"The memories of my grandmother's past were etched on her face, a map of lines and wrinkles that told a story of pain, resilience, and love. She'd lived through the darkest times, when being an Aboriginal woman meant hiding her identity to protect her children from the same fate as her mother – taken away, lost, and forgotten.
In the shadows, she'd whisper stories of our ancestors, of the land and its secrets. Her voice was barely audible, but the love and longing in her words were unmistakable. I listened, entranced, as she shared the fragments of our history. Her silence was a shield, a protection from the pain of the past. But in those moments, she'd let her guard down, and I saw the depth of her love for our culture, our people, and our land.
As I grew older, I realized the weight of her silence. The shadows of the past loomed large, but her stories gave me strength. I saw the resilience in her eyes, the determination to keep our culture alive. Today, I honor her memory by sharing her story. The shadows of silence still linger, but with every word, I bring light to the darkness. Our stories matter, and by sharing them, we heal, we grow, and we keep our culture vibrant."
In shadows, stories hide
Whispers of the past, a legacy inside
A grandmother's pain, a people's cry
Echoes of silence, tears that dry
In darkness, strength is found
Resilience born, a culture profound
A heritage of love, a story told
In shadows, light begins to unfold
With every word, a voice is heard
A legacy of love, forever blurred
In shadows of silence, we find our way
To healing, growth, and a brighter day
This piece is apart o the 2025 NAIDOC Exhibition.
