Identities

Identity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls is multifaceted. Our women and girls walk between two worlds. Within both worlds they have multiple identities and are challenged daily to remain their whole Indigenous self as they negotiate their way through western spaces and ways of being which is often reductionist.

Reductionism forces us to live our lives dividing our identities into smaller and smaller categories fractioning and threatening our true selves, and how we perceive and interact with others. This can result in seeing someone as one fraction of their identity such as being ‘Indigenous’ or ‘a woman’ rather than a collection of their identities such as them also being a ‘mother, daughter, storyteller, doctor, homeowner’. This undermines the strength they can draw on from the connections between other parts of their identity.

Our Indigenous world view, that sees people as holistic and values inclusive and participatory ways of doing is powerful. When we view ourselves as whole, celebrating and embracing the connections between our identities it gives us strength. It is a strength that we bring when we walk in the western world viewing others as whole, seeking to understand their multiple points of view to form and sustain meaningful connections and work together to create better futures.

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My name is Samantha, and I’m a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with ancestral connections to both the Eastern and Central Islands, as well as Kiwi and Scottish ancestry. I was born on the mainland on Turrbal/Yuggera Country and raised on Kaurna Yerta.

My paintings are a contemporary expression of my deep connection with First Nations peoples across many countries. Each piece reflects the relationships, stories, and truths I’ve gathered through my journey.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting over 70 communities across Australia and listening to thousands of people share their lived experiences with me. These stories nourish my soul and deepen my connection to the rich and complex fabric of this nation.

But listening also carries weight. Time and time again, I’m reminded of the ongoing inequities our people face — legacies of colonisation still embedded in our systems and institutions.

My art emerged as a form of healing. Taught to me by healers in different parts of the country, these techniques became a way to process the vicarious trauma I was absorbing while engaging with communities across areas like health and wellbeing, education, child protection, incarceration, domestic and family violence, employment, and justice.

Through repetition and rhythm, these artistic methods calm my mind and allow me to fully process what I’ve heard. Each piece is part of my healing — keeping me strong, grounded, and able to continue fighting for our rights and elevating community voices in my professional life.

Every artwork I create is inspired by a real story — a moment, a voice, a truth I carry with me — and each one stands as a powerful reminder of the collective hope we share for a better future.