ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY On behalf of the People of Colour Department, I pay respects to the Traditional Custodians on whose land we reside, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay homage to the Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty of this land, has never and will never be ceded. We further pay our respects to all those in community and on Country, who have fought and continue to fight colonialism every day. We pay our deepest respect and send love and strength to those who are out saving the sacred Djap Wurrung birthing trees; to those that are fighting for justice against the white legal system; to those that are mourning the loss of Elders; to those that are marching, to those that are struggling and, to those that are lost. Our battles - as First Nations People and People of Colour - are inherently linked. Together we must continue to dismantle white supremacy, decolonise this land and put our bodies on the line, so that our children will not have to. We ask you, as our allies, as Settlers, and inherent beneficiaries of our suffering, that you begin sacrificing, so that we may continue to heal and stand strong. This publication is a testament to the power of community and whilst we cherish the diversity that the world has to offer, it is of utmost importance that we first restore and maintain the community on whose land we reside. Whilst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still live, breathe and thrive on this Land, our sovereignty cannot be bequeathed or passed on. This always was and always will be, the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Acknowledgement written by Serena Rae Thompson
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