Resources to support First Nations justice
First Nations people have a powerful history of strength and resistence – and they know best what their communities need to thrive and to care for country and culture.
Today, First Nations communities are at the forefront of climate and environmental harm. Coal and gas extraction are causing harm to Aboriginal land – and fuelling climate change, which threatens sacred sites with devastating sea level rise and leaves remote communities facing dangerous extreme heat.
First Nations communities have contributed least to climate and environmental destruction – yet are feeling the impacts first and worst.
But it doesn’t have to be like this.
As non-Indigenous settlers, we have a huge responsibility to listen, learn and act to help fight for First Nations justice – 365 days a year.
As an environmental justice organisation, we know that First Nations justice is inseparable from the fight to protect nature, safeguard our climate, and stand up for the communities most impacted by environmental harm.
This resource hub features a collection of different stories and perspectives from First Nations people across the continent. You’ll also find information about a number of First Nations campaigns and organisations we encourage you to support either financially or by taking action.
There can be no climate and environmental justice without First Nations justice.
Listen
NITV
NITV is a free-to-air channel, radio and news site made by, for, and about Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people. It champions the stories and experiences of First Nations people. Don’t miss the nightly NITV news, drama night, movie night, natural history documentaries and Bamay birds eye view of some incredible landscapes.
IndigenousX
IndigenousX is a 100% Indigenous-owned and operated media, consultancy, and training organisation. It showcases and celebrates Indigenous diversity and upholds Indigenous knowledge, voices and ways of being. A different First Nations person or organisation takes over IndigenousX Twitter every week — follow it to listen and learn.
FRONTIER WAR STORIES
Frontier War Stories is a podcast dedicated to truth-telling about a side of Australia that has been left out of the history books. Each episode, host Boe Spearim speaks with different Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people about research, books and oral histories which document the first 140 years of conflict and resistance after colonisation.
Learn
Articles
How to be a good Indigenous ally by Yorta Yorta woman, academic, writer and public health consultant, Dr. Summer May Finlay.
Top 10 positive ways non-Indigenous Australians can engage with Indigenous Issues by Yawuru woman Shannan Dodson.
Where do you fit? Tokenistic, ally or accomplice? by Yorta Yorta woman, Dr. Summer May Finlay.
Share our Pride will give you a glimpse if how life looks from and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.
More Australians want to do something to help improve reconciliation but don’t know how on what reconciliation means by ABC News.
Decolonising Solidarity: Dilemmas and Directions for Supporters of Indigenous Struggles by Clare Land.
AIATSIS’ Map of Indigenous Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is made up of so many different and distinct groups, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws. Keep this map of Indigenous Australia handy to know whose Country you are on and to learn more about the language, social and nation groups of Aboriginal Australia.
Learn about your local Indigenous community
Being a better ally means understanding and learning about the Traditional Custodians of the land you are on or visiting. Reach out to your local council or visit the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association (for Victoria), or the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc (for NSW).
Wake Up The Snake! Collective wisdom brings nature back to balance | Anne Poelina
Books
Tony Birch, Ghost River (University of Queensland Press, 2015)
Chelsea Watego, Another Day in the Colony (University of Queensland Press, 2021)
Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Talking Up to the White Woman (University of Queensland Press, 2000)
Irene Watson Aboriginal Peoples, Colonialism and International Law: Raw Law (Routledge, 2016)
Kevin Gilbert, Because a White Man’ll Never Do It (Angus and Robertson, 1973)
Sean Brennan et al, Treaty (Federation Press, 2005)
Langton et al, Settling with Indigenous People: Modern Treaty and Agreement-Making (Federation Press, 2006)
Prof Megan Davis, ‘Listening but not hearing’ (2015) Griffith Law Review
Australian Earth Laws Alliance, ‘Future Dreaming’
Films
Richard Bell: You Can Go Now – 50 years of First Nations activism in Australia seen through the lens of contemporary Australian Aboriginal artist and provocateur Richard Bell.
In My Blood It Runs – A personal documentary and an essential portrait of Australian youth. Follow Dujuan, an inquisitive young Arrernte/Garrwa boy who speaks three languages, understands his Aboriginal culture and loves his country.
After the Apology – Four grandmothers begin a national movement to tackle the removal of children and the rising number of Indigenous children in out-of-home care after Kevin Rudd’s apology to the stolen generations in 2008.
Water is Life – A documentary about the Aboriginal communities fighting against fracking plans in the NT, learning from First Nations brothers and sisters fighting the same battles in the US.
Incarceration Nation – Australia was founded by the British with one clear purpose – to create a prison colony. We’ve continued to be one ever since. Incarceration Nation lays bare the continued systemic injustice and oppression against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on their own land – and their strength and resistance in the face of it.
We Don’t Need a Map – The Southern Cross is the most famous constellation in the southern hemisphere. But for Aboriginal people the meaning of this heavenly body is deeply spiritual – a totem that’s woven into the spiritual and practical lives of Aboriginal people.
Take action
20 actions for reconciliation
Reconciliation Australia have compiled 20 actions for reconciliation and allyship. Actions include:
- Calling out racism
- Buying from First Nations businesses
- Caring for Country
- Defending Land Rights and Native Title
- Challenging our leaders to take action on justice
DONATE
Working with us, not for us: strategies for being a better ally to First Nations people
This Conversation article outlines some important strategies for being a good ally with First Nations Peoples and communities — written by Kelly Menzel, a First Nations woman living on Kombumerri Country, and Richard Matthews, a Canadian white male settler living on the lands of the Minjungbal people of the Bundjalung Nation.
At EJA we strive to learn, improve and do more to be better allies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Some of the work we’re currently doing:
- Working with paid First Nations consultants on using our work to support Aboriginal communities
- Cultural awareness, cultural safety and anti-racism training for all staff
- Delivering our Reconciliation Action Plan
- Choosing First Nations businesses as suppliers
- Supporting Seed through workplace giving and as a partner