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Our vision for reconciliation
Our Vision for Reconciliation is for our work to make a genuine difference to the lives of First Nations women in the Grampians region. We will place self-determination at the centre of our partnership work with First Nations partners and our planning and activities will be informed by the wisdom and knowledge generously shared by First Nations women and girls who bravely speak up against oppression and the consequences of colonisation. We will listen, learn and work in partnership with First Nations peoples to build systems of inclusion. We seek a future of respect and equality for all, and we stand in solidarity with First Nations women and communities across the Grampians region.
About the artist
Tanisha Lovett is a proud Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk woman who has lived between Stawell, Halls Gap and Horsham throughout her life. Tanisha has worked closely with her Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with community engagement. Tanisha also has a passion for creating artworks to help educate others about her culture and brighten up people’s homes and businesses.
About the artwork
In the middle of the artwork is a gathering of people of different skin shades and backgrounds. Around them are dots that represent peers, family, support people and community members. Actions that individual people make affect the people around us so we try our best to make a positive impact in people’s lives. Coming together to build each other up. Different skin shaded hands come together to unite together. Around them are people travelling and sitting together. As history has shown we can work in small groups to begin with and then we can grow to bigger things.
The outer layer of design represents land, waterways, journeys, stories in our stars, business of our everyday lives and Bunjil looking over us during these times.
Women’s Health Grampians acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s First Peoples and the Traditional Owners of the lands, waterways and skies where we live, work and play. We celebrate that this is the oldest continuous living culture in the world.
We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land. The invasion of Australia involved genocide and dispossession of land and culture. The health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to be impacted by colonisation, discrimination, marginalisation, and the forced removal from Family, Country and Culture. We acknowledge the extensive harm experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children, including high rates of family violence, among the impacts of invasion.
We recognise that the privileges and benefits we enjoy are underpinned by suffering and injustice perpetrated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through colonial systems. We accept, as a feminist organisation, that the struggle for gender equality has often excluded Aboriginal women, and we commit to learning and reflecting on our own privilege in order to work in genuine partnership. We will be guided by Aboriginal women and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in our work and we support self-determination.
We recognise the strength and courage of Aboriginal women and girls who bravely speak up against oppression and the consequences of colonisation, and generously share their wisdom on Family, Country and Culture. We will learn from this wisdom. We commit to challenging racism and discrimination, and to calling out systems of oppression. We will listen, learn and work in partnership with Aboriginal peoples to build systems of inclusion. We seek a future of respect and equality for all, and we stand in solidarity with Aboriginal communities across the Grampians region.