As NAIDOC Week 2023 comes to an end, we would like to honour our Elders, the beautiful Survivors of the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls (1912-1969).

To our Aunties, we love you and we are so grateful for your guidance, care and truth-telling. We acknowledge the important roles that each of you play in your families and communities as mothers, Nans, Aunties, sisters, teachers and trailblazers. We think of your amazing achievements, staunch advocacy, healing journeys, and your strong sisterhood as Coota Girls Survivors. We would not be where we are today without you. Thank you for all the hardwork you have done before us to put us in a place to move towards a brighter future.

We think also of the Elders who would have been, could have been, should have been. We think of our Coota Girls Survivors who have passed, and whose journeys were cut short due to the impacts of systemic forced removal, institutionalisation and assimilation. To our Aunties who have passed, we thank you for continuing to guide us in spirit.

For us at Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation, every week is For Our Elders. To our supporters, we hope that this NAIDOC Week has inspired and motivated you to continue listening, learning from and supporting our Elders. Direct support for Stolen Generations Organisations means that we can provide practical support and meaningful opportunities for collective healing to our Stolen Generations Survivors.

Donate to Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation today at www.cootagirls.org.au/donations or reach out to Meagan at meagan@cootagirls.org.au to find out more how you can support us.