Alumni Magazine Issue 5

Social activist inspires change to Indigenous rights in Norway Peter Dawson BACHELOR OF LAWS/BACHELOR OF ARTS (POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) CLASS OF 2015 Featured on the Manjaree honour board is Notre Dame alumnus Peter Dawson, who is making waves at the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution after recently completing his postgraduate studies at the University of Oslo. For his Master of Public International Law thesis, Peter focused on the rights of Indigenous peoples in cities and urban areas, looking at Perth as a case study. “I work on a wide range of human rights issues affecting the Sami people. Recently I’ve worked on projects regarding violence and abuse in Sami communities, the impacts of extractive and renewable energy industries in Sami areas, and the need for a human rights based approach to Sami statistics.” Peter was most recently in New York to participate in the annual UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where his organisation co-hosted a seminar on the issue of violence and abuse in Indigenous communities. This determined spirit was evident during his studies at Notre Dame, as Peter was a strong advocate for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) and for the establishment of an Indigenous student space on Campus. He travelled to the Broome Campus during his studies to volunteer with the Nulungu Research Institute and also gave the Nulungu Reconciliation Lecture in 2012. That same year, Peter received the John Koowarta Reconciliation Law Scholarship from the Law Council of Australia and was named Indigenous Law Student of the Year by the Australian Attorney General. "I had a fantastic experience at Notre Dame, which prepared me well for a future career in Indigenous rights, and I cherish the friendships I made with students and staff during my studies.” “For the final two years of my studies at Notre Dame, I worked for Reconciliation Australia on the campaign to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution. One of the projects I coordinated was a participatory street art project with university students across the country – including students at Notre Dame. This was the large ‘paste-up’ mural of student faces on the library building on Henry Street.” Peter is proud and humbled to be recognised among the many accomplished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alumni on the Manjaree honour boards. O U R A L U M N I Alumni Magazine – Page 7