Motherhood in the Colony
Motherhood is the transmission of wisdom across time and generations.
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.
A love letter to mothers and the role they play in the resilience of Indigenous cultures.
Credits
First Nations Storytellers: Paola Balla (Wemba-Wemba and Gunditjmara), Dr Lilly Brown (Gumbaynggirr), Justice Nelson (Djaara, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta) and 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) and Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Featuring: Thara Brown (Yorta Yorta) as well as our children, Jenin, Kinan, Reema, Seema and Sulong
Concept by Aseel Tayah
Directors and Executive Producers: Genevieve Grieves (Worimi) and Aseel Tayah
Concept: Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Writers: Maya Ghattas (Lebanese) and Genevieve Grieves (Worimi)
Producers: Jamie Lee Bolger (Noonuccal), Maya Ghattas (Lebanese), Genevieve Grieves (Worimi), Simone Mugavin (Dutch and Irish), Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Creative Producers: Rah Dakota (Filipina, Spanish and Irish), Genevieve Grieves (Worimi) and Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Associate Producers: Libby Collins (Tiwi) and Ramona Telecican (Romanian)
Director of Photography: Rah Dakota (Filipina, Spanish and Irish)
1st Assistant Camera: Shannon Maddeon (Éire)
Sound Recordist: Jamie A.E Connor (Pakeha)
Production Design: Weniki Hensch (Papua New Guinean) and Aseel Tayah (Jerusalem born, Qalansawa and Taybe, Palestine)
Production Assistants: Cynthia Samayoa (Mestizo, Spanish and Nahua-Pipil) and Merryn Trescott (Wiradjuri)
Makeup Artist: Kahealea Wilson (Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha and Nukunu)
Editor: Rah Dakota (Filipina, Spanish and Irish)
Original Score: Freya Berkhout (Dutch, Irish and Scottish)
Sound Mix: Jai Pyne (Irish, Scottish and British)
Colourist: Steff Walk (Details TBC)
Impact Producers: Monique Duggan (Irish and Scottish) and Maya Ghattas (Lebanese)
Impact Consultants: Hollie Fifer (British), Alex Kelly (Scottish/Irish), Maya Newell (Japanese, British) and Gemma Pol (Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji)
Communications: Monique Duggan (Irish and Scottish), Simone Mugavin (Dutch and Irish), and Gemma Pol (Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji)
Graphics: Rah Dakota (Filipina, Spanish and Irish) and Simone Mugavin (Dutch and Irish)
Photographer: Jody Haines (Palawa)
A Bukjeh and GARUWA Film
In association with Common Ground
Principal Partners
Supported by
Incubated by the Unquiet Impact Distribution Lab
Translation to Arabic supported by
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 and Charlene Yum.
Thank you 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.
Filmed in community on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm/Melbourne, Victoria.
From the river to the sea, always was, always will be.