Facing pain, protest and politics to pave the way forward
Academic Lead of CQUniversity’s Jilbay Research Higher Degree Academy, Dr Melinda Mann has never been one to shy away from making her voice heard on the tough issues facing First Nations Australians today, and growing up in a politically-minded family, working towards creating lasting and reformative change runs deep.
But running deeper still as the driving force behind her fire, is a heart that beats strong for her people, and a journey of healing that took bravery to face.
As Melinda reflects on the fragments of conversations she overheard as a child, of political movements and protests within the increasingly-vocal Australia of the 1970s and ‘80s, it was there that she developed her own strength and voice – something she was told later in life was ‘too much’.
“In my formative years as an undergraduate I remember being told ‘you’re too radical, Melinda, you’re too angry with the world’, and so I tempered myself a bit,” Dr Mann reflected.
“It’s not easy and it takes a lot to be ‘Blak, loud and proud’ – it’s hard to be accepted as all three at once; maybe you can be Blak and proud, but not loud – and oftentimes you can be loud and proud, just not Blak.
“But I came back around to this in my early thirties, of facing certain traumas and coming back to understand colonisation as an adult – I turned to literature and reading, and dealing with the impossible pain of trying to make sense of it.”
In looking at the early origins of NAIDOC Week in conjunction with the current Australian political landscape of facing legislative reform with reconciliation and forming national identity, Dr Mann said that passionately facing pain and protest is part of the ongoing fire that needs to be rekindled.
“The origins of NAIDOC Week in the 1920s and ‘30s were born in protest,” Dr Mann explained.
“For me that’s the fire – being passionate enough to protest for change, being grateful for what has been done by those that came before us, and to always remember the mourning.
“We can’t dismiss or brush pain away – we must understand our past and by refusing to let go of that is where our own healing and power to change comes from.
“I don’t think we give enough credit to pain for being a powerful motivator for change.”
And in that vein of change, Dr Mann is preparing to assist in leading Australian-first Research Higher Degree Conference Guwal Jilbay for First Nations researchers (16-18 July 2024), her role underpinned by her passion to create and hold space for fellow Indigenous Australians.
“What I aim to do through my role at CQUniversity and the other work I do is create space for mob; that’s my purpose of having an education – to be able to access places and spaces and move things out of the way so that others can come in and do things,” Dr Mann said.
“I have an unequivocal love for Blak fellas – and I’m happy to be the one who goes in and fights the necessary systems and things that have to change so that I can make space for others, to protect them, to do what they need to do – that’s what I want to do with my life, that’s what I want to leave for my mob.”
Held on Darumbal Country in Rockhampton, the Guwal Jilbay First Nations Research Student Conference is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and supervisors of Indigenous RHD students, and aims to address the isolation of regional and rural First Nations research students and their supervisors by promoting their research successes and providing an opportunity to connect, learn and network with other leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers. Registrations can be made via CQUniversity’s booking platform.
On reflecting on the national theme of NAIDOC 2024, Melinda said:
“I love the theme of NAIDOC 2024. With being Blak, loud and proud I love that we all get to express that however we want and it’s a great week for us to all unite, and we get to be all of that together,” Dr Mann said.
“For all of us celebrating, and in particular to all the Indigenous staff at CQUniversity – I want to wish you all a great NAIDOC Week.”
Read more inspiring NAIDOC Week stories:
Connection to grassroots and leading a life of conviction sees CEO drive change
Passion and positive impact drive Jay's medical ambition
Legacy, giving and community keep the fire burning for proud Dagoman man
'Be proud of who you are where you come from': a heritage regained
