Thread by @IndigenousX

For wild women and rebel girls, sometimes resistance is about saying 'no.' It's about choosing your own priorities. Not letting anyone put you in the corner, lock you up, or force you to give up your dreams. Its daring to live your best #IndigenousX life.
indigenousx.com.au/karen-wyld-wil…

One of my #BecauseOfHerWeCan stories has to be about my maternal grandmother, and other strong #Martu women. My nana Molly (Craig) Kelly didn't lead a rebellion. She wasn't a resistance fighter. But she did resist. Plenty of times, until the authorities let her live life her way.

At the age of 14, Molly was forcibly removed from her family and community. Just because she was of mixed heritage, in an era when the gov & church was attempting to force Aboriginal children such as herself to assimilate into white society via institutionalisation and servitude.

I've talked to enough survivors and read enough primary documents (including family members' records) to be able to absolutely state that these past polices were cultural genocide, and there was absolutely no good-intent behind these racist-practices. indigenousx.com.au/karen-wyld-sor…

Now my nana was a rebel girl. And I am proud to say that. I'd like to think that I too was a rebel girl, who has grown into a wild woman. And she is definitely one of my #BecauseOfHerWeCan role models.

(back soon. Just taking a quick break. These types of threads can be gruelling. PS f**k you AO Neville & Co)

(Baked muffins. All is good. But, I repeat: f**k you A O Neville & Co. And add: you didn't win.)

So most of you'd know the story of my nana Molly, her sister Daisy and cousin Gracie. But less people know how their stories really ended. Because, after all, rebel girls and wild women are unstoppable; and #BecauseOfHerWeCan keep living our dreams, generation after generation.

All three have now passed on, but they've left behind big #martu families - and stories of courage. Daisy finally returned to Jigalong, before passing away in March this year. Nana Molly lived most of her life in Jigalong and surrounding Pilbara, and passed away in 2004.

Despite escaping the institution as a teenager, the authorities tried to control Molly's life for many decades, right into adulthood: determining where she could live and work, interfering in her relationships, taking her wages, stealing her daughters. But she never gave in.

Many times they tried to re-institutionalise her, then turned their attention to her daughters. The primary documents read like a vendetta: how dare a rebel black girl get the better of them, white men. Nana Molly even walked that fence a second time, with a bade in arms 🖤🧡❤️

So my late Nana Molly is one of my #BecauseOfHerWeCan role models. Her life reminds me to never give up. To know where you want to be, and not let people stop you living your life, your way. It's ok to be a rebel girl and/or a wild woman.