Move Beyond Coal acknowledges the original First Nations Custodians of the land on which we work, meet, and play, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. As the oldest continuous culture on Earth, First Nations peoples have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years, and they continue to lead fights to protect their land, water and culture today.

In particular, we acknowledge the Wangan and Jagalingou Cultural Custodians' ongoing opposition to coal mining on their land in the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, and the Gomeroi Traditional custodians’ continuing opposition to coal and gas on their land in New South Wales.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and we pay tribute to the decades-long legacy of Aboriginal fights for land rights and against mining projects: from the Noonkanbah oil protest in 1980 in WA; to the Irati Wanti campaign against a nuclear waste dump in SA through the 1990s; the fight of the Mirrar people against uranium mining in Kakadu; and of Kimberly Traditional Owners against the James Price Point / Walmadany Gas Hub; and so many more.

This land was stolen. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always way, always will be, Aboriginal land.