Our commitment to Treaty
At Environmental Justice Australia, we believe in justice, dignity and self-determination for all peoples – and we know this truth:
There can be no environmental justice without justice for First peoples.
Since the beginning of time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have looked after Country – practising law and culture that sustains forests, rivers, and life.
Their sovereignty was never ceded.
Colonisation, extractive industries, and discriminatory laws have deeply harmed people, Country and culture. These systems continue to deny First Nations people power over decisions that affect their lives and lands. As a legal organisation dedicated to justice, we recognise the immense responsibility we have to help change this.
That’s why we’ve made a formal Treaty Pledge – a commitment to walk alongside the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and support the journey to Treaty, here in the place now called Victoria, where our head office is based.
Why Treaty matters to us
Treaty is about healing, truth-telling and justice. It’s a pathway for First Nations people to reclaim power, uphold their rights and shape their future, grounded in their knowledge, culture and leadership.
As lawyers and advocates, we understand that the legal system has been used to take power from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – through dispossession, criminalisation, and exclusion.
But the law can also be a tool for recognition, restoration and resistance. That’s the work we’re committed to: standing behind First Nations people as they protect Country, assert sovereignty, and lead change on their own terms.
What we’ve pledged
On 30 April 2025, EJA’s Board formally adopted our Treaty Pledge, endorsed by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. Through it, we commit to walking the path of Treaty with integrity, humility and action.
Our commitments include:
- Providing pro bono legal support to traditional owner Groups on environmental justice issues during Treaty negotiations
- Continuing training for EJA staff to build deeper understanding of issues impacting First Nations people, the Treaty process, and cultural competency
- Supporting First Nations communities with legal knowledge and capacity-building to enable effective participation in Treaty processes
- Raising awareness of Treaty and First Nations people’s rights – especially where they intersect with environmental justice
- Advocating for policy and legal reforms that recognise First Nations people’s rights and enable the implementation of Treaty commitments
- Honouring Aboriginal languages and cultures by co-naming spaces in our office and including support for Treaty in our public acknowledgements
As an organisation dedicated to environmental justice, we must play our part in righting the wrongs of the past and creating a better future together.
— Environmental Justice Australia Treaty Pledge
A shared commitment to justice
This pledge builds on the work EJA is already doing with First Nations clients and partners across the continent. Together, we:
- Enable First Nations land practices through legal and policy reform
- Pursue water justice by helping Traditional Owner organisations secure cultural flows
- Assist in protecting Country through legal interventions, advocacy, and litigation
- Support Treaty and truth-telling processes that create lasting systemic change
We’re also committed to doing better as allies – by listening, learning and changing how we work. That includes engaging paid First Nations consultants, undertaking regular cultural awareness training, supporting First Nations-owned businesses and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives across our work.
Treaty is a path forward
Treaty gives First Nations people the power to create change – by designing systems that reflect their communities’ values, knowledge and priorities. It’s a way to fix what isn’t working and build what’s needed.
When you listen to people, you get better outcomes. Decisions about First Nations people should be made by Aboriginal people, and Treaty gives First Nations people a pathway to change what isn’t working, and to come up with and deliver practical solutions.
— Environmental Justice Australia Treaty Pledge
EJA is proud to be one of the organisations walking this path. We know that environmental justice can only be achieved when First Nations voices are heard, rights are upheld, and Country is cared for in line with Indigenous law and leadership.
More of EJA's work
Protecting ecosystems
