First Nations Matriarchs are more than ‘the head of a family group’. They are the healers in our Communities. They speak their truth and the truth of our people. They hold wisdom and unapologetically share this with us through their life stories. They guide us in making important decisions.They’re the ones who support us in raising our kids – either directly or indirectly. And most importantly, they naturally create and hold spaces for Mob to thrive.
Mob know this about our matriarchs. We know who these powerhouses are in our Communities. Without having to be related or even close knit, something about these women inspires us. They unknowingly give a piece of themselves to us. We hold this piece close to us and commit to continuing their legacy. Whether it be in truth telling, raising a Community or healing country - our matriarchs give us the fire to want to do that.
As a proud Yorta Yorta/ Gunnai Kurnai woman, I sit here and reflect on the resilience of my people. And my biggest reflection has been how our First Nation’s matriarchs are at the core of our existence. Without them, our Communities wouldn’t be what they are. I want to use this platform and my superpower of reflection to deep dive into the power of matriarchs. My reflections will share the Aboriginal women who have touched my life, warmed myheart and contributed to who I am as a proud Yorta Yorta/ Gunnai Kurnai woman. Hopefully this will spark your own reflections and give you space to honour the incredible women in your life.
One of the greatest things about spending time with our matriarchs is that they share stories with us, stories with so many life lessons. I’ve had the absolute pleasure of getting to sit with some incredible First Nations matriarchs and learn from them.
I couldn’t begin talking about the power of First Nations matriarchs without first honouring my own Grandmother, and proudly my namesake Gloria (known as Betty) Lena Charles (nee Thomas).
My Nan was a proud Gunnai Kurnai woman who was born on Gunnai Kurnai Country in Bairnsdale in 1935. She was the daughter of Alice Ethel Pepper and Samuel George Thomas. My Nan had a hard life picking beans around Gippsland.
She discovered more opportunity in Shepparton to pick fruit so made the move to Yorta Yorta Country where she met my Pop and had six children – the rest is history.
I honour the sacrifice my Nan made to move off her own Country. A sacrifice so many Mob have had to make. Her sacrifice continues in the legacy of me growing up strong in my ties and connection to Yorta Yorta country. My visits to Gunnai Kurnai Country are special and important because it makes me feel close to my Nan and is my way of me honouring who she was a proud Gunnai Kurnai woman.
My Nan passed when I was only twelve years old. I often grieve to know and experience what our relationship would be like now that I am a woman in my thirties. I often wonder all the yarns and wisdom she would of shared with me. However, I’m so glad that I have such a great memory, because it means I’ve held my Nan so close to me all this time. She was an incredibly hard working woman with a great sense of humour. I still take wisdom and guidance from her everyday. She’s with me in the legacy and wisdom of remembering to balance life and enjoy it because ‘what’s money if you can’t take it with you?’. She’s with me when I am cherishing time with family. As a woman who made massive efforts to travel across the Country to see her siblings, cousins, kids and grandkids – and would do anything for them, she reminds me how important it is to stay connected and look after one another. And she’s with me in the values I cherish and adore in other incredible First Nations matriarchs who have touched my life.
If you can believe it, you can achieve it.
Many of you may of heard of Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Pam Pederson. Afterall, she’s done so many incredible things and is very active in continuing the legacy of her parents Sir Doug and Lady Gladys Nicholls, who were pivotal in champaigning social justice for our people. For me, it’s the inspiration Aunty Pam commits to her health and wellbeing through running. I’m
in absolute awe to know this woman was still running half marathons in her seventies. She’s continuously setting new goals and sharing with me her persistence to see them through.
They often include very early morning wake up times to do her run, planned healthy meals and making time for stretching and recovery (something I’m notoriously good at neglecting).
I’ve completed four marathons now, and during every single one, I have drawn strength and inspiration from Aunty Pam. This is especially true when I am running up a hill because Aunty Pam actually loves the challenge of running on an incline! It’s in these moments I remember her wise words of “if you can believe it, you can achieve it.” Aunty Pam makes me want to be the best and healthiest version of myself. She reminds me in the power of backing yourself when you are faced with a challenge. Her achievements are so important because I hope they spark inspiration and motivation for other Mob so that when I turn seventy, there will be many of us that I can continue running with. Imagine a whole Community of Aunty Pams.
Leading with kindness.
There are some Elders who just warm your heart in a very special way. For me, that’s Wiradjuri Elder Aunty June Murray. I share a very
close childhood friendship with her granddaughter Tarli, which has meant I have early memories of Aunty June. Like so many of our Elders who have come before us, Aunty June has been an incredible advocate for our people. This included working at the Aborigines Advancement League hostel in Northcote and offering young Mob safe and affordable housing options. She is also known for her commitment to Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative in Shepparton where she worked hard to create culturally safe mental health and counselling services for mob in response to the increase of our Aboriginal men dying from suicide. In 2017 she was rightfully
inducted into the Aboriginal Women’s Honour Roll.
I am so drawn to Aunty June’s warmth and kindness in how she carries herself as a proud ninety five year old Wiradjuri woman. I often ponder the thoughts of what kind of Aboriginal Elder I’d love to be. And there is no denying it – I’d love to be Aunty June. I hope that one day when I am an Elder, I am viewed by Community the way I honour Aunty June.
Rather than having an obvious staunchness about her, Aunty June has a gentle nature and when she talks, you listen. She reminds me that there is power in leading with kindness and how this can go a long way.
Maybe it is also Aunty June’s incredible memory that makes me see myself in following her legacy. Anyone will tell you that even in her nineties, Aunty June remembers everything and everyone. I had the privilege of spending time with Aunty June last year on Yorta Yorta Country creating our 2023 NAIDOC campaign. Getting to capture her story was an absolute pleasure.
She had not seen me for years, but remembered exactly who I was. It was very special. We asked all the Elders who were part of our campaign to show us something they are proud of. When we asked Aunty June, she immediately grabbed a family photo sitting on her side table. She took her time and pointed out all her relatives featuring her kids, grand kids and great grand kids. She not only
shared their names, but who they were and why she was proud of them. The true act of an incredible matriarch right there.
All of these amazing Aboriginal women have inspired me in different ways. Each have come into my life at different times and offered me perspectives and guidance for different moments. But all have given me something special to carry with me into the next chapters of my life. They are all so integral to who I intend to be as a strong Aboriginal woman.
We know there are so many Nan’s, Aunty Betty’s, Pam’s and Aunty June’s in our Communities. This Matriarchs Day (and every day!) let’s celebrate and honour the huge role they play in our lives.
Mob – We’d love for you to comment below and share memories and inspiration of the incredible matriarchs in your life.
We’d love for you to share memories and yarns of your incredible matriarchs in your life.
