National Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on the ongoing journey to justice for First Nations peoples and communities. It is also a time to consider the role we each have in realising an equitable nation that truly celebrates the histories, cultures and futures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"Reconciliation...What can we do? We need to start bit by bit, investing in communities, remote communities too."

This year, the theme for Reconciliation Week is Bridging Now to Next, a call to both look ahead and continue the push forward together. Our nation’s history of reconciliation is not a linear one, but one that includes strides forward and disappointing setbacks.

Among these is the Northern Territory government’s latest decision to scrap $12 million of funding for Indigenous ranger programs—first promised during its 2024 election campaign.

This funding is critical to Indigenous land management organisations and ranger groups across the Northern Territory—including KKT’s partners.

It covers essential equipment, on-Country facilities and professional development opportunities that all underpin the extraordinary success story of the Indigenous ranger movement.

As they have evolved and grown, Indigenous ranger programs have consistently delivered positive, long-term outcomes for Country, culture and community, and continue to be internationally recognised as best-practice natural and cultural resource management models.

One way of understanding the impact of these programs is through a Social Return on Investment lens. In 2016, Social Ventures Australia found that for every $1 invested in KKT’s co-founder, Warddeken Land Management Limited, a return of $3.40 was generated in social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Ultimately, this sector has overwhelmingly demonstrated that it deserves bipartisan support from both state and federal governments—and yet ranger programs across the Northern Territory now face significant, multi-year funding gaps.

“With colonisation, so much has happened. So when we're talking about reconciliation, we're out there doing it ourselves: supporting our communities, helping people return to their Country, protecting that Country from feral animals that are damaging it... But you can't do that without funding.”

This Reconciliation Week, KKT is encouraging friends and supporters to make a contribution to our partners’ ranger programs. A financial commitment, big or small, is a tangible recognition of historical wrongs and will safeguard the continuation of this critical environmental work that is benefitting all Australians.

If you are unable to make a financial contribution and you live in the Northern Territory, you can also sign Country Needs People’s petition urging the government to restore this vital funding: countryneedspeople.org.au/nt_promises

"Through KKT and all the people that support us, we slowly, slowly make it happen anyway. We do it on our own. It's a good story to tell."