A WA region with 37 per cent Indigenous population is divided by what a Voice to Parliament could mean.
Aboriginal people living in the Kimberley are torn about the proposed Voice, which has left some with reservations about whether or not it could improve the lives of people living in remote areas.
The referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament is due to be held later this year.
Jaru man and environmental scientist, Donny Imberlong, was concerned the Voice would not provide the change it promised.
"They're only an advisory body," he said.
"It seems like there is no real power given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Voice Committee."
Mr Imberlong said it was not the first time Indigenous people had been left out of government decisions.
"I'm definitely for trying to find some solutions but it's just broken promises time and time again," he said.
"It's hard to put your heart and soul to back this Voice when it just feels like the same stuff repackaged."
The Voice to Parliament came about after discussions at the Uluru Statement of the Heart, which took place in 2017.
Mr Imberlong said the process needed more time and consideration.
"The government operates in these grand, flashy schemes," he said.
"Rather than taking the time, stepping back and diverting a bit more funding towards local programs that often have a better track record.
"If you're rushing something like this through, it is a huge risk."
He was worried it could be a long time before Aboriginal people would see tangible outcomes.
"Issues up here are going backwards quite rapidly," he said.
"It kind of seems like a convoluted, lengthy process to nothing."
'Time to make changes'
Butchulla Jagera woman Jodie Bell, who has lived in the Kimberley for more than three decades, said she believed the Voice could make a big difference for Aboriginal people in the region.
"I'm hoping that when they structure the Voice, there's going to representation from remote communities," she said.
"They're obviously the ones that need to have a say in how things are run in their communities."
Ms Bell was a part of initial discussions about the Voice in 2017.
"I was involved in the Uluru dialogue when the notion of the Voice came out," she said.
"I believe it's time we make changes because what we're doing is not working."
Ms Bell said Aboriginal people suffered during the push and pull of changing governments.
"Government sits for three odd years, and the minute that's changed, everything gets thrown into the washing machine and comes out completely different," she said.
"We're kind of like the political football."
Landmark body backs Voice
The Kimberley Land Council is behind the push for the Voice in the region.
It was formed in 1978 and has become one of the most prominent land councils in the state, helping establish more than 30 native title bodies across the region.
Chairperson Anthony Watson said the Voice could help Aboriginal people have more say over their land.
"Now we're post native title, and we want to make sure our independence and self-determination is carried out," he said.
"This is a turning point to actually getting traction on addressing a lot of our issues."
Mr Watson said improving the lives of First Nations people could be a long process, but the Voice could be the first step.
"We know that a lot of things won't be resolved straight away," he said.
"It's well over 50 years since the referendum of 1967.
"We need to move our interests forward and we need action soon."
