MICHAEL WEST

Michael West is a member, cultural representative & Traditional Custodian with fellow Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) members, being responsible for the Land, Air, Water, History, Traditions and Culture within our boundaries.
Michael is a member of the Stolen Generations, an Aboriginal man of the Gamilaroi Nation and was born, raised and has lived his whole life in Sydney. Michael is proud to be part of the oldest living Civilisation, encompassing History, Knowledge, Ceremony, Traditions and Culture practiced for more than 65,000 years. Everyone should learn about their own History, Traditions and Culture. Understanding and appreciation of diversity, gives greater insight into humanity and oneself. Embracing diversity, brings greater opportunities both here in Australia and throughout the world, and can only be achieved through culturally respectful collaboration.
Really putting things in perspective in 2010, was participating as one of the members of Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council in a Repatriation Ceremony of Ancestral remains “Stolen” 120 and 140 years ago taken to Europe and England. Helping their spirit achieve rest by returning them to their ancestral country in Sydney was an affirmation that all Australians need to understand and respect our shared history, if we are to grow as a nation and the individual.
Michael sees himself as an educator sharing stories spaning from contemporary urban based Artist to cultural representative with Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. He currently heads the areas in Community Development, Projects, Strategic Engagement & Partnerships at MLALC. Burning and creating "Message Sticks" is practicing my culture and they are used for symbolism, marking points in the continuum and the education of people about history and Aboriginal perspectives. Fifty Message Sticks have been created some have been, Federal Circuit Court in collaboration with Grandmothers Against Removals, Invictus Games, Paralympics 2016, NSW Health Chronic Care and NSW Health Oral Health as educational tools in his cross-cultural education on Diversity, Family, Health, Housing, Law, Employment and Education. The Federal Circuit Court and Grandmothers Against Removals Message Stick has words and symbols as a catalyst for honest tough conversations, it is in the shape of a boomerang representing children returning to Country, Culture and Community. The Message Stick was taken by First Nations Federal Judge Matthew Myers to United Nations in New York for a talk in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Everyone has an intrinsic value, it’s upon us, the individuals, the communities and society to support and develop capabilities to enable the achievement of dreams and aspirations.