NITV show Living Black is more important than ever for First Nations people, host Karla Grant told Mediaweek ahead of the show’s season premiere tonight.
“After a failed Referendum in 2023, it goes to show that there is more education, understanding and awareness needed of Indigenous issues in the wider community,” Western Arrernte woman Grant said.
“While First Nations peoples still face disadvantage in this country, occupy prisons and juvenile detention centres, die in custody, experience poor health outcomes, still struggle to get a good education, live in overcrowded housing, face racism in our own country – there will always be a need for a program like Living Black to continue to shine a light on these issues and hold governments, politicians and leaders to account.”
Karla Grant and Andy Saunders
Now in its 31st season, Living Black is Australia’s longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program.
This 14-episode season will include guests such as musician Emily Wurramara, comedian Andy Saunders, former entertainer and radio broadcaster Candy Devine, photographer Barabra McGrady, artist Blak Douglas, and Cherokee chef, caterer and student of traditional Indigenous cuisines Nico Albert Williams (ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ Cherokee Nation).
Grant said her interview with Williams raised similarities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ experiences and those of Native Americans, including moves towards Treaties in Australia.
“Nico talks about food sovereignty and the value of recognising and cooking with native ingredients. There are many parallels between First Nations peoples globally, from cultural practices to topical social justice issues, and this interview scratches the surface, with other great, international stories still to come,” she said.
Powerful investigations will also take centre stage this season, such as uncovering the ‘black cladding’ of businesses across the country – Supply Nation defines ‘black cladding’ as “a non-Indigenous business entity or individual taking unfair advantage of an Indigenous business entity or individual for the purpose of gaining access to otherwise inaccessible Indigenous procurement policies or contracts” – and the impact of the Aboriginal Housing Company’s redevelopment of The Block in Redfern.
Karla Grant and Barbara McGrady
After 21 years on air and 30 seasons, Grant believes audiences keep coming back to the program because it is a trusted and respected source of information.
“We have built that trust and respect over many years with our people and communities – they know we will do the right thing by them when we tell their stories and that we take great care when we interview each and every person.
“We have been there shining a light on Indigenous issues when no one else was and told those stories with a great deal of sensitivity and audiences I feel can see that.”
Living Black premieres tonight, Monday 22 April, at 8.30pm on NITV and continues weekly. It is also available to stream for free on SBS On Demand.
See also: Manu Feildel headlines new season of Who Do You Think You Are? on SBS