Rueben Berg is a proud Gunditjmara man from Melbourne, Victoria, and is also a proud father of two children, Kalinga and Jirra. Rueben tries to use his skills, enthusiasm and passion in a diverse range of areas, including Aboriginal culture, water, heritage, public speaking and ultimate frisbee. Rueben is a Member of The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria from the Metropolitan region.
Rueben states, “We have been able to make some important decisions, but there is still a lot of work to do. We need to keep yarning about the details that Community would like to see. What are the structural reforms that will improve the next generations’ lives? Do we want dedicated seats in the Victorian Parliament that Aboriginal people vote for, do we want our own Parliament for our people? Maybe we want both. Nothing is off the table, so let’s go for it! I wanted to bring my knowledge and understanding of how government works to make sure that our communities can get the best possible outcomes from the Treaty process”.
He is a founder and director of Indigenous Architecture Victoria, a not-for-profit corporation which provides support and advice regarding all aspects of Aboriginal Architecture. Rueben works to support the healthy lives of Indigenous Victorians and to ensure that all Victorians understand and embrace the Indigenous culture.
The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is the independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners of Country and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria. We believe it’s time to negotiate Treaties between our people and the Government of Victoria and we’re creating a pathway to get there. Walk with us.