“I am passionate about empowering non-Indigenous people to understand us and our culture.” - Maria Watson-Trudgett
- Maria Watson-Trudgett is a Wiradjuri artist, speaker and consultant
- She says a lot of people are interested in learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island People
- Maria Watson-Trudgett helps non-Indigenous people to understand the Indigenous culture
Wiradjuri woman Maria Watson-Trudgett is an artist, a speaker and a consultant specialising in empowering people and enterprises (small and large) to understand First Nations People.
Her cultural competency programs aim to create safe and culturally appropriate work spaces.
“I am working with organisations to strengthen their understanding of who we are as Indigenous People,” Ms Watson-Trudgett explained in a conversation with NITV Radio.
She says that working with both small and large companies adds to the variety of her work which can range from helping a small gallery in Queensland to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists more engaged with their local gallery, to working with national companies and organisations.
Her work can also involve auditing a structure of a large national company and exploring which part of the structure has an Aboriginal component or if its environment is safe and culturally appropriate.
“I am finding a lot of what I call ticker box approach. It is so important that the companies are authentic and building true connection with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues.”
Ms Watson-Trudgett says a lot has been done and she sees growing interest of non-Indigenous people in Aboriginal cultures.
It’s gonna take some time, but I see a shift and that is positive.
The growing interest ranges from things like acknowledgement of Country and the Traditional Owners of the land, from which the company is operating in email signatures, to larger tasks, such as Reconciliation Action Plans.
She stressed that there was a big shift and a lot of work has been done, especially with Reconciliation Australia and the Reconciliation Action Plans.
“A lot of people are keen, but they are not sure how to approach us, how to build the relationships.” She added that it is her passion to nurture people’s understanding.
