Summary: | In this paper we analyse and discuss the themes and issues explored in papers compiled in this special edition of the Pacific Arts journal. The central theme of this edition focuses on the complex relationships First Nations creative practitioners in the Indo-Pacific region have to the land and sea, and their papers explore issues around history and sovereignty, land and community, site and materials, or place and space. While acknowledging the different political, social, and environmental contexts of each contributor, as well as their highly distinctive perspectives and creative approaches, the guest-editors also flesh out some of the similarities between the countries’ histories, particularly the ongoing effects of colonisation upon their respective First Nations Peoples. The paper also includes relevant background information about the international symposium which shares the same title (Grounded in Place), presented in 2021 from which this special edition emerged.
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