Western Cape communities have been urged to have their say on the Indigenous Voice process after workshops were held in the region last week.

Prominent Indigenous leader Professor Marcia Langton was joined by Yarrabah mayor Ross Andrews for talks in Napranum, Weipa and Aurukun.

The sessions were to discuss the key points of the Indigenous Voice report, released in January, and to garner feedback to take to the federal government.

An advisory group made up of prominent Indigenous Australians has been examining possible models for an Indigenous Voice over the past 12 months.

The group co-chaired by Professor Langton and former Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma proposes options for what an Indigenous Voice might look like at a national, regional and local level.

It includes two models for the National Voice – with a smaller more flexible elected representative body made up of two people representing each state and territory and the Torres Strait Islands being the preferred option.

“It’s time for us to be heard and to be taken seriously. For too long we have been ignored,” Professor Langton said.

“We want to hear from people in all corners of Australia.”

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 19 April 2021.