Agents of Change: Insights from First Nations Social Enterprise Leaders
The Land Back Foundation held an interactive session exploring how social enterprises can practice long-term allyship, accountability, and activism. The discussion shared lived experiences and practical actions for embedding equity and justice in everyday business.
Summary
This webinar explores key questions for social enterprise leaders, including:
- What does meaningful allyship and activism look like beyond key dates like Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week?
- How is accountability practised in culturally grounded and relational ways?
- How can non-Indigenous businesses move from transactional relationships to long-term partnerships based on trust and shared values?
- What practical steps can businesses take to embed equity and justice into everyday operations and choices?
Show notes and quotes
Tara Croker: “I definitely see myself as an activist, 100%, and I also see Yaala Sparkling as contributing to activism. And that's because being a First Nations-owned, female-led, values-driven company is rare. It kind of is radical. It's new. We are disrupting the norms in the industry that we're playing in. So we're certainly the only business doing what we do with cultural storytelling and connection at the center of our products and brand in our industry.”
“Yeah, I think for me it's definitely long-term relationships over short-term outcomes.”
Laura Thomson: “I find that when I want to do business, I want to get personal. I want to know what you believe in.”
“Ally is a verb. Allyship is a verb. It's something you do. It's not like a noun that you're an ally. It's an active thing that you're engaged in all the time.”
“...just the mere fact that people are choosing to buy Blak and that we've got Aboriginal business now is activism in this country.”
Birdy Bird: “Show up and show up regularly”
“Because I have power, because I have privilege, because I have a platform. And a business is a platform. You're all sitting on platforms, whether it be as individuals or as businesses, and you can use that to shine a light in places that encourage brave conversations.”
Explore more
For those who are keen to dive deeper and do differently, here are some links to learnings and resources mentioned in or related to the open learning topic.
- The Land Back Foundation - Doing Business on Country Open Learning Community resources
- Not A Date To Celebrate - Clothing The Gaps
- Free the Flag - Clothing The Gaps
- Yaala Sparkling Pitch - Shark Tank
- Women Living Fearlessly - A collection by Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner (featuring Tara Croker)
- Michael Long Foundation
- The Long Walk
- The Healing Foundation
- Kowa Collaboration
- Yarn’n
- Walk for Truth
- Yoorrook Justice Commission
- Closing the gap
- Close the gap
- B Corp
- People and Planet First
Related resources
What is a social enterprise?
OtherA social enterprise is a business that puts people and the planet first. They trade like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place.
Learn more
People and Planet First (PPF)
PlatformsPeople and Planet First is a participatory verification and a global collective that’s helping accelerate the transition to an economy that puts people and the planet first.
Learn more
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