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 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.

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.