NAIDOC Week 2025 | Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud

This NAIDOC Week, we pause with purpose.

As a family-owned organic skincare brand based in Byron Bay, on Minyunbal Country of the Bundjalung Nation, we honour and pay our deep respects to the Traditional Custodians of this land, and to Elders past and present. We acknowledge the long, unbroken relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with Country, a connection that has spanned over 65,000 years and continues to nurture culture, community, and the land itself.

This year's theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud celebrates strength, resistance, and enduring cultural pride. At the heart of this strength, is deep knowledge of the land, its rhythms, and its botanicals.

As a skincare brand that uses native Australian ingredients in some of our products, we recognise that this wisdom did not begin with us.

It began with them.

The Roots of Our Ingredients

Australia is home to some of the world's most potent botanicals that have long been used by Aboriginal communities for healing, ceremony, and care. These ingredients are not new discoveries; they are part of the world's oldest continuing culture. Below, we share a few native ingredients we use in our products, not to take ownership of this knowledge, but to acknowledge and honour its origins.

Australian Sandalwood

Sourced from the dry inland regions of Western Australia, Sandalwood has long held spiritual and medicinal value for Aboriginal communities. Traditionally used in smoking ceremonies and as a natural remedy for skin conditions and infections, its calming and anti-inflammatory properties are now widely recognised in natural skincare. We use it to help soothe and balance sensitive skin, and it also gives an earthy aroma to our Men's Care range.

Tea Tree

Native to the wetlands and coastal regions of Bundjalung Country - including our home, Arakwal land - Tea Tree has been used for thousands of years by Aboriginal communities. Leaves were crushed and applied to wounds for their antimicrobial and healing benefits. Our region is also home to some of the most pristine Tea Tree lakes, where ceremonies and celebrations still occur.

We're grateful for this knowledge of healing, as we use Tea Tree as a hero ingredient for treating blemishes and purifying the skin.

Lemon Myrtle

Lemon Myrtle is native to subtropical rainforests of Queensland and northern NSW. This stunning tree is cherished for its intense citrus aroma and antimicrobial benefits. Aboriginal peoples have used its leaves in infusions, cooking, and medicinally for thousands of years, particularly to treat colds and aid healing. In skincare, Lemon Myrtle brings clarifying, toning, and antimicrobial properties. It's perfect for balancing and refreshing the skin and your senses.

Macadamia

Macadamia nuts are native to the rainforests of Queensland and northern NSW. Rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, Macadamias are incredibly nourishing, helping to restore moisture and support skin barrier health. They're also delicious.

A Note of Respect

While we use these native Australian botanicals in our products, we do so with humility and deep respect. We are not Aboriginal and do not claim cultural knowledge as our own. Using these plants was developed through millennia of observation, experience, and storytelling by First Nations peoples. We are committed to learning, listening, and acknowledging the cultural heritage behind the native ingredients we source.

Learn More, Give Back

During NAIDOC Week, and every week, we encourage our community to explore the rich cultures, languages, and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Learn the name of the Country you live on. Support First Nations businesses. Listen to stories told by those who have carried them the longest.

To learn more about this year's theme and find ways to get involved, visit www.naidoc.org.au.

With gratitude (and a lil' aloe),

The Sanctum Organics Team