WEBVTT - NAIDOC Isn't Just For Blak People 0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:02.920 Welcome to First things first, I'm Matty Meals. My pronouns 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:04.000 are he and him. 0:00:04.160 --> 0:00:06.560 I'm Brook Blatton. My pronouns as she and her. 0:00:06.920 --> 0:00:08.880 And before we get started, we'd like to acknowledge the 0:00:08.880 --> 0:00:10.959 custodians of the land on which were record and today 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:13.399 for me that's the gaddigle people of the urination and 0:00:13.480 --> 0:00:14.080 for me it's. 0:00:13.920 --> 0:00:15.800 Surroundering people of the cool a nation. 0:00:16.760 --> 0:00:21.640 Let's let's get into it. Oh well, it's a Nadoc week. 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:26.200 Yes, how black week of the month of the year, 0:00:26.600 --> 0:00:31.520 of the year. I feel real black, real, you know, always. 0:00:31.360 --> 0:00:34.279 Yeah, always, I'm a black phil every day and I 0:00:34.360 --> 0:00:35.400 love it. Yeah. 0:00:35.440 --> 0:00:38.760 Like if I was, if I was a range of 0:00:39.000 --> 0:00:41.800 how toast I am, I would be burnt toast. 0:00:42.120 --> 0:00:44.200 Yeah, it would be crispy burnt toast with that button 0:00:44.280 --> 0:00:46.080 night trying to scrape off the little bit of like. 0:00:46.760 --> 0:00:50.680 Extra charred, trying to savor that. 0:00:50.720 --> 0:00:52.960 Bread, stiff and stale as it is too. 0:00:54.520 --> 0:00:56.920 Oh well, this year the theme is keep the fire burning, 0:00:57.160 --> 0:00:58.080 don't burn the toast. 0:00:58.400 --> 0:01:00.960 Don't burn the toast. That's right, keep. 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:03.440 The fire burning, yeah. 0:01:02.880 --> 0:01:05.040 But don't burn the toast. I love that. 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:11.200 That's next week's next year, next week. That's next year's name. 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:12.959 But that's the theme for Reconciliation Week. 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:19.000 Yeah, we are definitely filling the vibes. 0:01:19.720 --> 0:01:22.000 Yeah, talk about keep the fire burning. We are on 0:01:22.080 --> 0:01:24.920 fire today. We are having a ball of fun and 0:01:25.120 --> 0:01:28.240 so excited for this episode, for this week, for this 0:01:28.560 --> 0:01:29.679 year as always, But. 0:01:29.720 --> 0:01:32.400 Like NATOK is one of my favorite weeks. I don't know, 0:01:33.080 --> 0:01:33.319 you know. 0:01:33.360 --> 0:01:36.080 What, it just kind of always like people think that 0:01:36.160 --> 0:01:38.360 NATOK Week is only just for Black Fellows, but it's 0:01:38.400 --> 0:01:41.240 for everyone. But it's like it's an invitation all the time, 0:01:41.319 --> 0:01:45.120 you know, But it's like for blackfellows within the community. 0:01:45.160 --> 0:01:48.160 It's like I'm going to show how black I am. 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:51.280 Show how proud we are to be Black fellows, show 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:54.080 you know, the struggle and the challenges of our community, 0:01:54.080 --> 0:01:56.480 but also the success and the. 0:01:56.360 --> 0:01:57.760 Beauty and the black joy. 0:01:57.840 --> 0:01:59.880 And I love that there are so many activations of 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:02.280 cross the country. There are the NADOC balls, there are 0:02:02.520 --> 0:02:06.920 you know, different channels doing specific broadcasts. There are events, there's. 0:02:06.760 --> 0:02:10.000 Community days, community days released. 0:02:10.400 --> 0:02:12.760 Yeah, a lot of Black fellows release music in this time. 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:15.960 It is it is just you know, a moment for 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:18.160 us or to be really proud of who we are. 0:02:18.280 --> 0:02:21.480 And and look, you know at our community and see 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:23.840 how much we've achieved and how much you know, there 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:26.320 is still to go. And that's what the fire burning 0:02:26.400 --> 0:02:29.400 is all about. Keep the fire burning. It really comes 0:02:29.400 --> 0:02:31.600 off the back of you know, a really tough you 0:02:31.720 --> 0:02:35.000 for mob when it came to the referendum and how 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:38.040 much that affected I feel, like, you know, so many 0:02:38.080 --> 0:02:40.560 of us, no matter whether you voted yes or no, 0:02:40.800 --> 0:02:43.960 it affected us as black fellows. And because it allowed 0:02:44.000 --> 0:02:47.200 the country to vote on our identity and our value, 0:02:47.240 --> 0:02:51.200 I suppose and unfortunately, you know, we didn't get a 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:54.160 yes in that referendum. But that doesn't mean that the 0:02:54.200 --> 0:02:56.680 work stops. That doesn't mean that the investment into our 0:02:56.680 --> 0:02:59.720 people stops in terms of you know, government investment. But 0:03:00.000 --> 0:03:02.959 also it doesn't mean that the rest of Australia and 0:03:03.000 --> 0:03:06.080 the community out there aren't proud of us as franslations. 0:03:07.919 --> 0:03:10.080 We aren't proud of yes. 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:13.000 So keep the fire burning is all about making sure 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:17.079 that we are continuing to you know, share the beautiful 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:21.079 parts of our community and also work on the challenges 0:03:21.120 --> 0:03:23.320 that we face as a community and the disadvantage that 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:27.000 we face due to colonization in this country. So I 0:03:27.160 --> 0:03:29.400 like the theme. How has the theme sat with you? 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:30.440 I love it. 0:03:30.480 --> 0:03:33.080 I mean I've always felt this as well, Like every 0:03:33.120 --> 0:03:37.080 time I do a speech or talk or i'm with 0:03:37.240 --> 0:03:40.080 kids and I think of passion, I think of culture. 0:03:40.200 --> 0:03:42.360 I always think like I have a fire in my 0:03:42.440 --> 0:03:45.839 belly that is like raring to go, and I never 0:03:45.920 --> 0:03:49.480 feel like it's ever ever and will ever go out. 0:03:49.560 --> 0:03:52.440 And I think this kind of this theme sort of 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:58.280 reiterates that feeling but also shows I guess, the strength 0:03:58.400 --> 0:04:01.760 and the the passion. 0:04:02.440 --> 0:04:03.960 I always think of things in color. 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:07.119 I'm wearing red today and I feel like that kind 0:04:07.120 --> 0:04:11.680 of for me is showing the passion and the strength 0:04:11.720 --> 0:04:17.000 and the fire that's my belly. Yeah, I love all 0:04:17.040 --> 0:04:20.919 of the themes. One year I posted the themes of 0:04:21.000 --> 0:04:24.359 Nadock from the earliest when they first started, you know 0:04:24.400 --> 0:04:26.640 how they would have themes or posters, And I think 0:04:27.040 --> 0:04:31.320 every year it's just been so applicable to how mob 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:34.320 of feeling and the community voice. And I think that's 0:04:34.360 --> 0:04:37.680 so important that to hear that this theme kind of 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:43.159 encompasses our voice. Even regardless of what the voice referendum 0:04:43.839 --> 0:04:46.560 told us or said to us, we don't care. We're 0:04:46.600 --> 0:04:50.039 still moving on We're still going. We're going to continue 0:04:50.080 --> 0:04:53.920 to show up. Keep the fire burning is like the 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:58.000 best representation, but I also love the notion and spirituality 0:04:58.000 --> 0:05:01.919 it has to land as well. We know that fire 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:06.080 is such a central place of our community. Sometimes for 0:05:06.480 --> 0:05:13.400 community gatherings, we smoke to release and get rid of cleanse. Yeah, exactly. 0:05:13.640 --> 0:05:16.600 So as long as that fire is, you know, like 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:20.720 still burning, there's so much healing still happening as well 0:05:21.160 --> 0:05:22.000 in the process. 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:22.400 Yeah. 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:25.599 Oh, I love that. I feel like you have encapsulated 0:05:25.680 --> 0:05:28.440 exactly what this theme is about. When I heard about 0:05:28.480 --> 0:05:31.520 this theme, I feel like for me, I asked myself 0:05:31.560 --> 0:05:33.919 the question, what is the fire for me? 0:05:34.240 --> 0:05:35.960 And the fire. 0:05:35.680 --> 0:05:39.359 Which lives with inside me? I feel like, isn't the 0:05:39.440 --> 0:05:46.880 gas that you're thinking of? You know, she loves she 0:05:46.960 --> 0:05:47.880 loves the fart jokes. 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:49.000 I had to pop that in there. 0:05:49.080 --> 0:05:52.719 But I am talking about the pride that I feel. 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:54.839 And I say this, you know, I've said this for 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:57.760 a number of years and I've felt this, especially when 0:05:57.800 --> 0:05:59.880 I've had to explain to people what it feels like 0:06:00.120 --> 0:06:03.159 a black fellow. There is nothing more exciting, There is 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:06.239 nothing more deep within my soul or feeling or emotion 0:06:07.240 --> 0:06:10.080 that gets me red up or gets me fired up, 0:06:10.160 --> 0:06:13.680 or gets me inspired. Then the idea that you know 0:06:13.800 --> 0:06:16.640 as a blackfellow, the pride that I feel inside me 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.520 is the fuel to my fire, and it's the first 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:22.120 and last thing I you know, constantly think about. It's like, 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:24.560 how proud I am to be a Black Feller, How 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:28.760 proud I am to be, you know, a member of 0:06:28.960 --> 0:06:32.840 the oldest living culture or the planet. How proud I 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:35.600 am to see how far we've come When I think 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:38.200 about my dad's life and the experiences that he had 0:06:38.240 --> 0:06:41.880 as a young man on the mission, and the challenges 0:06:41.920 --> 0:06:44.440 and the racism and the stereotypes that he faced. But 0:06:44.520 --> 0:06:47.320 then I am a vision of my dad in the future, 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:49.279 and it feels like we've. 0:06:49.120 --> 0:06:49.800 Come a long way. 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:53.680 So the fire is burning, the fire is strong, and 0:06:53.760 --> 0:06:57.120 I feel like when you think about while we do 0:06:57.200 --> 0:07:00.520 what we do, it's about that you know that fire 0:07:00.600 --> 0:07:03.000 in our belly to make a difference, for our people, 0:07:03.080 --> 0:07:06.839 to continue to make a path forward so that the 0:07:06.880 --> 0:07:09.960 future generations can be proud of who we are. And 0:07:10.000 --> 0:07:11.960 I think, and I always it always comes down to 0:07:12.160 --> 0:07:14.040 the why, and I know that we do it for 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:14.720 our community. 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:16.840 A lot of the stuff that. 0:07:16.200 --> 0:07:20.200 We push for or break down those barriers for, or 0:07:20.680 --> 0:07:22.760 are the first in that room for. It's because of 0:07:22.800 --> 0:07:27.400 our community, and this week highlights that at another scale. 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:30.440 So I think it's really important for people outside of 0:07:30.440 --> 0:07:31.760 our community to get amongst it. 0:07:32.040 --> 0:07:34.880 Yeah, exactly, like I talked about that invitation, like it's 0:07:35.240 --> 0:07:39.720 NATOC week. You know. My earliest childhood memory of Nadock 0:07:39.840 --> 0:07:41.720 was when I was in primary school and everyone just 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:45.760 thought Nadock was this really sort of I guess back 0:07:45.800 --> 0:07:49.080 in the day from and the community that grew up in, 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:53.520 it always seemed like this very tokenistic kind of week 0:07:53.680 --> 0:07:56.360 where it would be like, you know, they'd have some 0:07:56.440 --> 0:07:59.320 mob come in kiok some kangaroo stew and damper and 0:07:59.320 --> 0:08:00.880 give it to all the kids and would all sit 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:04.520 around and you know that there wasn't like much more 0:08:04.600 --> 0:08:06.239 into the. 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:09.200 Why of it. It was just oh, we just do this. 0:08:09.360 --> 0:08:12.320 And it wasn't until later, I guess, in the in 0:08:12.560 --> 0:08:18.360 my education era and learning so much more about the 0:08:18.400 --> 0:08:21.280 history that I understood sort of the where this comes 0:08:21.280 --> 0:08:23.440 from and why we do it, and and I want 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:25.680 my kids to know that earlier on. I want young 0:08:25.720 --> 0:08:29.000 people to know why we do nado earlier on as well. 0:08:29.280 --> 0:08:32.640 It's not just fucking kangaroos, doo and Damper, which which 0:08:32.720 --> 0:08:35.520 we love. It was such a great childhood memory and 0:08:35.520 --> 0:08:37.880 I used to love it, but it's so much more 0:08:38.040 --> 0:08:43.240 to what is NATOC and yeah, and it's such an 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:46.640 offering or an invitation for people to also do that 0:08:46.800 --> 0:08:49.680 learning and understand it too. And I guess come to 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:52.440 come to the party, like come to the come to 0:08:52.520 --> 0:08:55.880 the committee, come to the cult. 0:09:00.000 --> 0:09:02.440 You know. NATOK has been going on for a long 0:09:02.520 --> 0:09:05.480 time now, and obviously it started off as a protest 0:09:05.520 --> 0:09:09.839 and a way for recognition of First Nations people, challenges, 0:09:10.600 --> 0:09:13.960 struggle and also a way for us to be heard. 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:17.199 We go back to that voice. Now NATOK is a 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:19.520 little bit different. It feels like more of a celebration, 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.880 but there is definitely still that protest element to it, 0:09:22.960 --> 0:09:25.400 that fight element to it. It is a week for 0:09:25.520 --> 0:09:30.320 us to be able to have a national focus on 0:09:30.360 --> 0:09:34.439 our community and I love that the rest of Australia 0:09:34.520 --> 0:09:36.960 gets to see Black Fellows in a different light within 0:09:37.040 --> 0:09:39.679 this week. A lot of the time, our stereotypes have 0:09:39.760 --> 0:09:43.080 perpetuated throughout the media throughout the year. When it comes 0:09:43.120 --> 0:09:46.160 to NATOCK, it feels like there's a lot of lightheartedness, 0:09:46.200 --> 0:09:48.160 there's a lot of joy, there's a lot of positivity 0:09:48.200 --> 0:09:50.920 that is reflected from our community. So I love seeing that. 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:53.480 I love seeing the balls that happen around the country, 0:09:53.679 --> 0:09:57.280 black fellows getting dressed up and you know, feeling themselves 0:09:57.280 --> 0:10:01.000 and looking amazing and having you know, a celebration of 0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:04.720 who we are. But I also love the conversations. 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:08.559 That sharing, the community events that it's just so beautiful. 0:10:08.600 --> 0:10:09.280 I love it too. 0:10:09.400 --> 0:10:12.000 Like I remember Miss Nadock like a couple of years ago, 0:10:13.240 --> 0:10:16.760 which is a huge like pageant type leadership thing for women, 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:19.679 and I just I love that time of NADOK because 0:10:19.679 --> 0:10:22.400 it's like there's this crowning and it's beautiful and it 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:24.839 shows like all of our young women leaders that are 0:10:24.840 --> 0:10:27.600 coming through, Like it's I don't know, I get really 0:10:28.559 --> 0:10:30.400 sentimental around this time of year. 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:31.040 Yeah. 0:10:31.280 --> 0:10:34.240 I think that NADOC, you know, I think that it 0:10:34.280 --> 0:10:37.320 will continue to grow, and I think that there is 0:10:37.400 --> 0:10:41.640 a wider community out there that accept you know, that 0:10:41.679 --> 0:10:44.560 they're offering of NADOC. Now. I think, you know, every 0:10:44.640 --> 0:10:47.200 year it becomes bigger, more people get involved from the 0:10:47.200 --> 0:10:51.320 wider community, and it's really about learning, educating, yourself and understanding, 0:10:52.400 --> 0:10:54.880 you know, having a more understanding but also more respect 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:57.760 for First Nations culture across that country. And I think 0:10:57.880 --> 0:11:00.600 that and that underpins the value that we hold within 0:11:00.640 --> 0:11:04.720 our nation and the investment from you know, government as well. 0:11:04.800 --> 0:11:07.600 So even though we didn't get the voice, we still 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:10.400 have these moments throughout the year where where you can 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:13.720 show your interest or your respect for our community. But 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:15.960 that should be on and support, but that should be 0:11:16.000 --> 0:11:17.120 on a day to day basis. 0:11:17.160 --> 0:11:19.720 But should But if it's you know, this is the 0:11:19.720 --> 0:11:23.120 week that you you take that initiative and that's the 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:26.120 week that you like, you know, you invest and you 0:11:26.160 --> 0:11:30.319 are taking that invitation or you know, that's that's great, cool, welcome, 0:11:30.520 --> 0:11:30.880 thank you. 0:11:31.400 --> 0:11:34.200 But also if you you know, use this week as 0:11:34.200 --> 0:11:41.400 a tokenistic way to show you your your performative performative allyship, 0:11:41.440 --> 0:11:44.840 I think that it's it's we'd rather have you step 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:47.640 aside and not be involved. You know, especially companies who 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:50.880 are doing one off activations throughout the year in this 0:11:50.960 --> 0:11:53.240 week where they you know, show their support but then 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:58.960 don't have any fundamental you know, support within their their 0:11:59.040 --> 0:12:02.520 organization for First communities outside of that one panel that 0:12:02.520 --> 0:12:04.920 they're going to host in NADOC week. I think that 0:12:04.920 --> 0:12:08.479 that's performative allyship, and that stuff can be actually quite detrimental. 0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:10.880 Yeah, and I think we can read through it. I 0:12:10.880 --> 0:12:13.200 think people can see for what it is. 0:12:14.120 --> 0:12:17.480 I do know that there are also some great collaborations 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:22.360 and great things that come out of Nateoff that aren't 0:12:22.360 --> 0:12:24.080 tokenistic and aren't performative. 0:12:24.160 --> 0:12:25.840 But if you are. 0:12:25.679 --> 0:12:28.680 Doing that like you're not really you're doing yourself a 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:30.240 disservice and we can read through it. 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:33.319 People can see that, and it's not credible, you know 0:12:33.360 --> 0:12:33.719 what I mean. 0:12:33.920 --> 0:12:34.400 I agree. 0:12:34.600 --> 0:12:37.160 Yeah, So I think you know, take a little bit 0:12:37.200 --> 0:12:39.680 of a tip out of our book, if you may, 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:45.200 and just understand that, Yeah, like performative allyship doesn't serve 0:12:45.240 --> 0:12:48.400 you as a business organization or brand. 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:49.199 Or whatever it is. 0:12:49.320 --> 0:12:52.760 It's only just saying like we just don't care. 0:12:53.000 --> 0:12:58.880 And that also reflects weak morals exactly, and that stuff 0:12:58.960 --> 0:12:59.680 doesn't look good. 0:12:59.800 --> 0:13:02.000 Yeah, practice what you preach, and I think that's what 0:13:02.000 --> 0:13:06.040 we sort of take into account and we think accountability 0:13:06.120 --> 0:13:08.320 is just the most important thing to have. When you 0:13:08.320 --> 0:13:10.320 say you're going to do something, do it and do 0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:15.400 it genuinely with reason and tention. And also like not 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:19.480 just from a gaining perspective, like you don't gain anything, 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:22.400 if anything, you lose because you lose our respect as 0:13:22.400 --> 0:13:24.640 First Nations people. If this is the week that you 0:13:24.679 --> 0:13:27.480 decide that you're going to do something like that, it 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:29.400 doesn't serve anyone. 0:13:29.559 --> 0:13:30.920 And do you know what, if it's the first time 0:13:30.960 --> 0:13:33.920 you're doing something like that, make that clear. Make it no, 0:13:34.480 --> 0:13:36.360 don't try and hide behind the fact that you've never 0:13:36.400 --> 0:13:38.600 done anything in your life or you know the community 0:13:38.600 --> 0:13:40.400 and then all of a sudden you're putting on this event. 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:42.880 Make that known, say this is the first time we're 0:13:42.920 --> 0:13:47.920 doing this. We have further investment into having these conversations. 0:13:47.960 --> 0:13:50.200 We are going to be implementing a rap plan. We 0:13:50.240 --> 0:13:53.120 are going to be trying to get a deeper understanding 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:56.080 of the community throughout the you know, throughout our journey 0:13:56.080 --> 0:13:57.600 from this point on. But if you haven't done it 0:13:57.640 --> 0:13:58.920 before and you feel like, oh, I don't want to 0:13:58.920 --> 0:14:01.720 start in eight or Q week, don't have that theor 0:14:01.800 --> 0:14:05.080 either you know, like you can start conversation, be open 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:05.559 about it. 0:14:05.640 --> 0:14:07.959 Yeah, I have had these conversations, and there's been many 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:10.040 of times where I've been asked to speak at events 0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:12.520 and etcetera. And I've turned it down, and especially during 0:14:12.520 --> 0:14:15.760 this week, I'm like, I don't hear from you for months, years, 0:14:15.800 --> 0:14:17.040 and all of a sudden you come out of the 0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:17.400 wood work. 0:14:17.400 --> 0:14:18.640 I'm like, okay, like what are you doing? 0:14:18.679 --> 0:14:21.600 And it's about asking the question, having the conversation, and 0:14:21.640 --> 0:14:23.920 having the courage to say, Okay, well, then what's what's 0:14:23.960 --> 0:14:28.600 happening moving forward? Like you said exactly, rap plan, you know, 0:14:28.800 --> 0:14:31.040 more voices on the board, et cetera. 0:14:31.520 --> 0:14:34.040 So I've decided to do my first of a jewelry 0:14:34.040 --> 0:14:35.920 collaboration and love it. 0:14:36.280 --> 0:14:38.680 Yeah, I've never done one before and this was really 0:14:38.720 --> 0:14:40.560 special to me because it has been in the works 0:14:40.600 --> 0:14:44.640 for a while, like Beyond Beyond Natoc Week and we 0:14:44.880 --> 0:14:48.600 I specifically decided to choose NATOC Week because I think 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:51.880 that's a way of celebrating for me. But also the 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:54.960 thing that I love is wearing something that you feel 0:14:55.000 --> 0:14:57.640 really proud of, and that's something for me. NADOC Week 0:14:57.760 --> 0:15:01.880 I do a lot, especially wearing like my Aboriginal flag 0:15:01.920 --> 0:15:06.080 T shirt or wearing something that's like I'm black, I'm proud, 0:15:06.600 --> 0:15:09.320 and so wearing something like jewelry every day, I thought, 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:13.320 you know what, I'm gonna do it. I'm not you know, 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:15.440 I would choose to do this any other time, but 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:17.000 I was like, you know what, I feel really like 0:15:17.360 --> 0:15:19.320 good about this year, and I feel like this is 0:15:19.320 --> 0:15:21.800 a perfect time to release something that I've worked so 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:25.200 hard on and want to show and the you know, 0:15:25.240 --> 0:15:27.680 there's a beautiful meaning. Ten percent of the proceeds go 0:15:27.800 --> 0:15:31.640 to a First Nation's Literacy Foundation, which I'm really proud 0:15:31.640 --> 0:15:34.120 of and I have supported along the journey as well. 0:15:34.160 --> 0:15:37.040 So it doesn't seem anything out of ordinary for me, 0:15:37.640 --> 0:15:39.440 but I think a lot of people would be cautious, 0:15:39.720 --> 0:15:41.720 especially during this time, being like, oh are they going 0:15:41.760 --> 0:15:44.640 to do it more? And I have advocated so Francisco 0:15:44.760 --> 0:15:46.720 Jewelry are releasing this necklace. 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:49.040 It's coming out Nate Dog Week. 0:15:49.400 --> 0:15:51.920 My quote is standing your Truth, and I think that's 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:55.040 really perfect towards the theme of Keep the Fire Burning 0:15:55.160 --> 0:16:00.600 is allowing truth telling and trying to well just own 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:03.760 and own yourself, own who you are, own your voice, 0:16:04.600 --> 0:16:05.480 find your voice. 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:07.880 And I think it's just really powerful quote. 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:10.560 For me that I've lived my life through, and I 0:16:10.560 --> 0:16:13.280 guess my journey through TV, journey through Bachelorette is just 0:16:13.320 --> 0:16:17.520 being truthful and being and anyone can. Let you know, 0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:20.840 it's not just for blackfellows, like it's it's for anyone. 0:16:20.960 --> 0:16:23.440 And I think that's the perfect, you know thing for 0:16:23.560 --> 0:16:26.600 me and releasing this is that I want people to 0:16:26.680 --> 0:16:29.360 be coming to the party like I want people to 0:16:29.560 --> 0:16:32.080 and I'm saying to you, like, yeah, stand in your truth, 0:16:32.160 --> 0:16:34.920 like regardless of what situation or where you come from. 0:16:35.320 --> 0:16:37.960 This is a great opportunity to not just buy a 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:41.360 necklace per se, but also like lives by something that 0:16:41.760 --> 0:16:43.480 accountability or like yeah. 0:16:43.680 --> 0:16:45.600 And it's also putting your money where your mouth is 0:16:45.640 --> 0:16:48.280 to supporting, you know, the community through that way of 0:16:48.320 --> 0:16:50.600 giving being able to buy something yeah, but you love. 0:16:50.640 --> 0:16:53.160 But it also has contributions to the community in a 0:16:53.200 --> 0:16:57.280 financial way, because financial ways are important. It might seem like, 0:16:57.680 --> 0:17:00.360 you know, people go on about finances, but the thing 0:17:00.480 --> 0:17:02.800 is it's really hard for black fellows to tap into 0:17:02.960 --> 0:17:05.840 enter generational wealth. So when it comes to finances, I'm 0:17:05.920 --> 0:17:09.399 all about paying the rent, paying it back, you know, 0:17:09.680 --> 0:17:14.320 the paying your way forward into the community. And I 0:17:14.359 --> 0:17:17.280 wanted to ask, you know, based on this theme keep 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:19.879 the fire burning, what are some things this year that 0:17:19.960 --> 0:17:22.720 you're going to extinguish and what are some things, You're 0:17:22.720 --> 0:17:24.439 going to put some more fuel to the fire. 0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:26.560 Oh that's a great question, Mattie. 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:29.600 And I feel like I've spoken about this previously where 0:17:29.680 --> 0:17:31.760 I feel like I'm in a bit of a rebirth, 0:17:31.920 --> 0:17:34.040 Like over the couple of years, I've really focused on 0:17:34.080 --> 0:17:37.159 my healing and living in my soft girl era, and 0:17:37.200 --> 0:17:39.320 I guess just kind of pulling back the layers and 0:17:40.760 --> 0:17:43.520 unraveling and in a good way. And I guess like 0:17:43.680 --> 0:17:47.280 unpacking my trauma and my experiences is using them as 0:17:47.400 --> 0:17:51.000 fire to drive myself forward. And it has taken me, 0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:54.240 you know, five hundred steps back, but I honestly feel 0:17:54.240 --> 0:17:56.960 like this is going to be such a vital thing 0:17:57.000 --> 0:17:58.280 to my future and. 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:00.640 It's only going to you know, troject me forward obviously. 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:06.760 So I think for me, I'm learning to not and 0:18:07.160 --> 0:18:10.920 understand that people don't care as much as you think 0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:13.840 that they do, as much as I want people to 0:18:13.880 --> 0:18:16.640 care about the things that matter to me obviously, like 0:18:16.760 --> 0:18:19.679 nay Nook Week and First Nations issues and things like 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:22.200 that when I walk into a room, people aren't looking 0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:24.879 at me and saying things that I think that they're saying, 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:26.840 you know what I mean, and not having those that 0:18:26.960 --> 0:18:30.600 voice so For me, it's quietening the negative voice that 0:18:30.640 --> 0:18:32.840 I have in my head and how I feel about myself. 0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:39.719 So that's something that I'm not extinguishing completely, just you know, 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:43.840 quietening a little bit more. And the thing that's giving 0:18:43.880 --> 0:18:47.280 me fire is my creativeness is like putting myself in 0:18:47.320 --> 0:18:51.240 a more creative industry and telling stories and finding my 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:54.360 voice and that's going to only ever make me stronger 0:18:54.480 --> 0:18:57.360 and probably you know, using my voice as an instrument 0:18:57.480 --> 0:18:58.840 is such a powerful thing. 0:18:59.640 --> 0:19:00.159 I love that. 0:19:00.280 --> 0:19:01.359 Yeah, what about I'm. 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:03.919 So excited for you to be going down this creative 0:19:04.000 --> 0:19:06.719 route because I know what it's like to wake up 0:19:06.760 --> 0:19:08.680 every day, and you know what it's like because you've 0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:11.000 carved your own future and your own career and your 0:19:11.000 --> 0:19:13.520 own dreams out for yourself. But to be able to 0:19:13.560 --> 0:19:16.159 wake up and be creative and to be able to 0:19:16.800 --> 0:19:19.760 I suppose you know, whenever I'm especially when i'm acting, 0:19:19.960 --> 0:19:22.520 Like for me, they're the best moments, Like they're really 0:19:23.400 --> 0:19:25.920 beautiful days where I'm able to explore not just the 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:28.480 character but myself. So I'm so excited for you to 0:19:28.480 --> 0:19:30.360 go down this acting journey. And when you know, when 0:19:30.400 --> 0:19:32.280 you get a show or when you get a role 0:19:32.320 --> 0:19:33.879 I'm going to be the first one there in the 0:19:33.880 --> 0:19:35.920 front road, like I'll be supporting you one hundred percent. 0:19:36.000 --> 0:19:36.359 Thank you. 0:19:36.480 --> 0:19:38.400 I think the best thing about this is like, if 0:19:38.400 --> 0:19:40.920 I am good at it, great, I've. 0:19:40.520 --> 0:19:41.440 Actually explored that. 0:19:41.640 --> 0:19:43.800 If I'm not, I've also explored that, and I think 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:46.679