IN OUR OWN RIGHT: Black Australian Nurses’ and Midwives Stories

IN OUR OWN RIGHT: Black Australian Nurses’ and Midwives Stories - 2022 National Exhibition

2 channel video installation commissioned by The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives.

CATSINaM would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the many lands of which we live and work, for their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, and to their Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this work contains the names and images of deceased persons.

Edited by

SALLY S. GOOLD OAM and KERRYNNE LIDDLE

Published in 2005, In Our Own Right: Black Australian Nurses’ Stories provides a powerful catalyst for questioning and calling into question the taken-for-granted humanity of us all. Told with incredible dignity and humility, each of the individual and deeply personal stories recounted is a powerful testimony to the gross inhumanity and brutal capacity within Australian society.

“In Our Own Right: Black Australian Nurses’ Stories was distributed to every Contemporary Nurse subscriber in August 2005. Acknowledgement and gratitude is due to all the Indigenous nurses who submitted their stories to make this publication a reality. To all those who were approached and did not submit their stories, thank you for considering doing so. We all appreciate your contribution to Indigenous nursing and health care.

- Sally S. Goold OAM CATSIN, June 2005

An excerpt from the 2022 official program:

Before 1788, traditional First Nation nurses and midwives held a place of honour and respect as they practiced and taught their art and science of caring. What we now equate as nursing and midwifery, was already practiced in First Nations communities, where First Nations knowledges of medicine, healing, and birthing were part of community life.

However, the progression of nursing and midwifery in Australia has not always included First Nations people in training schools. Some were progressive, others not so. Throughout all the challenges faced by Black nurses and midwives of Australia we have grown and emerged as a strong presence and voice. This is our story.

This exhibition pays tribute to the courage and strength of these trailblazers then, and professional role models since, who actively challenged the health system that ostracised First Nations Mob, and who now advocate for culturally safe health services for Mob. The intimate, sometimes heart wrenching, and unmitigatedly awe-inspiring stories told will stoke the fires of hearts and souls.

This is a series of works made by filmmakers Nicole Hutton, a Garawa woman, and Brittany Morris, a Wiradjuri, Dunghutti and Wonnarua woman, alongside exhibition curator Kerinne Jenkins and a team of collaborators.

CAST

Jean Lewis, Garawa

Jayvina Raggett, Gudanjii and Garrwa

Dora Raggett, Gudanjii and Garrwa

Angeline Penrith, Wiradjuri and Yuin Nation

Brittanie Shipway, Gumb ayanggirr Mob

Aba Nero, Meriam, Erumbam Le and Kannju women from Kannju tribes

Tysan Towney, Wiradjuri and Gumbaynggirr

Shelly Lauman

Miah Kennett

Siobhan Francis & Charlotte Francis

Aida Jenkins

Douglas Jenkins

CREW

Co-Director                               Nicole Hutton, Garawa

Co-Director                               Kerinne Jenkins

Producer                                   Georgia Moraitis

DOP                                         Gregoire Liere

Editor                                       Kelly Cameron

Production & Costume Design   Ella Butler

Music Composer                       Declan Harsent

Colourist                                   Alina Birmingham

Production Manager                  Kristen Settinelli

3rd AD                                      Elizabeth Haines, Kamilaroi & Wakka Wakka

1st AC/Data Wrangler                Gary Morris

Gaffer                                       Mat Wilson

Grip                                          Kris Wallis

Best Boy                                   Josh Royce

Hair & Make Up                         Amelia Fell

PA                                            Miah Kennett

Associate Costume Designer   Blake Headley

On Set Art Director                    Hayden Relf

Model Maker                            Madeleine Cooper

Costume Standby                      Elle Fitzgerald

Art Department Assistant          Tanieka Haines, Kamilaroi and Wakka Wakka

Art Department Assist               Elle Fitzgerald

Art Department Assist               Madeleine Cooper

Stills                                         Enzo Amato

Special Thanks:

George Coles & Sue Elphinstone, The Australian Film Television & Radio School, Stephanie Pringle – Chicken & Chips Sarah Neighbour at Panavision, Focus Film Lighting, Powerhouse Museum, Brislington Medical and Nursing Museum, Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum, SAH Museum, STC Props (Sydney Theatre Company), Hazel Fisher (STC Costume), Nick Day NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art), Prop Co, Geoff Newey (The Look), Susan Young, Belvoir Theatre Company, Leon and Barbara Chapman, Lewis Doherty, Berthalia Selina Reuben and Lisa Campos, Aida Jenkins, Douglas Jenkins, Elliot Clifford, Luke Marsden, Alana Hicks and Jeanette Fabila.