How to embrace your region's Indigenous community in your event
As a way for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games to meaningfully include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the event organisers did something no other major sporting event in the world had ever done: develop a Reconciliation Action Plan to leave a lasting and meaningful legacy for Indigenous Australians beyond the traditional inclusion of Welcome to Country in Opening Ceremonies.
The Reconciliation Action Plan specified how to increase opportunities for Indigenous Australians through
employment and training
business development
participation in sports and volunteering
showcasing Indigenous arts and cultures in the Games
building a culturally-capable workforce
procurement from Indigenous-owned businesses.
AUSTRALIA'S USP
One of Australia’s unique advantages is Indigenous culture – an advantage of tourism offerings to both international and domestic markets.
Smaller events and festivals can also create a Reconciliation Action Plan to drive social change in their own backyards, creating economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples in their communities based on taking small steps together.
The framework for a Reconciliation Action Plan is provided by Reconciliation Australia. There are four kinds of Reconciliation Action Plans that can transition from one stage to the next to recognise Indigenous culture, leverage economic and social opportunities, and leave legacy outcomes:
Reflect
Innovate
Stretch
Elevate
IDEAS ON HOW EVENTS CAN INCLUDE THEIR LOCAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
Commit to including Indigenous people
Use Indigenous-owned businesses (such as printers, farmers, chefs, trainees, sports coaches) or purchase from companies that have indigenous staff, are social enterprise businesses, or that have their own RAP
Employ Indigenous people as professionals, trainees and volunteers
Increase Indigenous participation through schools, arts and youth
Ask Council to build the capacity of Indigenous businesses with pre-tendering workshops and meet the buyer opportunities
HOW CAN YOU DO THIS PRACTICALLY IN YOUR EVENT’S MANAGEMENT?
Start with a vision of inclusion
Use existing networks in your community to find out who to talk with
Leverage government agencies
Be open and transparent in your engagement
Manage expectations, recognising it’s not possible to please everyone
Be open to change, such as in using different suppliers
DIRECTORIES TO HELP YOU FIND ABORIGINAL-OWNED BUSINESSES
OVER TO YOU
Do you have a success story to share of working in events as Aborigines or Torres Strait Islanders or with them in an event partnership? Please share in the comments!