ELIJAH Ingram has returned to his home town for a quick visit following a whirlwind couple of months.
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Mr Ingram was given the honour of making a special address at the United Nations in Geneva, following up that with a trip to Taiwan to discuss the importance of education for Indigenous people across the world.
The address at the UN was conducted on behalf of the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council Youth Advisory Committee, which Mr Ingram is a member of.
His presentation called on the United Nations to implement policy to address the forced removal of Indigenous Peoples from traditional lands, whether that be through explicit or tacit government policy.
Speaking while at home in Leeton recently, Mr Ingram said this was an issue that was still prominent in today's day and age.
"It's something that still happens today and it's something a lot of people probably aren't aware of," he said.
"Going to the UN was an incredible experience and one I won't forget.
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"It was an amazing honour to represent my people in that way."
Mr Ingram also reflected on how far Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have progressed in the past 80 years.
Members of his own families were born and lived on missions. He said for him to represent them and give a voice to the issues at the UN was a feeling he would remember for a long time.
Soon after his address at the UN, Mr Ingram was also part of a group that travelled to Taiwan for the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium's annual general meeting.
Mr Ingram was part of a small group from Macquarie University, where he is currently studying, to attend the event.
The idea was to continue to promote higher education among all Indigenous people across the world.
"These are all important issues ... it's not just something for Australian Indigenous people, but Indigenous people across the world," Mr Ingram said.
"Having an education is so important."
Mr Ingram said he would continue to advocate for the rights of his people and was hopeful his voice would help to make a difference.
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