Together, we seize a crucial moment in time to spotlight the revolutionary power of women in the face of systemic oppression.
Synopsis
In a world shaped by violence and erasure, Motherhood in the Colony brings eight First Nations and Palestinian women together.
Through intimate storytelling, the film unravels stories of colonial trauma, and mothering as an act of resistance, while inviting audiences to listen, learn, and envision a future beyond the oppressive structures of colonisation.
Our Roots
Worimi filmmaker, Genevieve Grieves and Palestinian artist, Aseel Tayah, brought our Storytellers together in November 2023 to create Motherhood in the Colony.
Over the past few years, our community has grown, forming a bold coalition of mothers, artists, academics, filmmakers, writers, activists, humanitarians and allies spanning major cultural institutions and grassroots initiatives around the world.
Thanks to their generous advocacy and support, our kinship continues to grow globally, representing diverse geographies and communities.
Our Vision
Indigenous sovereignty is realised, embodied and enacted across the globe
Motherhood in the Colony is not just a film, it’s an offering of shared stories, of listening and learning, and of gathering to envision a liberated future beyond the oppressive structures of colonisation.
We work closely with our network to achieve our impact goals:
Amplify Indigenous voices
Challenge colonial narratives
Foster cross-cultural solidarity
Enable Indigenous sovereignty & self-determination
Drive engagement & action
Our Storytellers invite you to use the film as a tool for healing and conversation, so that collectively, we create a world where all oppressed communities are supported to reclaim their lands, cultures and futures.
Our Strength Connects Us
“Grief connects us, and our strength connects us.
Through both our struggles we can understand each other's grief without even having to talk about it.
We can understand the strength that grief has given us as well, without having to mention it. You can just look into someone's eyes.”
— Sara Al Azhari (Qabatiya, Palestine and Romania)
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)
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)
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
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)
A Bukjeh and GARUWA Film
In association with Common Ground
Principal Partners
Supported by
Translation to Arabic supported by
Incubated by Unquiet Impact Distribution Lab
Special thanks to
Thara Brown, Rona Glynn-McDonald, Kumari Abeydeera, Aheda Amro, Aprille Asfoura, Therese Boukarim Ghattas, Marnie Badham, Meg Callanan, Na'ama Carlin, Kate Daglas, Ruth De Souza, Andrea Distefano, Mark Edgoose, Hollie Fifer, Farida Fleming, Huda’s Kitchen, Dr Julia Hurst, Kelly Hussey-Smith, Alex Kelly, Dina Kerr, Jamie Lewis, Belinda Locke, Grace McQuilten, Laura Mannix, Laurrie Mansfield, Vanessa Morris, Maya Newell, Judith Marie Ortiz, Ayse Ozdemir, Roberta Pala, Veronica Pardo, Tara Prowse, Sahar, Kieran Satour, Fatima Sharif, Amy Spiers, Fleur Summers, Randi Wagner, Mijawi Whitebear and Charlene Yum.
We extend our gratitude to
the generous donors and members of our communities who supported the Motherhood in the Colony fundraising campaign, the nurses and midwives art exchange teaching team at RMIT University) and the teams at Common Ground, Shifting Ground, Next Wave, Bukjeh and GARUWA.