Sunday 4 July – Sunday 11 July is NAIDOC Week in Australia and Matariki celebrations commenced on Friday 2 July in Aotearoa New Zealand. Both events hold great significance to the Indigenous peoples of the lands where our members undertake work in environmental practice.

This year’s NAIDOC week theme is ‘Heal Country!’ and calls for increased action to protect lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. Healing Country should involve greater engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in environmental management and decision-making. By embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge, we can work to protect and maintain our environment and ensure that the culture and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected equally to the culture and values of all Australians.

In recognition of the EIANZ’s commitment to increased Indigenous engagement, the Institute’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been drafted through Reconciliation Australia. The RAP is currently being finalised and is expected to be released later this year. This document will provide the EIANZ with a roadmap to support the national reconciliation movement and increase engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the Institute.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Matariki is an important Māori celebration and signifies the start of the new year in Māori culture. Matariki is the name of the Pleiades star cluster that rises in late June or early July. Matariki is seen as a time to celebrate the present, reflect on the past, and plan for the future. Traditionally, the stars were closely related to harvesting, planting and hunting and if Matariki appeared clear and bright in the sky, it signified an abundant season. Historic Matariki festivities included lighting ritual fires, making offerings and honouring ancestors. Matariki is recognised in Aotearoa New Zealand as an opportunity to learn more about Māori culture while spending time with friends and family. The Ardern Government has announced that Matariki will be recognised as an official public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand commencing in 2022.

The EIANZ has established the long-term goal of an inclusive profession that seeks to achieve better environmental management through collaboration, mutual learning, and partnership. Earlier this year, EIANZ members voted to change the Institute’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to recognise Indigenous knowledge, values, and rights. The changes reflect an ethical obligation and professional practice requirement to recognise and value the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples in environmental management and for environmental practitioners to acknowledge this in the work they undertake. By making these changes, the EIANZ is laying the foundation for long-term engagement between Indigenous peoples and environmental practitioners. It demonstrates the Institute’s belief that the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples are inseparable from good practice environmental management. The Institute has prepared a Toolkit for members to raise awareness and build capacity in this area.

The EIANZ feels very positive about the initial steps we have made in the area of Indigenous engagement and thank those in the Institute who have helped us to reach this point.