Photo: Glenn Hunt/AAP

DCAN acknowledges that there can be no climate justice without justice for First Nations peoples. To achieve this, we need to put an end to the brutal impacts of colonisation and racism. Traditional Owners have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years. They continue to inspire us with their strength, resilience and resistance - leading campaigns to protect Country and sacred sites from the destructive practices of fossil fuel mining companies.    

Today marks the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the beginning of the colonisation, dispossession and violence that has continued to the present day.  We stand in solidarity with First Nations Peoples on this day of mourning and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We especially acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land that we carry out our activities. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and commit to working alongside First Nations Peoples as we chart a shared path toward a sustainable future.

Listen
To the stories, experiences and journeys of First Nations people - NITV /SBS are dedicating a whole day of programming today. You can watch here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/channels/nitv

Learn
About First Nations people and history, which is the history of Australia. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy just celebrated 50 years, learn more about it here: https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the...

Sites like the Colonial Frontier Wars detail the violence that has been perpetrated against First Nations Australians: https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/

Learn about the custodians of the land and water you are living on from AIATSIS: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia

Learn about incredible First Nations leaders who have contributed to our communities, our country and the world who have been recognised with a National NAIDOC Award: https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles

Act
Support First Nations organisations, initiatives and campaigns:

• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation - protecting, managing and enhancing environmentally and culturally significant places on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country.
• Seed Mob – Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network, building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island young people for climate justice.
• Country Needs People – a growing group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people campaigning for Indigenous Ranger and Protected Area programs.
• Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodians – working to protect a vast area of land in central-western Queensland, including the site of Adani's destructive coal mine.
• Original Power - building the power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to protect country.
• The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council – protecting the sacred river, the Mardoowarra in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and representing Traditional Owners of the entire river catchment.
• Olkola Aboriginal Corporation – Olkola Aboriginal Corporation now holds and manages 869,822 hectares of its Traditional Lands, making it one of the largest landholders in the Cape York Peninsula.
• Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation for whom the struggle to return and protect their ancestral homelands took nearly 100 years.  
• Mirarr people via Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation – the Traditional Owners of land in the north of the Northern Territory. They are powerful advocates against uranium mining, speaking out in the famous Jabiluka campaign, and for Kakadu.
• Firesticks alliance - aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management. 
• Australian Nuclear Free Alliance – formed in 1997, the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance brings together Aboriginal people and civil society groups concerned about nuclear developments in Australia, particularly on Aboriginal homelands
• Pay the rent - support grassroots causes and campaigns focused on protecting First Nations rights and practical support. 

*With thanks to information provided by the Australian Conservation Foundation, #StopAdani and Fair Agenda.