By Zenae Powell

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are the backbone of community they are carers, birth and life givers, healers, storytellers, protecters, keepers of our kids and truth-seekers etc. They share their wisdom and hold space to all those within our community. Without them our communities wouldn’t be what they are.  

Waminda is one of the organisations leading the space for Blak Women. I was lucky enough to attend and celebrate Waminda and their 40th Anniversary hosted on Tharawal Country in Nowra. The conference paid homage to our Women and focused on Strong Women, Strong Community, leading the way. With over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and imperfect ally (non-Indigenous) Women in attendance.  I was an honored to share a room with strong deadly Women including amazing guest and keynote speakers leading the field of Blak Women. Including names such as Linda Burney, Malarndirri McCarthy, June Oscar, Aunty Jackie Huggins, Michelle Deshong and many more.  

With the conference focus on Strong Women, it made me reflect on what it means to be a Strong Woman today. Today western ideologies force Women to compare, undervalue and limit ourselves to feel as if we will never be enough.  As Blak Women this emphasizes the heavy burden we already carry as we fight against the system to be included and the imposter syndrome we experience. With Blak Women also being overlooked and undervalued for their continuous resilience, fight and staunchness when will it be enough? 

Never go back  

The common theme throughout the conference emphasized how we can never go back. With all that has happened, reflecting on history and failures, we turn to our roots. Waminda provided insights on what we could be doing better and generated powerful conversations that focused on topics which discussed the importance of matriarchs, treaty and voice, birthing on Country, healing, decolonialising institutionalised systems, keeping our mob safe and many more. 

Through these conversations we were able to hear the amazing achievements, projects and work our Women are doing in community. It is through their hard work, we can continue to move forward. By paving these paths, we create our legacy for our young mob. Our young people are our future by actively collaborating with one another, having open conversations and instilling two-way learning, we can create a brighter future that incorporates First Nations voice, perspectives, knowledge and communities.  

Our Legacy 

Throughout the conference many visited Waminda’s social enterprise Blak Ceda, at the entrance of the cafe read “Yullunga our ancestors, our Elders we honour you for your resistance.” This statement made me reflect on how our Ancestors and Elders are an integral part of our culture and without them we wouldn’t be where we are. 

For me attending the conference made me feel imposter syndrome, not knowing where I fit in. With this anxiety staying with me I turned to Country. When I got in the water and my body flowed in the waves, sun set turned to dusk, I talked to Country, I introduced myself, I expressed my gratitude for being welcomed and protected on a Country that wasn’t my own.  

As Country spoke, I listened and to my surprise a shark came by which made me immediately leave as I was not prepared. As I swam to shore a willy wag tail with a blue crest was waiting next to my bag. The significance of this… is my Great grandmothers totem, the matriarch of my family. 

I was protected, she was waiting for me. All my anxiety, all my doubts flushed away because I remember who I do this for. Through all our hardships I reflect on how everything we learnt in this life our Ancestors and Elders have lived. We’re here to learn, they’re telling us that they’re here and here for us. That we have never truly lost because we can always reconnect. It’s feeling their spirit and knowing that they surround you. Ancestors in front of you, beside you and behind you. We are not alone in the spiritual sense, and we can always draw from that strength, that inner voice telling, protecting and guiding you. 

The strength and the resilience of our Elders and Ancestors. For everything they have fought for and continue to leave for the next generation. With all of us trying to make our mark we hope that one day we’ll be as strong as them. To continue that change and bring peace. 

Our Strength 

Being strong looks different for everyone but a Blak Womans strength is so much more than juggling commitments, protecting our people, remaining resilient, pushing through hardship, healing from trauma, being a leader, caregiver, birth giver, life giver.  

 It is everything we endure, the hardships, disappointments, setbacks, the paths we continue to pave, the teachings/knowledges we pass on to kin, the families we carry, the communities and other women we continue to stand beside with, we endure.  Through it all we continue to be resilient and move forward. Waminda, highlighted this by putting Blak Women at the forefront of the conference and emphasizing the need for Women in leadership. With Women in leadership roles, we can collaborate and share our knowledge to further create change. By putting Blak Women in leadership roles we can also embrace Aboriginal ways of being and doing by putting culture and community at the centre. To utilise our lore, culture, systems and old ways in all aspects of health, education, justice, government and industry.   

Being a Strong Woman is not the ability to stand alone but stand together. Being a Strong Woman draws from the strength of our ancestors, our matriarchs, our aunties, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our people. Being a Strong Woman is what we make of it. We are Strong Women.