The Landcare Association of South Australia strives to support and learn from and with the Indigenous peoples of South Australia, with the ethos to ‘recognise the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people as the First Landcarers and value their capacity to guide, restore and manage the land and waters’ as per the 2021 – 2025 LASA Strategic Plan.

In recognition of this ethos, the Landcare Association of South Australia is proud to release the following statement (27/09/2023):

“The Management Committee and Staff of the Landcare Association of South Australia (LASA) supports an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and all aspects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart – Voice, Truth and Treaty. The Management Committee and Staff of LASA acknowledges Australia’s First Nations people as the first Landcarers and Traditional Custodians of the land and we acknowledge their deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. We pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.“

“This statement from the LASA Management Committee doesn’t attempt to capture all the views of our members. However, it is our hope and vision that our statement from the Management Committee will encourage constructive debate on how we progress forward on the important issues of reconciliation and treaty and encourage all of our members to continue these important discussions amongst our diverse Landcare communities in South Australia.”

With leadership from the LASA Indigenous Engagement Sub-committee we look forward to building our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations around South Australia, and support them in Caring for Country.

Update 20/10/2023:

On the 14th of October 2023, the Australian public voted ‘No’ in the Referendum to introduce an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In response, the Landcare Association of South Australia has released the below statement:

“The Landcare Association of South Australia (LASA) Management Committee and staff are saddened at the result of the recent Referendum and acknowledge the pain this has caused to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, supporters and allies. We acknowledge and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first custodians of the Country we work, live and Landcare on – Always was, Always will be. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

We respect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s right to have their voices heard and look forward to working with the legislated South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament. We will continue to collaborate with and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the spirit of reconciliation and Caring for Country. We invite our members, the Landcare community, and supporters to take the time to heal and, when ready, reflect on how you and we as a community can continue to commit to reconciliation and supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends and family.“

Resources:

@Blackfulla_Bookclub on Instagram

@AboriginalWaySA on Instagram

Aboriginal Way Podcast

100 Climate Conversations

Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta

Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe (Film and Audiobook available on Spotify)

Fire Country by Victor Steffensen 

First Knowledges Series

(Children’s) Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe

(Children’s) Looking after Country with Fire by Victor Steffensen and Sandra Steffensen