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People from across Australia and overseas came together on the sacred sovereign lands of the Widjabul Wia-bal peoples for the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience Gathering in September. The Lismore Gathering was an example everyone could learn from in holding a space that facilitates genuine sharing and connection to people and place. We were warmly and generously welcomed to Bundjalung Country, well fed and cared for while listening to stories being shared on loss, grief, dispossession, strength, wisdom, determination, reconnection, love, support and truth. Accompanied by the sharing of knowledge and practice to move forward in a deeper, hopeful, supportive and more connected, reverent, respectful way with Country and community. It was three days filled with deep listening, compassion and inspiration to act, change and do things better.
It was a strong reminder of how everyone would benefit from First Nations peoples being empowered to care for and heal Country and a far greater recognition and support for the leadership and agency of First Nations peoples and communities experiencing disasters.
The need to take a more strengths-based approach, as Australia does in its work with communities overseas, was a strong theme of the Gathering. The community speakers, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, told the story of communities steeped in strength and knowledge, working in systems that have failed to recognise and support these strengths.
This experience is not limited to Indigenous peoples in Australia. Natural Hazards Research Australia proudly supported Dr Amy Cardinal Christianson from the Indigenous Leadership Initiative in Canada to join the Gathering as a keynote speaker with an amazing panel of international guests. Amy shared her research on how Indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected by wildfires in Canada and how she has sought to help communities and agencies better communicate to ensure evacuations are culturally appropriate. She also shared her work in promoting Indigenous fire stewardship to empower communities and heal the harm done to the land by centuries of colonialism.
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Amy’s keynote and the subsequent panel discussion highlighted how Indigenous peoples globally are disproportionately exposed to natural hazards. They have the knowledge of how to care for and heal their land to build resilient communities and Country and yet are underrepresented in emergency management and resilience decision making.
It was great to see agencies and government stakeholders present to listen and understand this and what effective Indigenous-led disaster preparedness and response could look like when implemented. Listening is an essential first step and needs to be followed by action, we are looking forward to seeing what this looks like. Natural Hazards Research Australia will be reflecting on the insights we gained from the Gathering and using them to inform our own direction as we form a First Nations Pathways Group and develop our First Nations Strategy.
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To Bhiamie Williamson and the NIDR team, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, Koori Mail, Resilient Lismore, Northern Rivers Community Healing Hub and all the First Nations delegates from across Australia, Turtle Island (Canada), NZ and the Pacific for sharing your old and new ways of being and doing. Bugalbeh!