In 2019, Dujuan became the youngest person ever to address the United Nations
Human Rights Council. He said: "The
Australian government is not listening so we came here to speak with
you. Adults never listen to kids like me, but we have important things
to say. I want my school to be run by Aboriginal people. I want adults
to stop cruelling Aboriginal kids in jail. I want my future to be on land
with strong language and culture."
Margaret Kemarre Turner OAM, Arrernte Elder and Advisor, has said in relation to this film: "Everyone talks about making our children ready for school, but we have to make school ready for our children".
Director Maya Newell had been making films alongside the
Arrernte Elders and families at Akeyulerrre, a non-governmental organization, for a decade. This
film arose organically out of those relationships.
The Arrernte and Garrwa families in the film and the board of advisers to the
film were core partners and were involved in robust consultation at all stages
of production. This was a deep and ongoing process to ensure that each
individual comprehensively understood the terms of involvement and the control
they have over how their stories and images portrayed.
Some of the core pillars of the film's protocols included fair credits with 'advisors' and 'collaborating
directors'; formal recognition of traditional owners of the land
filmed; meaningful and ongoing consultation; shared ownership and profit
with those represented; capacity building for first nations peoples within the
film team; and a team structure that had both indigenous and non-indigenous
peoples as the core creatives.