Panel Discussion: Land Rights and Native Title on Butchulla Country - Gatakers Creative Space

Hear from local Indigenous leaders including Aunty Veronica Bird, Jade Gould and Uncle Glen Miller about the ongoing process of land reclamation on Butchulla country.

This panel discussion, led by HBRG's Indigenous Program Officer Sam Raveneau, will trace the pivotal historical moments and important figures of the land rights and native title movements on the Fraser Coast, and highlight what is still to be done.

This talk takes place at Gatakers Artspace, Maryborough alongside Retrac(k)ing country and (s)kin, an artwork by Brenda L Croft presented in conjunction with the exhibition Still in my mind: Gurindji location, experience and visuality at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery.

Guest Bios:

Veronica Bird

Veronica Bird is a proud descendant of the Butchulla, Bundjalung and Mulunjarli Nations and a highly respected community Elder. She is recognised as a strong leader and advocate and has held several elected positions over her forty-five year career in Aboriginal Affairs which includes Aboriginal Land Rights and Native Title. An accomplished Indigenous Affairs professional with a passion to drive ongoing engagement, opportunities, and success, she has considerable experience in policy, administration, and community liaison across Federal, State and Local Governments. Bird is a passionate and engaged leader who excels in driving Indigenous Affairs solutions to create change in a community-focused manner, whilst working in collaboration with stakeholders at all levels to deliver practical solutions. With a record of accomplishment for exceeding the standards of performance expected of her whilst providing high-quality leadership to facilitate success, she is driven to ensure exceptional and appropriate representation of Aboriginal people and communities at Local, State and Federal levels.  

Bird has worked in Land Rights for thirty years, having held positions as a Director, Chairperson and General Manager of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation which is the Native Title body for K’gari. She is currently the General Manager of the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation which is the Native Title Body for the mainland and waterways of Butchulla Country.

Sam Raveneau

Sam Raveneau is a Kamilaroi and Biripi descendant who was born on Butchulla Country. He is passionate about his community and culture which he brings to his role as Indigenous Programs Officer at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery. In his work he strives to represent the youth of the Fraser Coast, who are invested in the history and decisions that affect the community and wants to ensure their voices are heard.

Jade Gould

Jade Gould is a young Butchulla and Woppaburra leader. Gould has a master’s degree in science, with her thesis focusing on the impacts of climate change on First Nations peoples, in particular the Butchulla people. Gould was formerly the Chairperson and Director of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation Native Title Prescribed body corporate for several years - the native title body for managing Butchulla’s rights on K’gari. Some of her notable achievements in this role is the repatriation of the name of K’gari (Fraser Island), playing a leading role in the management of the 2020 K’gari wildfires and injecting millions of dollars into the Butchulla circular economy through increasing paid employment opportunities for Butchulla people on Country. Gould has also been a member of the Woppaburra TUMRA since 2013. In this role she ensures Woppaburra have a voice in the management of Woppaburra sea country.

Glen Miller

Glen Miller is a descendant of the Wondunna Clan of the Butchulla Aboriginal people. He is a member of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation Elders Committee, and the Wondunna Aboriginal Corporation. Glen is the Founder and President of Butchulla Men’s Business Aboriginal Association Inc. He is a current Board Member of Fraser Coast Tourism and Events and has worked extensively in tourism including 17 years with Queensland Tourist & Travel Corporation / Tourism Queensland, coordinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism and Special Interest Tourism.

Listen to the full recording below: