, the Woi-wurrung language, like other First Nations languages acro...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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25:31
S02-E39: Bruce Pascoe - at 77 he’s nowhere near ready to sit back and take it easy
Discussing everything from the referendum and cultural responsibilities right through to conservative media and "what's next", we engage in an in-depth interview with Bruce Pascoe.
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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32:26
S02-E38: City of Merri-Bek Mayor’s ambitions to enter into Treaty negotiations
Taking a position of leadership, the Mayor of Merri-Bek (formerly Moreland) talks openly about his and the city’s aspirations to enter into Treaty negotiations with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, the Traditional Owners of the country.
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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21:18
S02-E37: Yoorrook Commission Truth Receives speak out on challenges and goals
We hear all the time from the Commissioners of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, but what about those few people who are working every day with community to receive the truth about system injustices - past and current - heaped on Aboriginal peop...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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22:42
S02-E36: Victorian Treaty - the Framework, treaty readiness and ongoing truth-telling
In a far-reaching interview with Victorian Aboriginal News, co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg, responds to questions covering nuances of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, treaty readiness and the future of truth-t...
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Season 2
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Episode 36
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22:24
S02-E35: Wurundjeri Elder and lore man Uncle Bill Nicholson speaks out about education
All Australia bore witness to the obscene tagline of “If you don’t know, vote NO” that was used by anti-Voice campaigners in 2023. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder and lore man Uncle Bill Nicholson is a committed educator, and speaks on VAN Talks a...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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26:12
S02-E34: Aunty Esme Bamblett on Reconciliation - it's the role of every Australian
If you listen to just one of our podcast episodes this year...this is the one. CEO of the Aborigines' Advancement League, member of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, academic and activist Aunty Esme Bamblett talks bluntly about EVERY Aus...
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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22:38
S02-E33: Aboriginal singer/songwriter Pirritu (Brett Lee) talks of music as a social tool
VAN host Charles Pakana catches up with singer/songwriter Pirritu, also known as Brett Lee, to discuss the musician’s background story and the role he plays in bringing about social change.
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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20:58
S02-E32: Victoria's Anglican church moves forward with commitment to Reconciliation, Recognition and Treaty
On the 30th of June 2024, Anglican priest Uncle Glenn Loughrey, a Wiradjuri man who campaigned strongly for the Voice to Parliament, was collated at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne as Provincial Archdeacon for Reconciliation, First Peoples Rec...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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20:55