Our Respect for First Nations Peoples

Guardians of Hope was filmed across many lands and waters throughout Oceania — each shaped by the enduring presence, knowledge, and custodianship of First Nations peoples.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the places where this film was made — the Indigenous peoples of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Timor Leste, Tonga, and Aotearoa New Zealand. We pay deep respect to Elders past and present, and to those who continue to care for Country today.

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We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded in Australia and that the impacts of colonisation are ongoing across our region. First Nations peoples have cared for these lands, waters, skies, and species for thousands of generations. Their knowledge systems and spiritual connections to Country are foundational to conservation, community, and culture in Oceania.

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This film honours the work of rangers across the region — many of whom are Indigenous or deeply embedded in community and cultural leadership. Their stories are not separate from First Nations history or future; they are part of it.

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We are committed to listening, learning, and standing alongside First Nations peoples in the movement to protect nature, culture, and hope itself.