This month, the Marni (Gooniyandi for “older sister”) Project connected successful local Indigenous businesswomen with younger girls and women in Fitzroy Valley to inspire, empower, and support them. Run by the Aboriginal resource center Marra Worra Worra, the project introduced participants to three local artists: a swimwear designer, a jewelry designer, and a photographer. The Marni Project: Empowering Indigenous Women in Fitzroy Valley
Over the course of a week, the participants, mostly from the Shooting Stars Program at Fitzroy Valley District High School, engaged in workshops designed to build their social and emotional well-being. The artists led sessions on positive body image, starting a business, and First Nations entrepreneurship, sharing their unique journeys and guiding participants through the design process from concept to product in jewelry-making and natural body products workshops.
The week-long program culminated in photoshoots for Jalayimiya Swim and Litiyalla Earrings, featuring the participants along the Martuwarra/Fitzroy River and in Broome.
Nicola Angell, General Manager of Programs for Marra Worra Worra, described the project to the National Indigenous Times as “a beautiful project about inspiring and empowering women in the Fitzroy Valley.”
“It’s a sister project – this one was all about linking successful local Indigenous businesswomen with younger Fitzroy Valley girls and women, to empower and support them to follow in their footsteps,” she said. “This was for one week, and there is a second part of this project which is a national NAIDOC launch of a swimwear and earring line.”
The project involved around 40 women and girls, with secondary school girls from Fitzroy Valley District High School and other local women participating in various workshops, including making natural body products and creating earrings. Participants also engaged in a photoshoot along the Fitzroy River, and some traveled to Broome to walk the catwalk for KAFTA (the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion Textiles Art event).
Ms. Angell highlighted the significance of the project: “It was quite a big deal and I think it touched everyone who has been involved in it.”
The Marni Project was funded jointly by the WA and federal governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding arrangements. Organizers noted that the project aligns beautifully with this year’s NAIDOC Theme, ‘Keep the fire burning – Blak, Loud and Proud!’.
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Source: https://nit.com.au/05-06-2024/11803/the-marni-project
