The Annamila First Nations Foundation Ltd is an Australian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the sovereignty, culture, and wellbeing of Australia's First Peoples, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Established in 2020, the Foundation operates with a strong commitment to First Nations leadership and representation, particularly on its governing board.

Vision and Purpose

The Foundation envisions a future where Indigenous Australians are at home with their identity and place. Its core purpose is to promote and support the sovereignty of Australia’s First Peoples to help the nation overcome discrimination rooted in its colonial history.

Activities and Services

Annamila First Nations Foundation delivers charitable services through three main approaches:

• Contributing: Providing financial and relational support to individuals and organizations led by First Nations people.
• Convening: Using collective strength to gather stakeholders in safe spaces aimed at robust dialogue and action on challenges and opportunities pertinent to First Nations.
• Influencing: Informing and impacting policy and decisions in alignment with Indigenous themes, values, and knowledge systems, remaining agile to respond to emerging issues.

Program Streams

The Foundation's work is categorized into three primary program streams:

• Country and Culture: Projects focus on sustainable benefits related to caring for Country, cultural practice and renewal, cultural education, and development of First Peoples' art forms.
• Healing and Wellbeing: Initiatives aim at personal and collective healing and wellbeing of First Peoples, prioritizing scalability and national significance.
• Pathways: (Implicit in organizational goals, focusing on creating opportunities for First Nations individuals and communities, though not explicitly detailed in available sources.)

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is notable for its majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander board representation, reflecting its commitment to Indigenous-led governance. Its founding director, Julie Kantor AO, has a background in philanthropy, arts, and cultural organizations and initiated the Foundation as a platform for giving that is informed and guided by First Nations voices.

Social Impact

Annamila First Nations Foundation addresses the historical and ongoing inequalities in philanthropic giving to Indigenous communities, which comprises a very small fraction of total charitable funds in Australia. Through its financial support, convening power, and policy influence, the Foundation aims to foster a more socially just Australia that respects the sovereignty and cultural heritage of its First Peoples.

The Foundation is registered as a charity in Australia and maintains up-to-date reporting in compliance with regulatory standards. Its charitable focus centers on fostering a just society, especially in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This organization exemplifies a modern, First Nations-led philanthropic model that prioritizes Indigenous agency and culturally attuned approaches to community empowerment and healing.

[1] https://www.annamila.com [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/431b4a24-4cd8-ea11-a813-000d3ad1ce4e [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/431b4a24-4cd8-ea11-a813-000d3ad1ce4e/people [4] https://www.annamila.com/disclosure-statement/ [5] https://shegives.com.au/story/julie-kantor-ao-and-belinda-duarte-am-on-first-nations-led-and-determined-giving/