Indigenous women are considered to be the pillars of the Aboriginal Communities throughout Australia. For thousands of years, they have passed from generation to generation the stories of their ancestors, their culture, their customs and their customs. His valuable contribution will be honoured at the NAIDOC Week which was announced to take place between 8 and 15 July 2018.
Dr Jackie Huggins is a writer, historian and activist for the rights of the first Peoples for decades. A few months ago, she gave a speech at an event organized by the Greek Australian organisation 'Food For Thought' Network.
LISTEN HERE THE FULL SPEECH OF DR JACKIE HUGGINS AT 'FOOD FOR THOUGHT' NETWORK EVENT:
There Dr Huggins did some notable remarks of the important women in her life: 'The women in my life created a huge blanket by which I was smothered and I was absolutely enveloped lovingly inside' she said.
She then briefly outlined the problems the Indigenous Australian women are facing: 'We suffer the worst health in our country, the worst incarceration rates. In fact, Aboriginal women are the fastest growing prison population in the country, if not the world. We also have the highest rates of domestic violence and our women are working very hard to change that'.
Dr Huggins is a former Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and has been a member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. And she spoke about the 'Redfern Statement'.
Dr Jackie Huggins AM Source: Supplied
'Just recently we feel that we have changed the tide of Aboriginal affairs through our Redfern Statement. That statement is about working together and that people should listen to our people and organizations who have the solutions. We have been doing this stuff for 30-40 decades. So we said to the government this is what we want to do and we hope you come to this journey with us'.
Dr Jackie Huggins with SBS Greek's Panos Apostolou Source: SBS Greek
Dr Huggins believes that the Indigenous Australians have worked tirelessly for four decades, and they now are asking the federal government to take part in this journey: 'The first time in our history I think we are able to talk sensibly to the government and for them to listen to us about closing the gap, about bringing down those horrible targets and statistics that we have now. It is only for women that we are going to be able to achieve this.'
