Code of Conduct

 
 

PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATION

Welcome to The Returning. This is a moment for us to come together to reset our nervous systems, reconnect to community, culture and country.

Our program is all Indigenous led and designed.

We are encouraging all participants to follow some common practices and protocols while out on country and with community.

We’re all here for healing and to build our communities through clear communication and care.

With First Nations participants, including children, we are ensuring that we are a safe space for all.

Please be mindful that no drugs or alchol will be tolerated at our programs.

Let us come together from the east coast to share our strength in our shared values and collective vision for the future, as well as strength in the diversity of our opinions, perspectives, experiences and approaches to healing, health, arts and culture.

Together, we are committed to:

  • Building and strengthening relationships and connection to country

  • Listening to and learning from each other, by sharing our different ideas, experiences and perspectives, with respect in our heart, we are not one homogenised culture, we are all different and all deserve to be heard for our differences.

  • Creating a safe and inclusive experience at Culture Campy for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion and economic status.

  • Sharing the skills, knowledge and tools from our facilitators, we always remember the importance of remembering those who taught us and acknowledging knowledge systems and protocols.

  • Making the most of being together and having fun!

  • Being chill and being okay with timeless days

Creating such a space is a group responsibility so we ask you to commit to: 

  • Treat each other with Respect.

  • Leave no Trace on Country

  • Community Care

  • Respect confidentiality when people share confidential or personal information.

  • Embrace intersectionality and equity – there is no place for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism and ableism at any of our programs

  • Follow our code of conduct which includes helping make the space accessible and inclusive, and no tolerance of bullying, harassment and unacceptable behaviour.

Please reach out to one of the staff members if you have any questions, concerns or need help.

Our code of conduct

We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive experience at our programs for everyone, regardless of your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, economic status, immigration status or refugee status.

Here at The Returning we are a majority of Indigenous participants on schoalrships, but we do also offer positions to non-Indigenous peoples to come and sit with us, please be mindful.

We do not tolerate harassment of participants, staff or volunteers in any form, and any person who violates these rules may be asked to leave our program. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible to a member of the Team.

Here’s how you can help to ensure our programs are inclusive and accessible space, for everyone:

  • Where appropriate, we encourage you to state your name and pronoun when introducing yourself.

  • State your name each time you speak - and if you’re leading a session, ask participants to state their names each time they speak.

  • Respect and honour a diversity of ideologies and experiences. Respect that your experience may not be the experience of others, hear others’ perspectives and allow yourself to be moved. Embrace new ideas and new ways of moving our shared strategy forward.

  • Please be considerate, respectful and cooperative. This includes following instructions about safety or other matters and taking care not to damage others’ property or country.

  • During discussions, encourage others to join in. Share when relevant and listen when appropriate. If you notice people dominating a discussion, ask for feedback from quieter attendees.

  • Be thankful when you are held accountable and aim to learn from different perspectives. Ask questions and share insights with an open heart. Avoid dismissing the ideas of others, even if they do not align with your personal beliefs.


Please also keep the following in mind to help make our programs an accessible space:

  • Cars can drive in and out for those with disabilities or find it difficult to walk, please be mindful to not drive your car in and our during workshop times.

  • Keep an eye on your kids, we will have volunteers but please be considerate of where your children are at all times.

  • Share the air - Please limit your use of scented products if you can. Fewer fragrances make the camp more accessible for participants with asthma, migraine and chemical sensitivities.

  • Please do not leave rubbish on the land or your belongings left out.

Children at our programs

As we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive experience for all attendees, this includes parents and attendees with child-caring responsibilities. Children are an important part of community life and are our future leaders, hence why our programs encourages the attendance of families, single mothers and youth.

Children can attend for a small fee and we require age and full name prior notice to adjust catering numbers. 

We ask that parents/carers take responsibility for their children and be aware of the needs of other participants. We also ask that all participants are patient with, respectful and considerate of children and their parents/carers. 
Our time at Camp is built on community and care, and thus we ask that all participants also keep an eye on our children- if we work as a collective, everybody is cared for.

You are welcome to breastfeed wherever you feel comfortable to do so.

Unacceptable Behaviour

Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct will not be tolerated. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal or written comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or clothing/dress, body size, race, age, religion

  • Sharing sexual images in public spaces

  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following

  • Harassing photography or recording

  • Sustained disruption of conversation

  • Inappropriate or unwanted physical contact

  • Sexual harassment of any form

  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour

Read Carefully

In exchange for participation in the activities organised by The Returning, and/or the use of the property, facilities and services of The GATHERING and Venue Provider, I agree for myself and (if applicable) for those minor children for whom I am the parent or guardian, to the following:

1.         I agree to observe and obey all posted rules and warnings, and further agree to follow any written or oral instructions or directions given by The GATHERING or the employees, representatives or agents of The GATHERING.  I understand that The GATHERING reserves the right to ask me or (if applicable) my children to leave and to remove me or (if applicable) my children, without any refund, if I do not follow any instructions or directions given by The GATHERING.

2.         I recognise that there are certain inherent risks associated with the activities and I assume full responsibility for personal injury to myself and (if applicable) my minor children or injury to my property, and further release, waive, discharge and agree not to sue The GATHERING or Venue Provider, and each of their directors, officers, owners, affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns (the “Releasees”), for any physical or psychological injury, including but not limited to illness, paralysis, death, damages, economical or emotional loss, arising out of my or my children’s participation in the activities and use of property of or presence upon the facilities of The GATHERING and Venue Provider, whether caused by the fault of myself, my children, The GATHERING, Venue Provider, other participants or other third parties.

3.         I agree to indemnify and defend Releasees against all claims, causes of action, damages, judgments, costs or expenses, including attorney fees and other litigation costs, which may in any way arise from my or my children’s participation in the activities and use of the property of or presence upon the facilities of ORIGINS and Venue Provider.

4.         I agree to pay for all damages to the property or facilities of The GATHERING and Venue Provider caused by my or my children’s negligent, reckless or willful actions.

5.         I hereby give my consent to first aid officier or associated personnel to provide me or my children with emergency medical assistance and/or treatment and agree to be financially responsible for the cost of such assistance and/or treatment.

6.         I agree to allow The GATHERING and Venue Provider to use my and my minor children's, if any, name and likeness in a photo or on videotape for promotional purposes or media releases.

7.        I agree to observe The GATHERING zero tolerance policy for abusive language or behavior, threats, violence, or any form of bullying. If I engage in any of these actions I understand that ORIGINS reserves the right to ask me or (if applicable) my children to leave and to remove me or (if applicable) my children, without any refund.

Witnessing or experiencing unacceptable behaviour

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible to our Team