“Conflict is the spirit of the relationship asking itself to deepen” - Malidoma Somé

In this episode of Cultural Currents, Eliki speaks to Laniyuk and Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira about a fellowship they designed for 24 First Nations, Pasifika and People of Colour climate justice organisers called Tending To Our Relationships for Climate & Land Justice.

In this episode they talk about why focusing on our relationships is pivotal for climate and social movements, and how conflict can be rerouted to become a source of learning, healing and collective strength.

Laniyuk (she/her) is a Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French political creative and community organiser whose practise is grounded in cultural, language and land reclamation. She writes and performs poetry, speculative fiction, short memoir and co-leads the grassroots campaign Protect Larrakia Country. She gives lectures, moderates panels and runs workshops. Having recently completed Garuwa and Doc Society’s First Nations Impact Lab, Laniyuk is interested in working at the intersection of film, truth telling, healing and justice.

Te Raukura O'Connell Rapira (they/them) is Māori and Irish from Te Ātiawa, Ngāruahine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whakaue and County Kerry. They are currently the CEO of 350 Australia and have over 15 years experience as a campaigner, organiser, strategist, facilitator and trainer with founding or leadership roles at ActionStation Aotearoa, Youth Movement Fund Aotearoa, Foundation for Young Australians, Tauiwi Tautoko, JustSpeak and RockEnrol.

Anisha Senaratne is Sri Lankan and migrated to Naarm in 2010 where she has been living and working on Wurundjeri country ever since. She has worked and volunteered in movement spaces across the past 6 years including at Organisations such as GetUp and the Foundation For Young Australians. She is passionate about the power of facilitation, political education and art as tools to transform the world, and is particularly interested in the intersections of healing and justice work.

Show note links:

350 Australia: Protect Larrakia Country – https://www.350.org.au/protectlarrakiacountry

Mark Yettica-Paulson, ‘Three Leadership Gardens Framework’  https://threeleadershipgardens.com/

Antonia Burke, We-Ali – https://www.wealli.com.au/product/the-prun-managing-conflict/

He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu Mō Aotearoa – https://nwo.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/MatikeMaiAotearoa25Jan16.pdf

Leah Avene, Co Culture Communication – https://www.coculturecommunication.com/
Kazu Haga – https://www.kazuhaga.com/