Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge and respect Aboriginal people as the First Peoples, Traditional Owners, occupants and custodians of the lands, waters and skies in South Australia. We recognise and honour the many distinct nation and language groups whose enduring custodianship is embedded in the lands held by the Trust. We commit to actively recognising and upholding the cultural protocols of each individual nation group and working respectfully in partnership with Traditional Owners, Elders and communities to ensure our responsibilities are honoured with integrity, respect and truth.
Acknowledgement of Legacy
The Trust acknowledges and honours the Elders, the former Board Members, the Community leaders and cultural advocates who have guided this organisation for over six decades. Their wisdom, cultural authority, and unwavering commitment have laid the foundations upon which we continue to build.
We recognise the significant contributions these leaders have made – often in challenging times – to protect and advance the rights of Aboriginal people to access, manage, and make decisions about their lands. Their leadership, advocacy, and cultural insight have shaped the vision and direction of the Trust, and continue to inspire our work today.
The journey of the Aboriginal Lands Trust is one of resilience, resistance, and renewal. It is only right that we acknowledge those who came before us — who gave their time, knowledge, and heart to ensure that the Trust remained a voice for Aboriginal South Australians in land matters.
Their legacy is not forgotten. It lives on in our governance, in our cultural responsibility, and in our commitment to walking forward with strength, guided by the wisdom of those who have paved the way.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Prescribed Body Corporates (PBC’s)
The Trust acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across South Australia and pays deep respect to Elders past and present. We also acknowledge the important role of Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) as native title holders and custodians of Country, as well as the South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) for their tireless work in supporting native title recognition, protection, and governance.
The Trust recognises that we operate within a shared landscape of caring for Country, advocating for land justice, and strengthening the rights and futures of Aboriginal people. While our roles may differ in structure and origin, we remain united in our shared purpose to uphold the cultural authority, aspirations, and rights of Traditional Owners.
We acknowledge that PBCs, established under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), represent the legal voice of Traditional Owners in relation to lands where native title has been determined. In contrast, the Trust is a statutory body established under the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013 (SA), holding title to lands on behalf of all Aboriginal South Australians. The Trust’s responsibility is to manage, protect, and promote the use of these lands for the benefit of Aboriginal communities.
Despite these differences, the Trust is committed to walking alongside Traditional Owners, PBCs, and SANTS in a spirit of respect, collaboration, and cultural unity. Together, we advocate for strong governance, cultural sustainability, and Aboriginal-led decision-making about land, waters, and futures.
Co-existence does not mean duplication – it means bringing our respective strengths to the table, ensuring that all Aboriginal people and communities are empowered in the stewardship and self-determination of their lands and relationship to Country.
Artist Acknowledgement
Pat was born creative, a skill he has expertly applied in product creation and life cycle management across his career working with brands including Woolworths, Vili’s Family Bakery, BAE Systems and BHP.
Pat’s family background is of an Eastern Arrernte person whose connection to country and community was disrupted by his mother’s removal in Alice Springs in the mid-1950s. Despite this event, he strongly identifies as both a person of Eastern Arrernte background and the Sultan family.
Pat has spent 20 years reconnecting to his roots, taking his children, communities, and clients on a profound journey of knowledge sharing and reflection, and encouraging us all to embrace all facets of our unique identities.
Through We Create Print Deliver, an advertising and business agency he founded in 2015, Pat is building a legacy that honours his cross-cultural identity. As Founder and Director of We Create Print Deliver, Pat is in his element. Passionately working with a multitude of industries daily; Defence, Retail, Not-for-Profit, Food and Beverage.
Pat’s diverse experience in the industry generates business opportunity for We Create’s clientele. In addition to working in We Create, Pat is a Board member of Operation Flinders Foundation.
He is also a sought after First Nations artist creating individual pieces with painted medium and digitally.