Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been caring for Country and the environment for over 60,000 years in Australia. We need to ensure their voices are listened to and amplified in our fight for the living planet.
- Make an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of shows. This is a way of standing in solidarity with First Nations people by respecting and acknowledging their ongoing resilience and strength as traditional custodians. Our suggested wording:
'I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land that this event takes place on, the (people) of the (nation), and pay my respects to Elders past and present. Sovereignty has never been ceded and this performance takes place on stolen land.'
Check out this map to see whose land you’re on. Make your Acknowledgement personal in some way - reflect on what the Country you’re on means to you in addition to the above wording. - Raise Indigenous work and voices through your online platforms.
- Donate a portion of ticketing profits to a body led by Indigenous Elders through the #PaytheRent movement. Use this guide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander charities, the links in Shannan Dodson’s article, or the #paytherent links in the anti-racism resources to choose a group that’s genuinely controlled by the community, without government interference. If you're in Victoria, pay the rent here.
- Undertake cultural awareness training like the Black Card program
- Educate yourself: Learn about the history of this continent and about how to be a good Indigenous ally
To read more about the New Normal & our workshop on normalising First Nations leadership, click here →