I want to tell you a story this is a story about a little girl who grew up in
story about a little girl who grew up in
story about a little girl who grew up in a domestic-violence household losing her
a domestic-violence household losing her
a domestic-violence household losing her mother at nine years of old 18 years of
mother at nine years of old 18 years of
mother at nine years of old 18 years of age and growing up in confusion this
age and growing up in confusion this
age and growing up in confusion this little girl had a resilience that no one
little girl had a resilience that no one
little girl had a resilience that no one had ever seen before she had big dreams
this little girl after losing her
this little girl after losing her parents actually was rehomed to live
parents actually was rehomed to live
parents actually was rehomed to live with her paternal grandparents in a
with her paternal grandparents in a
with her paternal grandparents in a remote country town in Northwest New
remote country town in Northwest New
remote country town in Northwest New South Wales living as a non indigenous
South Wales living as a non indigenous
South Wales living as a non indigenous Australian she attended school and this
Australian she attended school and this
Australian she attended school and this is all she knew now that little girl had
is all she knew now that little girl had
is all she knew now that little girl had grown to a 40-year old woman who was a
grown to a 40-year old woman who was a
grown to a 40-year old woman who was a MOT wife and mother and an entrepreneur
MOT wife and mother and an entrepreneur
MOT wife and mother and an entrepreneur she was living the dream until one day a
she was living the dream until one day a
she was living the dream until one day a package arrived in the mail inside that
package arrived in the mail inside that
package arrived in the mail inside that package was a pile of information that
package was a pile of information that
package was a pile of information that would change her life it was a story of
would change her life it was a story of
would change her life it was a story of her family history not one story but two
her family history not one story but two
her family history not one story but two there was a story of her paternal family
there was a story of her paternal family
there was a story of her paternal family which came at no surprise and then there
which came at no surprise and then there
which came at no surprise and then there was the story there was something else
was the story there was something else
was the story there was something else it was her indigenous story it was her
it was her indigenous story it was her
it was her indigenous story it was her mother’s story about her family heritage
this was something the little girl had
this was something the little girl had never known about and as a woman she had
never known about and as a woman she had
never known about and as a woman she had to process it
to process it
to process it reading about her mother’s family
reading about her mother’s family
reading about her mother’s family brought a lot of emotions to the stage
brought a lot of emotions to the stage
brought a lot of emotions to the stage she read about her grandfather who
she read about her grandfather who
she read about her grandfather who served in the First World War as a
served in the First World War as a
served in the First World War as a soldier she read of her grandfather who
soldier she read of her grandfather who
soldier she read of her grandfather who was one of Australia’s first indigenous
was one of Australia’s first indigenous
was one of Australia’s first indigenous soldiers to serve in that war and she
soldiers to serve in that war and she
soldiers to serve in that war and she read of his story of coming home with
read of his story of coming home with
read of his story of coming home with medals and how he returned hurtin to
medals and how he returned hurtin to
medals and how he returned hurtin to flighted and all the emotions
flighted and all the emotions
flighted and all the emotions than he went through as she sifted
than he went through as she sifted
than he went through as she sifted through the paperwork and read of the
through the paperwork and read of the
through the paperwork and read of the story something shifted in this woman
story something shifted in this woman
story something shifted in this woman there was a sense of spirit and
there was a sense of spirit and
there was a sense of spirit and belonging that she’d never actually felt
belonging that she’d never actually felt
belonging that she’d never actually felt before it was a feeling like coming home
looking at the photos seeing the images
looking at the photos seeing the images there was family stories that she was
there was family stories that she was
there was family stories that she was able to understand that had once been
able to understand that had once been
able to understand that had once been unexplained there was questions that
unexplained there was questions that
unexplained there was questions that were left unanswered but looking at the
were left unanswered but looking at the
were left unanswered but looking at the pictures and understanding the stories
pictures and understanding the stories
pictures and understanding the stories it all began to fit and the puzzle of
it all began to fit and the puzzle of
it all began to fit and the puzzle of her new world began to make take shape
her new world began to make take shape
her new world began to make take shape during this time she had built herself
during this time she had built herself
during this time she had built herself up without the identity and the
up without the identity and the
up without the identity and the assistance of her heritage and she had
assistance of her heritage and she had
assistance of her heritage and she had worked and built businesses and created
worked and built businesses and created
worked and built businesses and created opportunities for her family and seen
opportunities for her family and seen
opportunities for her family and seen things come forward but during this
things come forward but during this
things come forward but during this discovery something had to change
discovery something had to change
discovery something had to change she was now indigenous and this is
she was now indigenous and this is
she was now indigenous and this is something she had to do for herself so
something she had to do for herself so
something she had to do for herself so the research began and she started to
the research began and she started to
the research began and she started to understand what she needed to find the
understand what she needed to find the
understand what she needed to find the answers to life’s purpose she started to
answers to life’s purpose she started to
answers to life’s purpose she started to connect with those around her and find
connect with those around her and find
connect with those around her and find the questions that she needed answering
the questions that she needed answering
the questions that she needed answering living in Canberra Australia’s capital
living in Canberra Australia’s capital
living in Canberra Australia’s capital she was able to connect with those that
she was able to connect with those that
she was able to connect with those that she needed to tell her story and finally
she needed to tell her story and finally
she needed to tell her story and finally she was able to identify as a proud
she was able to identify as a proud
she was able to identify as a proud Camilla a woman and this is my story I’d
Camilla a woman and this is my story I’d
Camilla a woman and this is my story I’d like to acknowledge the none all people
like to acknowledge the none all people
like to acknowledge the none all people where we meet today and pay my respects
where we meet today and pay my respects
where we meet today and pay my respects to the elders past present and future
to the elders past present and future
to the elders past present and future I’m blessed because I can see both sides
I’m blessed because I can see both sides
I’m blessed because I can see both sides of this nation
of this nation
of this nation and I’m able to work in both arenas with
and I’m able to work in both arenas with
and I’m able to work in both arenas with great comfort my dream is to become a
great comfort my dream is to become a
great comfort my dream is to become a voice of my people and see the message
voice of my people and see the message
voice of my people and see the message go out and
go out and
go out and educate the world on the messages
educate the world on the messages
educate the world on the messages there’s a great sense of achievement
there’s a great sense of achievement
there’s a great sense of achievement that comes from this process and there’s
that comes from this process and there’s
that comes from this process and there’s a feeling of the jigsaw finally being
a feeling of the jigsaw finally being
a feeling of the jigsaw finally being able to fit through this journey I have
able to fit through this journey I have
able to fit through this journey I have been able to become strong and proud the
been able to become strong and proud the
been able to become strong and proud the interesting thing is when people meet me
interesting thing is when people meet me
interesting thing is when people meet me a lot of them say you don’t look
a lot of them say you don’t look
a lot of them say you don’t look Aboriginal you look Greek maybe Italian
Aboriginal you look Greek maybe Italian
Aboriginal you look Greek maybe Italian perhaps European but fellow sisters and
perhaps European but fellow sisters and
perhaps European but fellow sisters and brothers of my indigenous heritage can
brothers of my indigenous heritage can
brothers of my indigenous heritage can pick it and straightaway they say to me
pick it and straightaway they say to me
pick it and straightaway they say to me what mod are you from there’s a great
what mod are you from there’s a great
what mod are you from there’s a great sense of relief that comes with that
sense of relief that comes with that
sense of relief that comes with that because it’s amazing when you feel that
because it’s amazing when you feel that
because it’s amazing when you feel that sense of belonging but it’s funny how
sense of belonging but it’s funny how
sense of belonging but it’s funny how statements like this can make you feel
statements like this can make you feel
statements like this can make you feel so differently from each perspective but
so differently from each perspective but
so differently from each perspective but to the doubters I always say there’s a
to the doubters I always say there’s a
to the doubters I always say there’s a simple explanation if you drink tea its
simple explanation if you drink tea its
simple explanation if you drink tea its tea
tea
tea whether it’s strong black weak or white
whether it’s strong black weak or white
whether it’s strong black weak or white it’s still a cup of tea
the other question people ask me is what
the other question people ask me is what percentage are you and I say with
percentage are you and I say with
percentage are you and I say with kindness
kindness
kindness we either actually identify fully or not
we either actually identify fully or not
we either actually identify fully or not at all which leads me to think which
at all which leads me to think which
at all which leads me to think which body parts what I labeled black which
body parts what I labeled black which
body parts what I labeled black which body parts with our label wise learning
body parts with our label wise learning
body parts with our label wise learning my history has been strong for myself
my history has been strong for myself
my history has been strong for myself and given me that strength that I’ve
and given me that strength that I’ve
and given me that strength that I’ve needed an understanding my culture has
needed an understanding my culture has
needed an understanding my culture has given me purpose there has been tough
given me purpose there has been tough
given me purpose there has been tough times along the road where I’ve had to
times along the road where I’ve had to
times along the road where I’ve had to understand different journeys and have
understand different journeys and have
understand different journeys and have awkward conversations like those
awkward conversations like those
awkward conversations like those annoying percentages to educate the
annoying percentages to educate the
annoying percentages to educate the world on the indigenous culture and the
world on the indigenous culture and the
world on the indigenous culture and the community and the messages of these
community and the messages of these
community and the messages of these people is my life purpose and I’d like
people is my life purpose and I’d like
people is my life purpose and I’d like to see us all be able to embrace all
to see us all be able to embrace all
to see us all be able to embrace all cultures especially embrace the love and
cultures especially embrace the love and
cultures especially embrace the love and have the love and the strength within
have the love and the strength within
have the love and the strength within our indigenous culture and for the first
our indigenous culture and for the first
our indigenous culture and for the first first world people First Nations people
first world people First Nations people
first world people First Nations people in the past I’ve heard stories of you
in the past I’ve heard stories of you
in the past I’ve heard stories of you know indigenous people are on welfare
know indigenous people are on welfare
know indigenous people are on welfare they want the land they have free money
they want the land they have free money
they want the land they have free money from the government it just made me
from the government it just made me
from the government it just made me realize how naive I was in growing up
realize how naive I was in growing up
realize how naive I was in growing up and what I actually didn’t really know
the key to this is that we actually
the key to this is that we actually don’t have favorites within this system
don’t have favorites within this system
don’t have favorites within this system and for me I’m just ambitious and driven
and for me I’m just ambitious and driven
and for me I’m just ambitious and driven anyway I always strive for what I
anyway I always strive for what I
anyway I always strive for what I believe in and do the best that I can
believe in and do the best that I can
believe in and do the best that I can I’ve been in business since I was 19
I’ve been in business since I was 19
I’ve been in business since I was 19 years old and trying to understand these
years old and trying to understand these
years old and trying to understand these two worlds and how I can become a
two worlds and how I can become a
two worlds and how I can become a potential leader within my indigenous
potential leader within my indigenous
potential leader within my indigenous community
community
community has been on the forefront of my purpose
has been on the forefront of my purpose
has been on the forefront of my purpose so how can I stand up and be noticed how
so how can I stand up and be noticed how
so how can I stand up and be noticed how can I bridge the gap what can I do to
can I bridge the gap what can I do to
can I bridge the gap what can I do to introduce us as an indigenous community
introduce us as an indigenous community
introduce us as an indigenous community to the world so I create an indigenous
to the world so I create an indigenous
to the world so I create an indigenous product range and I love that range with
product range and I love that range with
product range and I love that range with that range we actually introduce raw
that range we actually introduce raw
that range we actually introduce raw suppliers that are approved by
suppliers that are approved by
suppliers that are approved by indigenous communities we only work with
indigenous communities we only work with
indigenous communities we only work with those that provide economic
those that provide economic
those that provide economic sustainability back into those
sustainability back into those
sustainability back into those communities the flow of funds back into
communities the flow of funds back into
communities the flow of funds back into communities is very important it
communities is very important it
communities is very important it actually helps them rely on their own
actually helps them rely on their own
actually helps them rely on their own economic independence in truth five
economic independence in truth five
economic independence in truth five percent of the true value of the
percent of the true value of the
percent of the true value of the products or the worth of those
products or the worth of those
products or the worth of those communities and the resources only feeds
communities and the resources only feeds
communities and the resources only feeds back into those communities we need to
back into those communities we need to
back into those communities we need to change it’s our choice as consumers and
change it’s our choice as consumers and
change it’s our choice as consumers and business people to make that difference
business people to make that difference
business people to make that difference we need to ask and respect the
we need to ask and respect the
we need to ask and respect the indigenous suppliers that we use on a
indigenous suppliers that we use on a
indigenous suppliers that we use on a recent trip to Arnhem lands I was able
recent trip to Arnhem lands I was able
recent trip to Arnhem lands I was able to experience his firsthand I was able
to experience his firsthand I was able
to experience his firsthand I was able to play with the aunties and the sisters
to play with the aunties and the sisters
to play with the aunties and the sisters when we had our women women’s business
when we had our women women’s business
when we had our women women’s business and were able to create beautiful
and were able to create beautiful
and were able to create beautiful jewelry from seeds and nuts and I was
jewelry from seeds and nuts and I was
jewelry from seeds and nuts and I was able to learn how to basket weave and
able to learn how to basket weave and
able to learn how to basket weave and create this beautiful necklace that I
create this beautiful necklace that I
create this beautiful necklace that I wear today
wear today
wear today this necklace took me six hours to
this necklace took me six hours to
this necklace took me six hours to actually make can you imagine how long
actually make can you imagine how long
actually make can you imagine how long it takes to make one of the baskets this
it takes to make one of the baskets this
it takes to make one of the baskets this is a valuable lesson that I’ll be taking
is a valuable lesson that I’ll be taking
is a valuable lesson that I’ll be taking home to my multiple networks and to
home to my multiple networks and to
home to my multiple networks and to teach them of the understanding of the
teach them of the understanding of the
teach them of the understanding of the value of community and that people pay
value of community and that people pay
value of community and that people pay the correct price for all the resources
the correct price for all the resources
the correct price for all the resources and products from community
and products from community
and products from community and we’re able to feed into economic
and we’re able to feed into economic
and we’re able to feed into economic independence into those communities we
independence into those communities we
independence into those communities we can buy authentically indigenous
can buy authentically indigenous
can buy authentically indigenous products when we search it out we can
products when we search it out we can
products when we search it out we can ask other products socially responsible
ask other products socially responsible
ask other products socially responsible to feed back into those communities are
to feed back into those communities are
to feed back into those communities are we helping future generations in those
we helping future generations in those
we helping future generations in those communities I’d like to leave you with
communities I’d like to leave you with
communities I’d like to leave you with this thought my dream is to see a lot of
this thought my dream is to see a lot of
this thought my dream is to see a lot of our children all of the children in
our children all of the children in
our children all of the children in Australia learn culture in the school
Australia learn culture in the school
Australia learn culture in the school system wouldn’t it be great if it was
system wouldn’t it be great if it was
system wouldn’t it be great if it was part of the actual curriculum in our
part of the actual curriculum in our
part of the actual curriculum in our Australian education system imagine if
Australian education system imagine if
Australian education system imagine if they could learn indigenous language
they could learn indigenous language
they could learn indigenous language this would be a valuable addition that
this would be a valuable addition that
this would be a valuable addition that we could pay forward to the next
we could pay forward to the next
we could pay forward to the next generation we could also help close the
generation we could also help close the
generation we could also help close the gap and create something for us in the
gap and create something for us in the
gap and create something for us in the future we can all learn from each other
future we can all learn from each other
future we can all learn from each other through economic language and healing if
through economic language and healing if
through economic language and healing if you find this valuable please follow it
you find this valuable please follow it
you find this valuable please follow it up talk to your schools talk to your
up talk to your schools talk to your
up talk to your schools talk to your teachers talk to your peers see what we
teachers talk to your peers see what we
teachers talk to your peers see what we can do about bringing our culture’s
can do about bringing our culture’s
can do about bringing our culture’s together thank you
together thank you
together thank you [Applause]
”
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