Cultural Safety & Inclusivity
We are committed to creating spaces that feel culturally safe, inclusive, and grounded in respect and reciprocity.
We gather on Dharug Country, and we honour the First Peoples of this land - their stories, language and ongoing custodianship of the lands, waters and skies that hold us.
Walking in Relationship
We are honoured to be in relationship with the women of Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation (DCAC), who continue to maintain a custodial role in the protection and care of Dharug sites, stories, and sacred places.
Together, we are walking slowly and intentionally - guided by conversation, listening, and relationship - to ensure Roots continues to grow in a way that honours Country and uplifts diverse cultural background & First Nations voices and leadership.
Learn more about their work here: darugcorporation.com.au
Cultural Appropriation & Integrity of Practice
Roots stands firmly against cultural appropriation. We recognise that many of the traditions we draw from - whether yoga, ceremony, dance, or healing arts - have deep ancestral and cultural origins rooted in Indigenous, Arab, South Asian, African, South American, and other BIPOC communities.
Our facilitators are asked to honour the roots of the lineages they teach from, to name their teachers and sources of learning, and to hold these traditions with humility and reverence. We prioritise giving opportunities to facilitators from the cultures whose practices are being shared, and we hold these traditions understanding that access to teach does not equal ownership.
We encourage all who gather - facilitators and participants alike - to move from a place of respect, curiosity, and reciprocity, and to listen deeply when cultural feedback or guidance is offered.
Honouring Culture and Country
Cultural safety is not a box we tick - it is an ongoing practice that we are constantly evolving and embodying as a way of being.
Each year, our team deepens in our understanding and embodiment of what it means to host a festival that honours the cultural and spiritual roots of the practices we share. This includes:
Working in relationship with Dharug people and and women of different cultures to ensure our space & programming cultivate cultural safety, uphold respect and integrity
Offering a dedicated Mob Camp space at the festival - a culturally safe gathering place for Indigenous & First Nations women
Featuring First Nations facilitators and performers, including Welcome to Country and Corroboree ceremonies that honour local cultural practices and invite a deeper connection to country for the sisterhood
Providing a set amount of free & pay-what-you-can tickets for First Nations women - if you identify as a First Nations woman and wish to attend, please email us at hello@roots-festival.org with the subject line “First Nations Woman”.
Our Ongoing Commitment
We know this work is never complete. Cultural humility and responsiveness are living practices that evolve through accountability, education and relationship. The Roots Collective are a team of ally’s committed to reconciliation and healing Country. We believe cultural safety and inclusivity are living practices that evolve through accountability, education, and relationship.
Our team continues to engage in learning around cultural awareness, trauma-informed care, and decolonising practice through regular policy review and engaging with cultural consultants. We welcome ongoing dialogue with our community about how we can do better. We acknowledge that despite our best intentions, we will make mistakes. When we do, we commit to accountability, repair and changed practice.
“At the heart of Roots is the belief that when we honour the diversity of our roots, we remember our shared belonging to the Earth and to one another.”
We have established a process for community members to raise concerns about cultural appropriation or harm. Feedback can be submitted to hello@roots-festival.org and is reviewed by our Cultural Awareness Coordinator. When concerns are raised, we commit to listening without defensiveness, pausing practices if needed, consulting with cultural knowledge holders and taking corrective action.