The Hills and Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island Landscape Boards have joined with the other seven boards in signing an historic ‘Statement of Commitment’ to reconciliation.

The chairs of South Australia’s nine landscape boards have made a strong commitment to reconciliation and to strengthening partnerships with First Nations peoples across the state.

The statement marks an important formal commitment by the boards to collaborate with First Nations in working toward statewide landscape priorities.

Developed in consultation with cultural authorities, including the First Nations Coordinating Committee and SA Native Title Services, the statement gives twelve commitments to guide how each board will embed First Nations partnerships and expertise in delivering regional landscape plans.

David Greenhough is Chair of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board and of the collective of landscape board chairs.

He is confident that setting out the agreed commitments will see better integration of First Nations partnerships and engagement into landscape management and community capacity building.

“We have committed to learn from and with our First Nations partners, actively seek their ideas and support their aspirations.

“Each of the nine Landscape SA regions encompass rich and diverse cultural stories and histories. Through signing this statement each board is committing to build stronger relationships with Aboriginal people and organisations in SA, and supporting their greater economic prosperity and wellbeing. Ultimately, we are committed to looking after our land, water and people together.

“We have worked with First Nations authorities to ensure the statement genuinely honours the intent of reconciliation and the ‘Closing the Gap’ principles, and reflects our pledge to deliver.”

The statement stipulates that through respectful cross-cultural knowledge sharing, and long-term conversations, the boards commit to implementing actions that will see board members, staff and Aboriginal people working together to manage, protect and restore their region’s landscapes.

Recognising each region has very different cultural contexts, each local action plan will look different, but will be tailored with and for the local Aboriginal communities.

The signed statement will be proudly displayed in offices around the state and on each local landscape board website.