If you’re not aware, Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates are significant as they represent two key dates in our Indigenous advancement and advocacy, two events that changed us for the better; the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.
Across organisations, departments and businesses like the ones you’re working in, you are able to be allies in our collective goals of creating a fair, equitable and thriving Indigenous business economy. You may have found us through Kinaway or Supply Nation, both of which are working hard to advocate for all our Indigenous business across a range of sectors. If you haven’t heard of these resources, I encourage you to check them out and see what other amazing Indigenous business you can partner with.
There are also other ways you can act as allies to Indigenous Australians, which don’t necessarily have anything to do with business. It’s becoming relatively normal now to acknowledge country at the start of a major meeting or event, so I encourage you to consider what country means to you. How do you value and respect country, and how might you think about how that country has been cared for? You could also seek out some wonderful Indigenous arts; from music, TV, cinema, literature and fine art.
Allowing us as Indigenous people to thrive in our respective areas, across business, in art, in sport and in everyday life, allows us to be self-determining. For too long Indigenous people have been the subject of other people’s policies, yet now with our collective strength we are determining who we want to be, on our terms. With your allyship, be being brave and making change in your ways, we’ll all be able to make a substantial difference to the lives and livelihoods of Australia’s First Peoples.
