International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Jennifer Newman – Palms Orientation Course May 2022

Today, 9 August, marks the United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Palms Australia has been a longstanding supporter of Indigenous peoples, rights and perspectives. We strongly support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The country has seen a renewed commitment to the Uluru Statement with Prime Minister Albanese committing last week to a referendum question on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament at the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures, an annual cultural gathering on Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

The word garma is a Yolngu word meaning “two-way learning process.” Palms works to embrace the spirit of garma in all our work.  Our participants learn as much, if not more, from their placement as they offer to it. For decades, Palms has worked to include the voices of Indigenous people in our pre-departure orientation course and our cross-cultural training. In recent years, Palms has worked closely with scholar, educator and advocate Jennifer Newman, a Wiradjuri woman, to facilitate this share of knowledge.

The theme of 2022’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is the “role of Indigenous women in the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge.” We extend our sincerest gratitude, awe and support to the Indigenous women, including Jennifer, who have shaped and continue to shape our country and our practice. Now is the time for us to encourage fellow Australians to commit positively in the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.