An Important Notice from Girls on Key and Founder – Regarding First Nations Inclusivity
It has recently come to my attention that at Girls on Key, we have not fully acknowledged or included First Nations people in our events and publishing activities as we should. This is a grave oversight on my part, as the senior editor of the press and manager of the events. As a leader in the poetry publishing and events space in Australia, I would like to extend my apologies to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who have been overlooked by our organisation. My heart is to make amends and I have included here how we will do this going forward. This is to ensure that all our cultural activities are safe, inclusive and diverse places for all. If you have any questions around this, or if you are a woman or non-binary First Nations poet who would like to be involved, we would like to extend our invitation to feature your poetry with us. Please note the press for publishing individual poets is currently on hiatus.
Anna Forsyth
Founder, Girls on Key Poetry
Inclusivity Statement – Creating an environment of access and safety
Acknowledgement of Country
Girls on Key acknowledges the First Nations of Australia: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We host events on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation and the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation (Sydney and Melbourne - Narrm) on whose unceded lands we conduct our events. We have also hosted past events on the lands of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples (Newcastle) and on Dharawal Country (Wollongong).
Girls on Key respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. Girls on Key also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
We value inclusion and diversity, where all people feel safe to participate and contribute fully to artistic and cultural life, such as our poetry readings and publishing.
There are communities who continue to experience disadvantage, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse, people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities and people with disabilities.
We believe that access and inclusion are fundamental to any arts organisation working and creating in Australia.
As leaders in the Australian poetry publishing and events space, we commit to taking action to create a safe and equitable environment for everyone.
To find out more about our action steps or to make suggestions, please email Anna Forsyth by email: girlsonkey@gmail.com
Framework for inclusivity and diversity
We will undertake the following action items:
- Inclusivity Statement (above) -Include in all publications, call outs and on website
- Advisory: Link in with local knowledge of groups or individuals who would benefit from involvement with Girls on Key cultural activities.
- Reach out to and link in with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing groups to let them know when we have events and publishing opportunities
- Reach out to and research aboriginal poetry publishers and their contacts
- Include First Nations people as MCs for events.
- Link in with NAIDOC Week activities
- Include first nations featured poets in upcoming events in July
- Draw up a comprehensive list of first nations poets to reach out to individually for future activities