Motherhood in the Colony
Launched
11th of May
Available for screening
A love letter to mothers and the
vital role they play in the resilience
of Indigenous cultures.
Motherhood is the transmission of wisdom across time and generations.
In post-referendum Australia, shaped by colonial violence and policies of erasure, ‘Motherhood in the Colony’ breaks barriers by facilitating an intimate cross-cultural exchange between First Nations and Palestinian women, unravelling stories of colonial trauma and emancipatory care and resistance while inviting audiences to listen, learn, and envision a future beyond the oppressive structures of the ongoing frontier.
Worimi filmmaker Genevieve Grieves and cultural activist, Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine) bring Palestinian and First Nations women — Sara Al Azhari (Qabatiya, Palestine and Romania), Paola Balla (Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara), Lilly Brown (Gumbaynggirr), Mais Hijazi (Hebron, Palestine), Justice Nelson (Djaara, Wurrundjeri and Yorta Yorta), Stacie Piper (Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum-Wurrung) and Wejdan Shamala (Gaza and Qalqiya, Palestine) — together to explore their connections and shared struggles.
Our Crew
First Nations Storytellers
Paola Balla (Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara)
Lilly Brown (Gumbaynggirr)
Justice Nelson (Djaara, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta)
Stacie Nicholson-Piper (Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum-Wurrung)
Featuring Thara Brown (Yorta Yorta)
Our children Jenin, Kinan, Reema, Seema and Sulong
Concept by Aseel Tayah
Directors and Executive Producers Genevieve Grieves (Worimi) and Aseel Tayah
Writers Maya Ghattas (Lebanese) and Genevieve Grieves
Producers: Jamie Lee Bolger (Noonuccal), Maya Ghattas, Genevieve Grieves, Simone Mugavin (Dutch-Irish Australian), Aseel Tayah
Creative Producers: Rah Dakota (Filipina, Spanish and Irish) and Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Associate Producers: Libby Collins (Tiwi) and Ramona Telecican (Romanian)
Director of Photography Rah Dakota
1st Assistant Camera Shannon Madden (Éire)
Sound Recordist Jamie A.E Connor (Pakeha)
Production Design Weniki Hensch (Papua New Guinean) and Aseel Tayah
Palestinian Storytellers
Sara Al Azhari (Qabatiya, Palestine and Romania)
Mais Hijazi (Hebron, Palestine)
Wejdan Shamala (Gaza and Qalqiya, Palestine)
Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Editor Rah Dakota
Original Score Freya Berkhout (Dutch, Irish and Scottish)
Sound Mix Jai Pyne (Irish, Scottish and British)
Colourist Steff Walk
Impact Producers Monique Duggan (Irish-Scottish Settler) and Maya Ghattas
Impact Consultants Hollie Fifer (British), Alex Kelly (Scottish/Irish), Maya Newell (Japanese, British) and Gemma Pol (Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji)
Communications Monique Duggan, Simone Mugavin and Gemma Pol
Graphics Rah Dakota and Simone Mugavin
Photographer Jody Haines (Palawa)
Production Assistants Cynthia Samayoa (Mestizo, Spanish and Nahua-Pipil) and Merryn Trescott (Wiradjuri)
Makeup Artist Kahealea Wilson (Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Nukunu)
Created by Bukjeh Arts and GARUWA
Supported by Common Ground, Diversity Arts Australia, Footscray Community Arts, Next Wave, RMIT School of Contemporary Art and Social Transformation, Shifting Ground, The Australian Centre, The University of Melbourne and Unquiet Collective
Thank you to the generous donors and members of our communities who supported the Motherhood in the Colony fundraising campaign.
Special thanks to Marnie Badham, Thara Brown, Meg Callanan, Kate Daglas, Andrea Distefano, Farida Fleming, Rona Glynn-McDonald, Huda’s Kitchen, Dr Julia Hurst, Alex Kelly, Belinda Locke, Ayse Ozdemir, Veronica Pardo, Tara Prowse, Sahar, Kieran Satour, Fatima Sharif, Ruth De Souza, Mark Edgoose, Kelly Hussey-Smith, Grace McQuilten, Fleur Summers (the nurses and midwives art exchange teaching team at RMIT University), and the teams at Shifting Ground, Next Wave, Bukjeh Arts and GARUWA
To book this show get involved or email us on [email protected]