Yajilarra

Film • 2008

To Dream: Aboriginal women leading change in remote Australia

In 2007 a group of Aboriginal women from the Fitzroy Valley in Australia’s remote northwest decided enough was enough. Their community had experienced 13 suicides in 13 months. Reports of family violence and child abuse were commonplace and alcohol consumption was rising at an alarming rate. Something had to be done. Something had to change. A group of courageous women from across the Valley came together to fight for a future. For everyone in their community. The results were inspiring and the healing has now begun.

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Very few positive films about Indigenous Australians are made, but Yajilarra was an opportunity to tell a truly inspiring story.

Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. This film was made so that the story of these women could be shared with Australia and the world.

It is not the first film I have made in Aboriginal communities and on each occasion, I have relished the opportunity to listen to and support our Indigenous Australians. Yajilarra was another great way to learn more, this time, about how Aboriginal women of the Fitzroy Valley saw a path of healing for their communities.

As a result of their dreams and actions, the town of Fitzroy Crossing is a different and better place. However, introducing alcohol restrictions is just the first step. These women have big dreams. I am very proud of Yajilarra. It has been an honour to work on this film. We would do well to listen to our Indigenous people; there is a great deal to learn.

Impact

After viewing the film, the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce hosted a private reception at Yarralumla in February 2009 to screen Yajilarra to a number of government and NGO personnel including the Federal Minister for Women, Tanya Plibersek. In August 2009 Yajilarra was screened at Parliament House Canberra in an event hosted by Minister Jenny Macklin and Minister Tanya Plibersek. Following the screening June Oscar spoke of the community’s desire to develop a real and lasting partnership with government that has the capacity to transform the community in the Fitzroy Valley.

Australia’s leaders

The George Institute for International Health hosted the movie’s Australian premier at a major event at the Art Gallery of NSW opened by the Governor Marie Bashir and attended by Federal Ministers and Human Rights Commissioners. Following this, high level dignitaries signed letters of support for the community with significant philanthropic donations received to further work in Indigenous health.

National Premier

In March 2009 the Australian Government held a side event at the United Nations 53rd Commission on the Status of Women in New York and screened Yajilarra to over 200 people including government ministers, and high-level staff at the United Nations. The movie received a standing ovation and stimulated much discussion, people commenting at how uplifting it was to see that there were solutions that were working in Indigenous communities.

The United Nations

The biggest impact of the movie was its ability to raise the profile of June Oscar and Emily Carter such that they were able to influence women’s policy around the world. The ‘agreed conclusions’ that resulted from this UN forum which is the peak women’s forum in the world, contained language inserted by June and Emily that was important to Indigenous peoples. The Australian Government negotiated with the 142 nations attending the forum to ensure that the language insertions remained.

An international profile for Indigenous Australians

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