Christmas Message from the Annamila First Nations Foundation

Dear Friends and Family,

On behalf of all of us at Annamila we would like to send our love and best wishes to you in this beautiful summer season of family and sharing, of love and loved ones, swims in the waters of our beautiful countries – salt and freshwater, the cleansing rains that teach us to be humble and grateful to the creator and ancestors.

As the holiday season approaches, we at Annamila find ourselves reflecting on a year of growth, transformation, and progress. This time of year, is a moment to pause, celebrate our milestones, and express our gratitude to all who have supported our mission of empowering First Nations communities.

2024 has been full of uncertainty and some disturbing changes in the political landscape globally and locally. A year after the referendum we are seeing the rolling back of progress in treaty and truth telling in Queensland, law changes that will affect our young people and incarceration in Northern Territory and a general sense of “where next?”.

But we are also seeing strong signs of growth with the Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria and the state-based Voice in South Australia. At Garma this year the theme was about the growth after a fire, focussing on the green shoots that grow from the charcoal and ash. We also supported a gathering in Melbourne organised by a small cohort of respected Aboriginal women to gather and reflect on the way forward on the anniversary of referendum of First Nations women from across Victoria. At the beginning of the year, Annamila sent letters of thanks to the key leaders of the Yes Campaign celebrating their work and supporting them through this trying time. There always needs to be green shoots.

Celebrating MilestonesThis year, we marked a significant transition with Greg Phillips, of the Waanyi and Jaru peoples stepping off the board after many years of service, to focus on growing his business Abstarr Consulting and his continued work with Ebony Institute. Stepping down in early 2024, we recognised Greg’s vision and dedication have been foundational to our success. His tireless work has helped lay the groundwork for the initiatives and structures we are now building upon. We wish Greg all the best and extend our deepest gratitude for his leadership and commitment, which have left an enduring legacy for the organisation and our hearts. 

In stepping into this next phase, we are thrilled to announce this year the appointment of our inaugural CEO, Jade Colgan a proud Barkindji woman.  Jade brings a wealth of experience, passion, and strategic vision to guide us forward. Her leadership marks the beginning of a transformative chapter for Annamila, as we restructure and refine our focus to better serve the communities we represent.Our 2024 Annamila Ambassador was announced with Jason Glanville joining our 2023 Ambassadors Greg Phillips and Djappirri Mununggirritj. This program is about recognising the work of First Nations people who are powerfully contributing to promoting our communities’ strengths and authority. Congratulations to Jason.

Looking Ahead: A Future of Growth and Impact2024 saw the development of the Annamila website with a commitment to strong public facing communications. Though we believe in primarily promoting the work of our partners, the time has come to strengthen our presence. Check us out at www.annamila.com

In April at our strategic planning weekend, we decided to refine the way we operate and our themes and thematics. Annamila has realigned our offerings providing charitable services through three core pillars: Contributing, Convening, and Influencing.

• By Contributing,we gift financial and relational support to individuals and organizations, ensuring that resources reach those who can bring about meaningful change.

• By Convening,we leverage the collective strength of our founder, board, and staff to focus energy on challenges and opportunities. This often takes the form of hosting or co-hosting safe, action-driven spaces for collaboration and awareness.

• By Influencing,we seek to inform and impact policy and decision-makers, using our knowledge, values, and ways of working to ensure timely and agile responses to key issues.

Our efforts are structured around three program streams reflecting our thematic priorities and our commitment to truth-telling and its transformative power.

• Country and Culture – this year we focused on truth-telling in historical and contemporary contexts

• Healing and Wellbeing – this year we prioritized initiatives where truth-telling leads to healing outcomes.

• Truth and Justice – this year we emphasised addressing incarceration and facilitating strategic dialogues on national imperatives.

We still take applications year-round, but we now have three assessment periods - February, June, and October. 

We are currently supporting Ebony Institute, Culture is Life, Ilbijerri, and recently supported Na Djinang Circus, Agency and Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council. 

As we move forward, Annamila First Nations Foundation remains dedicated to contributing, convening, and influencing in ways that honour our mission and amplify the voices of First Nations peoples. Through these efforts, we aim to create a future defined by justice, healing, and cultural renewal. Influencing through private and public advocacy has seen us receive briefings on youth incarceration, advise and assist Na Djinang Circus, attend Garma to contribute to the talk’s programs and forums. We also participated in the Reconciliation Australia Conference and Gala, allowing us to give to and learn from national conversations.

A Season of GratitudeAs we prepare for the year ahead, we are grateful to you all, who have walked this track with us. Your support, encouragement, and trust have been instrumental in our success and remain our greatest source of inspiration. This Christmas, we celebrate not just the progress we have made, but the potential that lies ahead. 

We look forward to walking with you as we work toward a future where First Nations communities truly thrive and flourish.

From all of us at the Annamila First Nations Foundation, we wish you a joyful Christmas filled with love, peace, and hope, and a New Year of opportunity and achievement.

With love and respect,

Jade Colgan, Belinda Duarte, Wesley Enoch, Aunty Doseena Fergie, Julie Kantor, Ian Roberts, Annamila First Nations Foundation