Decolonisation Action Group

We acknowledge the Turrbal people, traditional owners of the land the Farm is on, and their past, present and emerging Elders.

In October 2016 a Decolonisation Action Group, made up of volunteers including staff and Management Committee members, was formed at the Farm. The group’s purpose is to build partnerships with First Nations peoples and organisations; to build respect for First Nations culture and understanding of the history of colonisation; and to provide opportunities for First Nations people to learn from our education programs, to be facilitators/ teachers on our education programs, and to gain employment at NSCF.

The Decolonisation Action Group (DAG) has decided to use the term ‘First Nations’ rather than ‘Indigenous’ because this is the preferred terminology used by the national advocacy group, the First Nations Congress.

The DAG organises activities which:

• Acknowledge that we are on Turrbal land
• Mitigate the harm done by colonisation to the land and its people
• Tell the stories of the history of this place and people
• Support engagement with First Nations people
• Create a space to hear First Nations stories
• Create a culturally safe place
• Employ First Nations people to show we value diversity, acknowledge inequity and to learn from and value their knowledge and skills
• Explore the links between Permaculture and First Nations knowledge and culture.

DAG Activities in 2020

• • • We held fire-side discussions about decolonisation, white privilege and other related issues.
    • Emily McConochie, who was our First Nations Engagement Co-ordinator, ran a public workshop on ‘Remembering our Radical Roots’ in the lead-up to Invasion Day.
    • We held a First Nations themed Night Market, with performances from Ethan Enoch, Balairi and a native foods workshop.
    • We provided discounted places for teachers from the Murri School to attend our School Gardening workshop.
    • We provided a free tour for year 5 students from the Murri School.
    • We held meetings with our First Nations Advisory Group.
    • We took steps towards ‘decolonising’ our DAG meetings by holding them around the fire.
    • We decided to offer half price discounts for First Nations people to attend our Introduction to Permaculture weekend workshop.
    • We had First Nations performers at our Summer Solstice event.

DAG Activities in 2019

• • • We met quarterly with our First Nations Advisory Group who provided the Decolonisation Action Group with guidance on our work.
    • We hosted a forum for the Yolgnu Nations Aboriginal Corporation.
    • We held two evening events for the public: Libby Connors discussing her book ‘Warrior’ about the resistance warrior Dundali; and Ray Kerkhove discussing his book ‘Aboriginal Campsites of Greater Brisbane’.
    • We provided the Murri School with a free tour for the year five students and a discounted tour for the prep students.
    • Our Permaculture Design Course students did their garden designs at the Murri School.
    • Our first Permaculture Design Course part-scholarship for a First Nations person was taken up.
    • A group from NSCF attended the Myall Creek Massacre commemoration, and reported back to the wider farm community at a presentation.
    • We held a forum at our Winter Solstice Festival on ‘Decolonising the Diet’ with 2 members of our First Nations Advisory Group.
    • We secured a grant to employ a First Nations Engagement Coordinator for 5 months to develop some pilot programs and build relationships with First Nations community members and organisations.
    • A session on ‘Decolonisation 101’ was run by our First Nations Engagement Coordinator for the NSCF community.

DAG Activities in 2018

• • • We created a new Education Discounts policy which includes providing a half price place for First Nations people in each of our Permaculture Design Courses.
    • A public screening of the film Stingray Sisters was held to mark NAIDOC week.
    • We participated in the Family Fun Day at Musgrave Park during NAIDOC Week.
    • A series of 4 cultural awareness workshops for staff & volunteers was facilitated by Michael Williams.
    • First Nations information and storytelling was included in the Earth Kids program.
    • NSCF First Nations Advisory Group was formed.

DAG Activities in 2017

• • • A screening of the film ‘Putuparri and the Rainmakers’ for staff and volunteers.
    • Thursday talks by Michael Williams exploring First Nations culture, knowledge & perspectives.
    • In May, a group trip to Cherbourg to visit the Ration Shed Museum was followed by a camp at the Bunya Mountains.
    • An Aboriginal Flag raising ceremony was held during Reconciliation Week to celebrate 50 years since the 1967 Referendum.
    • A Decolonisation Action Plan for NSCF was developed.
    • A Harmony Day dinner celebrating all the cultures at the farm was held