MEDIA RELEASE
Indigenous Futures Unbound Conference kicks off on Kabi Kabi Country, Sunshine Coast Queensland.
Over 300 national and international Indigenous delegates are meeting on Kabi Kabi Country (Sunshine Coast, QLD) this week for “Indigenous Futures Unbound: Reimagining Indigenous futures through knowledge & praxis”, hosted by the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures (Indigenous Futures Centre), University of Queensland.
The conference brings together Indigenous presenters and allies from across Australia, North America, Aotearoa, Asia and Pacific regions. Indigenous academics and Indigenous community members will be speaking to themes of environmental futurities, health & wellbeing, creative practice, knowledge & identity, higher education, economy, methodologies and self-determination & sovereignty, in the context of Indigenous futures.
The overall conference theme highlights that despite the present global political context, Indigenous communities are striving to protect the earth and look ahead to the future carrying the strength of our past into the present and beyond. Recognizing that thousands of Indigenous cultures understand time as a circular concept, Indigenous epistemologies potentiate and envision Indigenous futures of what-could-and-should-be. Keynote speakers include: Distinguished Emeritus Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson (Goenpul), Professor Audra Simpson (Kahnawà:ke Mohawk), Professor Rauna Kuokkanen (Sámi) & Professor Brendan Hokowhitu (Ngāti Pūkenga).
Indigenous Futures Centre Director, Professor Brendan Hokowhitu, shares “the Centre’s inaugural conference is timely as we globally face what has been described as a ‘polycrisis’ where multiple events combined put pressure on an already pressurised world. Although Indigenous communities and peoples have not caused these crises, we are the future and we need to ensure the futurities for the generations to come”.
Elder-in-Residence at the Indigenous Futures Centre, Gregory ‘Uncle Cheg’ Egert, is “…excited as this conference will have many Indigenous academics & community people that speak to what we face as Indigenous people globally. They will share how we are to move ahead practically in uncomfortable times, while also theorising ways to help us thrive in this political & racially charged environment.”
Conference co-chair Dr Janine Gertz shares “We are grateful to the Kabi Kabi Peoples for their good will and hospitality in hosting our inaugural conference on Kabi Kabi Country. This conference aims to create a space for a wide range of community practitioners and academic researchers to consider complex economic, social, cultural issues that are affecting our communities at a local, regional, national and international levels. We are seeking to utilise Indigenous knowledges for better Indigenous futures.”
For media enquiries, please contact Arielle Henaway (
