Madii Page is a proud mermaid using Indigenous knowledge to help fight climate change.
The 22-year-old Aboriginal engagement worker said she has had a love for the ocean for as long as she can remember and has spent a thousand dollars on a mermaid's tail to be part of it.
With the tail, a degree in Marine Biology and Indigenous cultural knowledge passed down to her by her mother, Ms Page is tackling climate change by starting conversations about the impacts it is having on First Nations.
“It’s a talking point, people see you out there and see your photos and are like, ‘why are you doing that?’" said Ms Page.
Source: Instagram
“I feel like there’s so many ocean conservation organisations around, but no one’s talking about the impacts [that climate change] will have on our culture.
“When sea levels rise, what happens to our coastal sacred sites? It’s gone.”
Source: Instagram
The sale of mermaid tails is booming in Australia and there are merfolk communities right across the country, said Ms Page, to the extent that one public pool in Perth, WA has banned merfolk due to safety concerns.
Fortunately for Ms Page, Sydney pools continue to welcome merfolk and she says the kids look on in amazement.
“I have taken my tails to pools and … usefully kids are just sitting there in awe, like, ‘oh my gosh is this a real mermaid’, she said.
Watch the full interview on NITV radio.
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