Danjoo Koorliny Social Impact Summit 2022

Caring for Boodja: By Us, For Us, With Us

The annual two-day Danjoo Koorliny Social Impact Summit is the pinnacle of the Festival. Danjoo Koorliny has now become a year-round movement as we walk together towards 2029 and beyond (2029 marking 200 years of colonisation in Perth). The sold-out 2019, 2020 and 2021 Summits have inspired a large-scale systems change, designed to help us all become better carers of everything through shifting cultural, social, environmental and economic outcomes.

Following on from the release of the State of Environment Report earlier this year, this year’s summit is focused on the environment with themes of connecting with, and healing Boodja (Country) through Aboriginal knowledge and sustainable cultural practices. The Summit has been carefully designed so we can continue our journey of connection to place, be inspired by speakers and keynote presentations, and have time to connect, build and reflect on the 2029 and beyond vision.

Our theme of Caring for Boodja: By Us, For Us, With Us, we invite you to read the State of Environment Report 2021 in the lead-up to the festival, to provide an in-depth and evidence-based understanding of the state of Australia’s environment.

With the release of the State of Environment, Report is a five-year report combining traditional, scientific and local knowledge of Australia’s environment. This report saw Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together to assess the condition of our environment to help shape the strategy, policy and action of individuals, communities and businesses as stewards of the Australian environment. Overall, the report deemed the state and trend of the Australian environment to be poor and deteriorating, highlighting that Indigenous ways of knowing and seeing are essential for meeting the environmental challenges of today and the future.

This year we are immersing ourselves in nature. You are invited to attend a Sunrise Smoking Ceremony, taking place around the Giant Boab, Gija Jumulu, on Day 1 of the Summit. This special Smoking Ceremony held at 5:04 am will help us set the collective tone for the events to follow, before the official Opening and Welcome to Country at Poolgarla Parkland in Kings Park at 8 am.

Speakers

Dr Anne Poelina | Nulungu Institute Research University of Notre Dame
Professor Anne Poelina PhD, PhD, MEd, MPH&TM, MA, Nyikina Warawa Guardian Martuwarra Fitzroy River, Co-Chair of Indigenous Studies University Notre Dame, active community leader, human and earth rights advocate, and Peter Cullen Fellow. Laureate Women’s World Summit Foundation (Geneva, 2017) elected Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (2018).

Lindsey Langford & Samantha Murray | Indigenous Desert Alliance
Lindsey Langford is the Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA).
Lindsey is passionate about seeing positive and Indigenous-directed outcomes for the desert and its people. He grew up in Central Australia and has had the privilege of an intimate and lifelong association with Indigenous desert land managers on their country.

Samantha Murray is a Yilka/Wongutha/Nyoongar/Yamatji woman who grew up in Cosmo Newberry ( where she has traditional owner links) and Laverton and has connections to the broader Central Desert Area. She currently works as Deputy CEO – at the Indigenous Desert Alliance where she continues with her passionate commitment to supporting our people and country of the Australian desert.

Michelle Andrews | Director General Department of Water and Environment Regulation
Michelle Andrews is an executive leader and environmental scientist with 30 years of experience in the public sector, currently in the role of Director General, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Glen Kelly OAM | Environmental Scientist, Member of the National Native Title Tribunal
Glen is a Wardandi Nyungar man from the lower southwest of WA. Glen was formerly the CEO of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and is now a member of the National Native Title Tribunal.

Professor Steven D. Hopper AC | Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Western Australia
Professor of Biodiversity at UWA Albany since 2012, Steve has 50 years as a conservation biologist and teacher, including 12 years leading Kings Park and Botanic Garden (1992-2004), and six years leading the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2006-2012). Steve’s research focuses on sustainable living with biodiversity, especially with Aboriginal Elders.

“If we are talking social impact in this place, Aboriginal people have had a blueprint for environmental, cultural and social harmony for over 60,000 years - and this is something that can help, not just Aboriginal people, but everyone” - Dr Richard Walley OAM.

Major Supporter: Lotterywest
Partners: Commonland
Event Partner: Kings Park Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
Community Partners: Reconciliation WA, Cultural Corridors, Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute
Host Organisation: The Centre for Social Impact