Background to the FTF Project

"Fanning the Flames" of Reconciliation (FTF) was a community development focused project designed by ANTaR Victoria, funded by the Community Support Fund (CSF) and supported by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL).

The project funding spanned three years, beginning in February 2003 and ending in February 2006. However, the work started by the FTF project has gained its own momentum and continues in various forms.

The FTF project brief involved informing, educating and activate as many people as possible in regard to the issues of history, past and continuing Indigenous disadvantage, ongoing lack of opportunity, access and fairness and the means of working towards Reconciliation.

The Fanning the Flames Project sees the injustices of the past and present as the business of non-Indigenous people to set right.

Non-Indigenous people must deal with the unfinished business of reconciliation: land, the history of stolen children and stolen wages, developing respect for Indigenous cultural heritage, self-determination for Indigenous people, and the question of a treaty.

The Fanning the Flames Project seeks to work at the local level to support local reconciliation groups and ordinary people to undertake initiatives that address these issues; whether through work, cultural, social or geographical communities.

Central to this is that we work in solidarity with Aboriginal people, groups and organisations to achieve the aims of their struggle for justice.

Within this framework, FTF staff were encouraged to work in the areas of their respective expertise and interest.

Image courtesy of Megan Evans