EP5: 'Look in the mirror every day and know you're beautiful, black and deadly', Cissy Gore-Birch

Cissy Gore-Birch, is a mother of 5, the Executive Manager of Aboriginal Engagement for Bush Heritage Australia and such a positive, loving and passionate leader in her community who is forever fighting for the respect and protection of land, the importance of connection to culture and particularly, involving the voices of the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, in the conversations around solutions to issues that impact us today.

This conversation provides some vital education around the role grassroots Aboriginal groups like rangers, play in land conservation and protection; listening to Aboriginal expertise as we head towards another potentially devastating fire season; what its really like for communities up in the Kimberley’s and what has resonated with me the most - even listening back to it again as I edited it for you this week - is the way listening to Cissy ended up feeling like something of a much needed pep talk.

Later in the episode you’ll hear her talk about how we young blackfullas have to remember we’re beautiful and remind ourselves each day how deadly we are and the power we have to lead and make change. She reminds us that we need to support each other - not compete with or tear each other down - but rather, spread love and lift each other up to make it through and see positive change together.

I am so grateful to have been able to connect with and learn from Cissy - it’s voices like hers that exemplify the power we hold in us as a people and I know she will inspire and leave a smile on the face of every single person who hears her.

I will also mention this was recorded early on in isolation so when we talk about mining and the role it plays in communities, it was before the recent atrocity Rio Tinto conducted in destroying the 40,000 year old Juukan Caves of the Pilbara Region.

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Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories. A particularly big thanks to Cissy Gore-Birch for all the incredible work you do, your leadership and inspiration. Thank you also to Bush Heritage Australia for connecting me to Cissy and making our record possible.

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This podcast is sponsored by RØDE Microphones, the Australian pro audio powerhouse making incredible gear for podcasters, vloggers, filmmakers, musicians and audio engineers. This podcast was actually recorded before I got my hands on the amazing RØDECaster Pro, the incredible all-in-one podcasting console from RØDE - but now I’ve got the goods, you all need to get ready for how deadly and pro I’m going to sound in the coming weeks!

Thanks to RODE for supporting the raising of blackfulla voices, you can check their gear out here or @rodemic on Instagram!

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Always Was, Always Will Be Our Stories is Written, Hosted, Produced and Edited by Marlee Silva, on the unceded lands of the Dharrawal people. We pay our deepest respects to those people and their Elders past and present, whose connection to this place has remained unbroken for over 60 thousand years.

Follow us on Instagram @alwaysourstories

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Theme Music: 'Run' by Tristan Barton

Podcast Artwork: @wuruhi.auaha