Because of Her, We Can: NAIDOC Week 2018 and beyond
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In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2018, we asked Young Canberra Citizen of the Year, 2018 ACT NAIDOC Scholar of the Year and Wiradjuri woman Dhani Gilbert to reflect on what NAIDOC Week means to her.
Ngunhiyal Ngiyanhi Malgiri (Because of Her, We Can).
I speak today as a proud young Wiradjuri woman, who like so many other young First Nations women across the country have a continuing connection to our Ancestors, our Country, our song lines and hope to be a part of a continuing journey towards a more just society.
This is all because of the resilience, strength, love, determination and power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to overcome unimaginable adversity.
The beautiful strength of women was at the heart of NAIDOC week celebrations and conversations for 2018, thanks to this year’s theme ‘Because of Her, We Can’. This year’s theme has resonated deeply across the community and proudly acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s tireless efforts to support, grow and sustain our futures. The spotlight deservedly shined a bright light on the fact that our women are a driving force of positive social change and can also be the unseen power behind the visible successes community leaders have achieved.
In heartfelt tributes across every platform and at community days during NAIDOC week we proudly honoured the ways of knowing, doing and being of the incredible women in our lives.
Close to home our Elders, mothers, grandmothers, Ancestors, sisters, aunties and cousins who have been vital to the continuation of cultural and community ways were proudly recognised. These women raised us, nurtured us and have continually supported us in doing the right thing, the right way.
As a result of this, many young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples aspire to be like the positive women who surround us as they are the greatest role models for positive change we could ask for. They demonstrate courage, respect, strength, hard work, compassion and love which inspires us to do our best and better each and every day.
At NAIDOC events in Canberra and across the nation we were reminded that in our communities and in the very Country our feet stand upon today, women’s guidance through the difficult times and challenges we may face has been continuously provided for over 65,000 years.
That continuing narrative was clearly visible when we acknowledged the work of legendary women in our community, at the ACT NAIDOC awards where the work and women of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Medical Service shone brightly, as well as at the National NAIDOC awards where human rights champion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Dr June Oscar’s outstanding work was recognised as the 2018 NAIDOC Person of the Year. In her acceptance speech, Dr Oscar made the room rise to recognise we all have an active role in ensuring women’s voices are rising loud and clear.
Deeply listening to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s stories, struggles and successes that were shared this NAIDOC week was a powerful reminder of the valuable contributions so many women make across our community.
This year’s NAIDOC theme is not limited to a week but is timeless. ‘Because of Her, We Can’ encourages everyone to reflect upon and appreciate the incredible women around them. It inspires us to walk with giants, by fearlessly being all we can be.
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