Considerations for How We Come Together & Support Original Nations and Peoples
The Friends and Allies Working Group invite you to share in conversations and bear witness, hearing the voices of Original Nations and Peoples (ONP) and beginning a path for understanding how we can develop better relationships during the ONP InterNātional Earth Summit and beyond.
ONP represent a mere 3.2% of people in Australia and less than 6% of people on Earth. Precious voices offering crucial perspectives for remembering how to live in harmony with the Earth, imperative narratives in the discourse about caretaking the earth, and insights for how we practice caring for each other, developing ways for working together.
Do we acknowledge or remember our spiritual nature? Where we may be descendants of Peoples who once honoured the Earth, we might also recognise a disconnection from this honouring. Many of us will never know our ancestral lands, languages, cultures, law/lore or ceremonies. This can be very painful, but we must not attempt to fill this void by only taking and appropriating from other cultures or ways of being.
Accepting and grieving such losses can help transform these voids of pain we fill with consumption, distraction, numbing out and addiction.
There are few alive during these times not carrying psychospiritual wounds from patriarchy, colonialism, racism, gender bias and sexual discrimination to name a few, yet each of these are destructive constructs made by the human mind and therefore can be unmade by the human mind.
While we may not have contributed directly to such immense pain and suffering, it is our responsibility to find ways to heal these patterns of relational trauma that play out in our lives; for ourselves, our loved ones, future generations, the Earth and all beings.
How can we stand in solidarity with Original Nations & Peoples during the Earth Summit?
Standing in solidarity involves knowing who we are through the courage of self-reflection, education, relationship and listening. It means understanding the way our privilege has derived from unjust systems that have dispossessed and marginalised Original Nations & Peoples, perpetuating great social and environmental harm.
Where we may need to build places to speak out against such unjust systems, the Earth Summit is a place to listen and build our capacity for finding ways to work together, dismantling and transforming structures and systems of oppression and discrimination.
As non-ONP can we be mindful of how, through our own behaviours and choices, we contribute to perpetuating systems of inequity and harm? Here are some suggestions for our reflection:
Listening to Original Nations and Peoples
The Earth Summit is hosted by the Gumbaynggirr Nation and Peoples. Please arrive with an awareness of the traditional custodians and Elders of the lands you live on or are visiting. The Earth Summit is a space where ONP are gathering to hear each other’s voices. Please be mindful of the energy of ONP and refrain from approaching Elders directly with your questions, instead, bring your questions to the Friends and Allies Circle that will gather each day. Practice Deep Listening.
Centre the stories
We are co-creating a space to amplify the voices of First Nations communities, please don’t make it about yourself. You should directly share messages with your networks in the words of ONP without alteration, honouring the sources.
Learn the historical legacy of Colonialism
The legacy of colonial brutality and dispossession of Original Nations and Peoples continues to play out across the Earth. This is also true for the Gumbaynggirr Nation and Peoples and is important in understanding the patterns of ongoing trauma and discrimination. It is not the responsibility of Gumbaynggirr or Original Nations and Peoples to educate you.
Generosity
Showing up in support is great but please offer to lend a hand as well and contribute financially. Know that they are already contributing on your behalf or there would be no Earth Summit. The ONP Earth Summit has no dedicated streams of funding and is dependent completely on the generosity of community which in many cases means the people with the least resources are giving the most. Please listen to your heart and give what you can. For ONP generosity is a cultural and spiritual practice.
Be Respectful of Where You Are
Be mindful of entering spaces and conversations, particularly around cultural and spiritual practices. While generosity and inclusion are embedded in many cultures, please be respectful and humble in these spaces. Often you wlll find that ONP will ask you if they want your thoughts or are interested in your point of view.
Be Responsible for Yourself
Be aware of what you are consuming through your presence. Generosity is giving back more than you've received.
Know When to Step Back
Be aware of what space you are taking up.We are here as guests in supportive roles, to listen and bear witness to stories. There will be times when Original Nations and Peoples need to act alone and we can learn to respect their boundaries even if we don’t understand them.
Saviours are Not Needed, Solidarity and Presence Are
Solidarity is a powerful way to stand with Original Nations and Peoples, however it is only meaningful if it is substantive and not merely performative. This means showing up to support ONP with presence alone is the beginning of a deeper understanding for learning how we can work together.
Be Mindful of Others’ Time and Energy
Original Nations and Peoples have to be advocates on a wide range of issues affecting their communities first-hand. ONP don’t have the choice to switch off from being involved and their energy can be pulled in many directions. We can be mindful of not becoming a ‘puller’.
Humility and Presence
The Earth Summit can be enhanced when we practice humility through our presence. Following these suggestions, reflecting on your choices and behaviours, these give opportunity to begin finding ways for dismantling racism and ignorance, supporting efforts for transforming the systems and structures that dominate and perpetuate inequity and harm.
We thank you for your courage and look forward to you joining us in this transformative space!
Suggested Readings and Resource List:
- My Grandmothers Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathways to Mending Our Hearts & Bodies - Resmaa Menakem
- Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out - Ruth King
- Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity's Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism - Vanessa Machado de Oliveira
- Hospicing Modernity video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZgq3h6pPxU
- Leah Manavene Avene - Co Culture Communication: a land-based, Indigenous approach to anti-oppressive strategy, cross-cultural communication and relational design www.coculturecommunication.com
- Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet - Thich Nhat Hanh
