Interview series - Because of her, we can

In the latest interview of the NAIDOC-themed series, Jessica Russ-Smith talks about women who are role models, and the place of identity in her work and life.

For Jessica Russ-Smith, Scientia PhD Scholar and Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences, the 2018 NAIDOC theme - “Because of her, we can” begins with Mother Earth.

Country nurtures, guides and protects us and holds our stories and connections to all things past, present and future. It is because of Country and the power of women that I can live the life I do now and can make positive change for future generations.

Which women (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or otherwise) have been or continue to be a role model for you and what impact have they had on your life?

Professor Susan Green has been an incredible mentor, both culturally and professionally. The opportunity to work alongside and in the footsteps of a fellow Wiradyuri woman and sovereign warrior is invaluable.

My great grandmother Eileen McGuiness, my nan Jean Smith, my grandmother Jane Russ and my mother Penny Russ-Smith are some of the most important women in my life. The power of their unconditional love, strength, knowledge and teachings is indescribable.

It is because of Country and these women that I understand my responsibility to social justice and social change and my role - as a Wiradyuri woman - in addressing them within the community, the academy and wider society.

Your PhD research is on Decolonising Identity. Why this particular topic?

My PhD explores, how do Indigenous people embody sovereignty and how does this embodiment decolonise colonial space. This includes looking at the ways in which our sovereignty lives on within landscape, language, story, song lines and therefore how this embodiment acts as a sovereign resistance against colonial ideologies and legacies within contemporary Australia.

This topic relates to all aspects of my identity: as a Wiradyuri woman, as a descendant of the stolen generation, as an academic, an Indigenous student and as a member of society. I have witnessed and continue to learn the ways in which we embody sovereignty and the power this holds for Indigenous people, Country and sovereignty.

During NAIDOC week you spoke at the Language is Culture, Culture is Identity: Reclaiming Our Being seminar, where you discussed the importance of language in reclaiming identity. Why are Indigenous languages so important to identity?

Language is so much more than words or conversation. For Indigenous people language holds story, it connects us to our ancestors and our culture. I speak English and Wiradyuri. I also have a basic understanding of AUSLAN [Australian Sign Language]. Learning these different languages, I have come to see the beautiful nuances of connection that are intertwined in the way we communicate.

Learning language from Wiradyuri Elders and community members has been one of the most inspiring and emotional journeys. Not only am I learning the language of my ancestors, I am learning it the proper way, our way. This process of learning from Elders is an act of our sovereignty, as it celebrates our ways of knowing and learning.

How has technology influenced Indigenous languages?

Technology has greatly influenced Indigenous languages. This has been particularly significant for me, as I live and work off Country and am therefore away from my language teachers and communities. Technology allows me to stay connected. Also, I think it is important to note that technologies such as phones or apps further enhance the technologies our people already possess. As the oldest culture on earth, our ancestors possessed incredible knowledge regarding teaching, learning and how this interacts with Country. Whilst modern technologies enhance access, this would not be possible without the foundations of Indigenous knowledge. These diverse forms of technology enable unique ways for Indigenous communities to connect and learn in contemporary society.

What role do you think language plays in the future of Indigenous communities?

Language is at the core of our sovereignty. The more we continue to connect through language - and the story, teachings and knowledge that language holds - the stronger our beliefs and actions of sovereignty become.

As a Wiradyuri woman, what do you hope to achieve in your lifetime that will help pave the way for the generations to come?

Seven generation thinking is a core worldview we hold in community. That is, that my actions now will continue to affect the next seven generations. I see this as an important responsibility that I hold in ensuring I contribute to social change and sovereignty for my future generations. I hope to contribute to the fight for Indigenous sovereignty, the change and the political and social landscapes of Australia. I hope to create changes in the way we as a society think, learn, engage and interact with the world around us.

How does your life and work at UNSW contribute to that?

As a PhD student and casual academic, I am in a unique position to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in a space of learning. I see my role as an Indigenous academic as one that encompasses advocacy and social change regarding colonial ideologies and attitudes embedded within the academy and the Social Work discipline, and hope to shift this thinking to critically and culturally conscious ways of knowing.

WHO…would you like to be for a day?

This is a tricky question! There are so many people I admire and who inspire me. I think I would like to be my friend, fellow PhD student and colleague Amelia Wheeler. Amelia is someone whose values and critical thought I admire greatly as both a Social Worker and a person.  Amelia has been a significant support and mentor to me since we met about  three years ago. I see her practice as a researcher and as a social worker as an example of what critical and ethical Social Work is.

WHAT…is a little-known fact about you?

My mother’s side of the family is from Holland. My grandmother migrated to Australia with her family at the age of 13  after their hotel business and home in Amsterdam was taken over by a Nazi camp during World War II.

WHEN…are you at your happiest?

I am at my happiest when I can connect with Country, my family and friends. I treasure my friends and family as their love and support is what holds me and guides me.

WHERE…is your favourite place in Australia?

‘Quondong’ the farm my mum, her sisters and I grew up on. Quondong is on Wiradyuri country South West of Dubbo. It is a physical space, but also a place of memory and family.

WHY…do you choose to be part of UNSW?

I chose to continue my post-graduate studies at UNSW because of experience in my Bachelor of Social Work (Honours). It was through this degree that I was able to connect with Social Work staff and students and find a sense of community.

HOW…do you define or measure success?

I see my success as measured according to the way my community and Elders think I am contributing to community. It is their voice that guides what I do. I If I listen to hear, and look to see what it is I need to do, then I can achieve ‘success’.