A special NAIDOC Week event
In Partnership With
Artwork by proud Samsep woman, Alysha Menzel (@alyshamenzel)
NAIDOC Week represents a long history of First Nations people telling their stories, honouring their Elders, and imagining a truly reconciled Australia.
Together with gender equality-focused organisation, Future Women, Witchery held a breakfast event on 5 July that brought together 250 people on Naarm (The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne). We heard from a panel of First Nations women, who shared the knowledge of First Nations women who came before them, and how they continue their legacy of fighting for fairness and recognition.
10% of every ticket and table sold was donated to the Worawa Aboriginal College, supporting the education of First Nations girls and the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.
The Inspiring Speakers
Here are the women whose voices had the stage, and whose illuminating knowledge and continuous work paves the way for much needed change in Australia.
Madison Howarth
Writer
Madison Howarth is a Wonnarua and Yuin journalist with an ardency for storytelling through a First Nations lens. Madison completed a Bachelor of Media in Communications and Journalism with Distinction at UNSW and has written for NME, The Sydney Morning Herald, Women's Agenda, Refinery29 Australia, 9Honey, Future Women and more.
Mundanara Bayles
Founder and Managing Director, BlackCard
Mundanara Bayles is a Wonnarua, Bunjalung, Birri-Gubba and Gungalu woman from Redfern. She is also the Managing Director and Founder of cultural capability provider, BlackCard, and host of the Black Magic Woman podcast. Coming from a family that has been active in the Aboriginal movement since the 60s, Mundanara is a proud advocate for her people, as she follows her father’s footsteps.
Laura Thompson
Co-Founder and CEO, Clothing the Gaps
Laura Thompson is a proud Gunditjamara woman and Co-founder and CEO of Clothing The Gaps an Aboriginal Social Enterprise and B-Corp that works to unite Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people through fashion and cause, this commitment was on full display with their campaign to #FreeTheFlag.
N’Arwee’t Professor Carolyn Briggs AM
Founder & Chairperson, Boon Wurrung Foundation
N’Arwee’t Professor Carolyn Briggs AM is a Boon Wurrung senior Elder with more than 40 years’ experience in cultural research across communities throughout Australia. Carolyn is the founder of the Boon Wurrung Foundation, which has worked to restore the Boon Wurrung language.
Jacqui Wandin
Wurundjeri Elder, Director and Chairperson, Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation
Jacqui Wandin is a proud Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Elder and Director and Chairperson of Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation (WEAC) Coranderrk Healesville. With strong leadership values, Jacqui carries the strength of her ancestors with pride by continuing the story of Coranderrk through Cultural Awareness, Land Management and storytelling.
Witchery acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this event took place, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
In Partnership With