Making HERstory
“I am grateful to be a woman.
I must have done something right in another life.”
We couldn't have said it better! We’re kicking off International Women’s Month for 2022 and we are reminded that, to be a woman is to be many great things. Fearless, nurturing, creative, beautiful, resilient, the list goes on and on. Growing up, many of us saw the women in our lives play multiple roles. They were our teachers, caregivers, breadwinners, disciplinarians, confidants, counsellors and so much more. They taught us the beauty in womanhood and the power we had to change the world. Over the years, we've seen women and their many successes celebrated on International Women's Day. This year we'd like to highlight the achievements of our First Nations Women in history and ensure our voices and successes are being represented on this day and during this whole month.
When it comes to courageous women fighting for what they believed in, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller might come to mind. But you might not know these three amazing First Nations women who used empowerment and activism to change (so called) Australia for the better.
First up is Pearl Gibbs. Pearl was an indigenous leader from the Ngemba or Muruwari language. She was one of the leading activists of the 1900s and fought for the rights of women and girls removed from their families. Pearl was also involved in many women's organizations and was on the management committee of the Union of Australian Women.
Second on the list is Joyce Clague, a Yaegl Elder and civil rights activist whose passion for social change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people saw her influence the instigation of the 1967 referendum. She was also the first Indigenous person to represent Australia at the United Nations in India in 1966, where she raised First Nations issues on the world stage.
Finally, we have Essie Coffey. Essie was a Murruwari woman who co-founded the Western Aboriginal Legal Service and the Brewarrina Aboriginal Heritage and Cultural Museum. She was also an inaugural member of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1985. In addition to being a leader and activist, Essie also served in government bodies and community organizations, including the NSW Aboriginal Advisory Council and the NSW Aboriginal Lands Trust.
These inspiring aunty’s are just a few of many First Nations women who have and continue to canvass for change and the development of our community as a whole. As we go into March and Women's History month, we'll be introducing you to some other amazing sistas who have taken their respective industries by storm. We'll be highlighting their stories, sharing their journeys to success and celebrating their remarkable achievements.
To keep up with these stories and women, follow our Instagram for features, lives and takeovers as we celebrate our women in style.