We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

This space contains images, voices and stories from people that have passed away.

CONTINUE

LEARN

Celebrate First Nations knowledge, cultures and stories. Learn our true history. 

All
Culture
History
KNOWLEDGE
PEOPLE

First Nations Legal Systems

First Nations people are the knowledge keepers of some of the oldest forms of jurisprudence (philosophies of law).

Mindful moments on Country

Taking notice of the small stuff is an important part of First Nations thinking and notions of Country. This can be meditative and ground you in the present moment.

First Nations Systems Thinking

Across First Nations communities in Australia are unique and distinct cultures that centre many different types of knowledges.

What is Country?

Country is a word that holds many different meanings for First Nations peoples. 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.

First Nations Fashion

First Nations fashion is taking a moment. A huge moment. And rightly so. 

Truth-telling

Truth-telling involves having honest conversations about this continent’s history.

National Reconciliation Week 2021

Join our Week of Action.

The Unknown Warriors of the Frontier Wars

You may have heard about Jandamarra, Yagan, Dundalli and Pemulwuy, but there are many other warriors that fought on the frontlines during the Frontier Wars.

The significance of koalas for First Nations people

Koalas carry deep cultural significance in many First Nations in eastern Australia.

Pilbara Strike

On 1 May 1946, around 800 First Nations pastoral workers from over 25 different stations in north-west Western Australia went on strike for better wages and working conditions.

The Frontier Wars

The Frontier Wars refers to a series of conflicts and events that happened in the first 140 years of British settlement in Australia.

Pregnancy and birthing

Pregnancy, birthing and motherhood continue to be seen as sacred and spiritual with the potential for healing. When considering First Nations birthing practices it is important to note the great cultural diversity that exists across nations.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to listen. It is a gift to Australia dreamed up and created from the collective experiences of First Nations peoples from across the continent. 

First Nations Water Rights and Activism

As this continent becomes increasingly scarce of water due to climate change, long periods of drought, over-allocation to commercial stakeholders and population growth, the recognition of First Nations rights to water becomes more important.

Families affected by deaths in custody

First Nations families whose loved ones have died in custody are leading the way for change. As the people most affected by deaths in custody, they are best placed to design solutions. 

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

April 2021 marks 30 years since the final report was released following the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

A week of action: Uluru Statement

22-26 March 2021 is the Uluru Statement University Week of Action. Find out how to lend your voice to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution.

Where does the word koala come from?

Many words commonly used in Australia are from First Nations languages or have been derived from them, including "koala".

The 1967 Referendum: “Right wrongs, write yes”

On 27 May, 1967, an overwhelming majority of Australian citizens voted “yes” in a national referendum to amend clauses of the Australian Constitution concerning First Nations people.

Massacres

The truth of our history in Australia is rarely told. It is a history that includes deliberate, prolonged and systematic conflict and expansion in order to claim the land.

The Ongoing Legacy of the Wave Hill Walk-Off

On 23 August 1966, the Gurindji people of the Northern Territory made history with the Wave Hill Walk-Off.

The Mabo Decision and Native Title

The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Koiki Mabo. He led and won a legal challenge against the Queensland Government to recognise First Nations peoples as the traditional owners of their land.

Diverse First Nations Identities

Connection, not colour, is at the heart of First Nations identities.

11 First Nations Icons

11 First Nations icons who've led the way in politics, advocacy, sport, academia and more.

Black Duck Foods Sowing seeds for First Nations food sovereignty

Central to First Nations sovereignty is food sovereignty – the right to define one’s own food system. The right to produce our own cultural food.

Connection to animals and Country

First Nations people are intimately connected to the natural world. Animals play an important role in First Nations communities and are a foundation of economies, identity and sustainability.

Communicating through art: First Nations symbols

The concept of conveying messages through art is universal. But for First Nations people, using art to communicate is fundamental to cultural preservation; it allows customs and beliefs to continue throughout time.

Songspirals

Songspirals are a way of exploring the connection between Country, culture, people and story. In this piece, the Gay'wu group of women explain what a songpiral is in their Yolngu culture and how it connects with their stories and experiences.

Traditional fire management

Traditional fire management has been used for over a thousand generations.

Yolngu Ways of Learning

The songs, dances and stories of Yolngu culture live in the Yolngu people, and in the land that has been their home for tens of thousands of years.

2019 - The year of Indigenous Languages

2019 is an opportunity for Australians to take action and improve the preservation, promotion and learning of First Nations languages across Australia.

Coniston Massacre

The Coniston Massacre was the last documented massacre of First Nations people in Australia. Over 60 First Nations people were killed throughout the Central Desert region, leaving a traumatic mark on the lives of many.

The Barunga Statement and Agreement

The Barunga Statement called for self determination, a national system of land rights, compensation, an end to discrimination, respect for Aboriginal identity, and the granting of social, economic and cultural rights.

The Torres Strait Islander Flag

The flag is an important symbol of unity and identity for Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Songlines

Songlines have been a central feature of First Nations cultures for over 60,000 years. Songlines explain the laws by which people have lived, and the origins of this country.

The Aboriginal Flag

Learn about the history of this flag, and what it means to Aboriginal people across Australia.

Land Rights in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 gives First Nations people freehold title to their land, and a say over land development.

Death and Sorry Business

First Nations communities have a unique and complex process to overcome grief.

Acknowledgement of Country

Learn about Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country.

Invasion Day (Australia Day)

Invasion Day, widely known as Australia Day, marks the beginning of a long and brutal colonisation of people and land.

Race Relations

Race relations in Australia have a long and turbulent history. To truly improve, there needs to be significant change.

Deaths in Custody

At the time of writing, 439 First Nations people have died in police custody in Australia since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991. None of these deaths have led to a single conviction of any person involved.

Knowledge and Sustainability

Architecture, agriculture, trade, astronomy and physics were practised in Australia long before colonisation.

The Stolen Generations

The forced removal of children during the Stolen Generations created significant grief and trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, the impact of which is still being felt today.

First Nations Languages

When you lose your language, a whole way of being, a whole cultural universe is lost forever.

'The Dreaming'

The 'Dreaming' or the 'Dreamtime' is a First Nations oral history of the world and its creation.

Mindful moments on Country

Taking notice of the small stuff is an important part of First Nations thinking and notions of Country. This can be meditative and ground you in the present moment.

First Nations Fashion

First Nations fashion is taking a moment. A huge moment. And rightly so. 

The significance of koalas for First Nations people

Koalas carry deep cultural significance in many First Nations in eastern Australia.

Connection to animals and Country

First Nations people are intimately connected to the natural world. Animals play an important role in First Nations communities and are a foundation of economies, identity and sustainability.

Communicating through art: First Nations symbols

The concept of conveying messages through art is universal. But for First Nations people, using art to communicate is fundamental to cultural preservation; it allows customs and beliefs to continue throughout time.

Songspirals

Songspirals are a way of exploring the connection between Country, culture, people and story. In this piece, the Gay'wu group of women explain what a songpiral is in their Yolngu culture and how it connects with their stories and experiences.

Yolngu Ways of Learning

The songs, dances and stories of Yolngu culture live in the Yolngu people, and in the land that has been their home for tens of thousands of years.

Songlines

Songlines have been a central feature of First Nations cultures for over 60,000 years. Songlines explain the laws by which people have lived, and the origins of this country.

Death and Sorry Business

First Nations communities have a unique and complex process to overcome grief.

Acknowledgement of Country

Learn about Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country.

'The Dreaming'

The 'Dreaming' or the 'Dreamtime' is a First Nations oral history of the world and its creation.

The Torres Strait Islander Flag

The flag is an important symbol of unity and identity for Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Coniston Massacre

The Coniston Massacre was the last documented massacre of First Nations people in Australia. Over 60 First Nations people were killed throughout the Central Desert region, leaving a traumatic mark on the lives of many.

The Aboriginal Flag

Learn about the history of this flag, and what it means to Aboriginal people across Australia.

Land Rights in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 gives First Nations people freehold title to their land, and a say over land development.

Massacres

The truth of our history in Australia is rarely told. It is a history that includes deliberate, prolonged and systematic conflict and expansion in order to claim the land.

The 1967 Referendum: “Right wrongs, write yes”

On 27 May, 1967, an overwhelming majority of Australian citizens voted “yes” in a national referendum to amend clauses of the Australian Constitution concerning First Nations people.

The Mabo Decision and Native Title

The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Koiki Mabo. He led and won a legal challenge against the Queensland Government to recognise First Nations peoples as the traditional owners of their land.

The Ongoing Legacy of the Wave Hill Walk-Off

On 23 August 1966, the Gurindji people of the Northern Territory made history with the Wave Hill Walk-Off.

Pilbara Strike

On 1 May 1946, around 800 First Nations pastoral workers from over 25 different stations in north-west Western Australia went on strike for better wages and working conditions.

The Stolen Generations

The forced removal of children during the Stolen Generations created significant grief and trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, the impact of which is still being felt today.

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

April 2021 marks 30 years since the final report was released following the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

The Frontier Wars

The Frontier Wars refers to a series of conflicts and events that happened in the first 140 years of British settlement in Australia.

The Unknown Warriors of the Frontier Wars

You may have heard about Jandamarra, Yagan, Dundalli and Pemulwuy, but there are many other warriors that fought on the frontlines during the Frontier Wars.

Invasion Day (Australia Day)

Invasion Day, widely known as Australia Day, marks the beginning of a long and brutal colonisation of people and land.

The Barunga Statement and Agreement

The Barunga Statement called for self determination, a national system of land rights, compensation, an end to discrimination, respect for Aboriginal identity, and the granting of social, economic and cultural rights.

2019 - The year of Indigenous Languages

2019 is an opportunity for Australians to take action and improve the preservation, promotion and learning of First Nations languages across Australia.

Knowledge and Sustainability

Architecture, agriculture, trade, astronomy and physics were practised in Australia long before colonisation.

Where does the word koala come from?

Many words commonly used in Australia are from First Nations languages or have been derived from them, including "koala".

A week of action: Uluru Statement

22-26 March 2021 is the Uluru Statement University Week of Action. Find out how to lend your voice to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation to listen. It is a gift to Australia dreamed up and created from the collective experiences of First Nations peoples from across the continent. 

Truth-telling

Truth-telling involves having honest conversations about this continent’s history.

What is Country?

Country is a word that holds many different meanings for First Nations peoples. 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.

First Nations Systems Thinking

Across First Nations communities in Australia are unique and distinct cultures that centre many different types of knowledges.

First Nations Legal Systems

First Nations people are the knowledge keepers of some of the oldest forms of jurisprudence (philosophies of law).

Black Duck Foods Sowing seeds for First Nations food sovereignty

Central to First Nations sovereignty is food sovereignty – the right to define one’s own food system. The right to produce our own cultural food.

Traditional fire management

Traditional fire management has been used for over a thousand generations.

First Nations Languages

When you lose your language, a whole way of being, a whole cultural universe is lost forever.

Race Relations

Race relations in Australia have a long and turbulent history. To truly improve, there needs to be significant change.

First Nations Water Rights and Activism

As this continent becomes increasingly scarce of water due to climate change, long periods of drought, over-allocation to commercial stakeholders and population growth, the recognition of First Nations rights to water becomes more important.

Pregnancy and birthing

Pregnancy, birthing and motherhood continue to be seen as sacred and spiritual with the potential for healing. When considering First Nations birthing practices it is important to note the great cultural diversity that exists across nations.

11 First Nations Icons

11 First Nations icons who've led the way in politics, advocacy, sport, academia and more.

Families affected by deaths in custody

First Nations families whose loved ones have died in custody are leading the way for change. As the people most affected by deaths in custody, they are best placed to design solutions. 

Deaths in Custody

At the time of writing, 439 First Nations people have died in police custody in Australia since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991. None of these deaths have led to a single conviction of any person involved.

Diverse First Nations Identities

Connection, not colour, is at the heart of First Nations identities.

National Reconciliation Week 2021

Join our Week of Action.

Sign up to hear more from us

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

ABOUT

Our People
Impact
Learn
Bedtime stories

We are a First Nations-led not-for-profit that exists to centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures. We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

© Common GROUND FIRST NATIONS