Women’s Knowledge 3

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Knowledge Systems is based on complex laws which regulate relationships to country, family, community, culture and spirituality. These laws are passed down through generations.
The practice of these complex knowledge systems have been disrupted in many countries through dispossession from the lands they belong to, the forced removal of their children across generations, and the destruction of their culture, community and kinship networks. This has undermined women’s cultural authority and the health and wellbeing of generations disconnected from their culture.
The survival of Indigenous Women’s Knowledge Systems are critical in healing the damaging effects of colonisation. Women’s Knowledge teaches complex kinship structures and cultural practices to care for our land, families and communities. It also strengthens collective leadership, inclusive decision-making, and negotiation and cooperation.

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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.