Heal Country. Heal our nation.
East End Flower Market acknowledges the Kaurna people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work, and pay our respect to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. We honour their legacy and acknowledge that the spiritual connections enjoyed by the Kaurna people for millennia continue to this day. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is celebrated by all Australians. It is a great opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The theme for NAIDOC Week this year is Heal Country. This theme led us to do some individual learning about what the term Country refers to.
Common Ground is a First Nations-led not-for-profit, whose mission is “to shape a society that centres First Nations people by amplifying knowledge, culture and stories.”
Their website was an invaluable resource for us,
when looking for answers to the question, What is Country.
when looking for answers to the question, What is Country.
As stated on their website...
“Country is a word that holds many different meanings for First Nations peoples, especially given the diversity of First Nations across the continent. But there are certain concepts and ideas about Country that many First Nations people share.
For instance: Country is alive. Country is timeless. And Country is us.
“Country is a word that holds many different meanings for First Nations peoples, especially given the diversity of First Nations across the continent. But there are certain concepts and ideas about Country that many First Nations people share.
For instance: Country is alive. Country is timeless. And Country is us.
Country is a proper noun, which is why it is usually capitalised.
We often refer to Country in the same way we would a person.
For example, Country is sick. Listen to Country. Country needs time to heal.
We often refer to Country in the same way we would a person.
For example, Country is sick. Listen to Country. Country needs time to heal.
Country encompasses land, waterways, seas and skies, as well as the energy and space in between. It also encompasses relationships. Relationships with plants, relationships with animals and relationships with Ancestors (to name a few).”
With this in mind, each member of our team had a go at articulating what
connecting to Country looks like for them. Some of their answers included…
connecting to Country looks like for them. Some of their answers included…
As well as learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, we wanted to make some form of financial contribution. After much deliberation, we chose to donate to the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement. ALRM is a not-for-profit organisation who exist to “protect Aboriginal people, to shield them by using the legal system to protect them and their interest from harm and to help them to assert their rights to establish their proud Aboriginal identity as citizens of the state of South Australia.”
Their motto, Justice Without Prejudice, really spoke to us.
Their motto, Justice Without Prejudice, really spoke to us.
Throughout the period of NAIDOC week, our staff were rocking their Jordan Lovegrove for EEFM T-shirts, which we had designed earlier this year. These are available to purchase in store, or on our website.
We felt so grateful for this opportunity to spend time learning about the oldest living culture in the world.