For First Peoples, this date is not a day of celebration, but a constant reminder of the calamitous and ongoing impact that colonisation has had on their rich history of culture and ways of life. The date signifies the beginning of a violent attempt to claim lands that had been cared for and stewarded for tens of thousands of years. Lands stolen through force, followed by decades of attempts to erase one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures. The divisiveness of this date is a straight contradiction of what any day celebrating this nation should be about.
We also take a moment to reflect on ourselves at KTA, and our commitment to celebrating and magnifying the voices of First Peoples through our work. We look at the year ahead with anticipation, recognising that there is ongoing work we must undertake to build on foundational stepping stones. From our work with diverse First Peoples’ practitioners, to the relationships we have built and hope to grow with Traditional Custodians throughout Victoria and on Olkola Country in Far North Queensland, we’re energised for what the year may have in store.
Location: Traditional lands of the Bunurong (Boon Wurrung) people