By Dr Cindy Reese Mitchell PhD, Good Return Program Director, Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship
*As published in the Koori Mail, 17 July 2024
Right now, a movement is growing across Northern Australia to build leadership through self-employment and business for Indigenous women. Despite having venturing at its core, this movement is not driven by an individual desire for profit or exponential business growth. Instead the movement is inspired to reimagine business as a tool for social growth, and is focussed [sic] on understanding and respecting the unique place of business in Indigenous culture.
In the current social and financial support landscape, there are many business and capital advisory providers for Indigenous people. These organisations seek to address the barriers Indigenous women face to building business which include discrimination from the established financial system, the practical difficulties of being in remote locations and the deep impact of trauma.
However too many of those trying to help also do harm by not considering the cultural context of the work. A lack of understanding of the cultural context of venturing for Indigenous women means programs risk failing, placing more pressure on women and adding to existing layers of trauma.
To truly understand the place of business within Indigenous communities, it is vital to understand that business will always sit alongside the commitment to family, community and Country. This is particularly true for Indigenous women in business, and delving into this topic with women from the Kimberley women shows how venturing is intertwined with family. A woman might be running her own venture and she might be supporting the ventures of her family members; she might sometimes lead and other times support. She will often be busy working within ventures of partners, siblings, nieces or children and her focus can often shift between her own business and those of others.
Even if a business is run individually, the communal element and impact remains strong. The women of the Kimberley use the analogy of fishing to explain this communality. The importance of fishing is not so much the yield or the catch but the dynamic process that strengthens family bonds, promotes a sense of pride and transfers cultural knowledge. Everyone can participate and there is no one right way to do it – it depends on the Country and local environment.
This approach to venturing can rub up against Western notions of success – that business building is about individual profit, exponential growth and beating competition. For many Indigenous women, success is measured differently and in terms of their impact on their family and community. Their desire for wealth is not about individuality but their ability to share generously. Growth is measured differently because businesses are often run in cycles – women venturers might take a year long break to tend to family issues before going back to their business. Critically, a reduced impact on their environment and care for Country can be valued much more than physical growth.
Finally, a major difference in the approach to business for Indigenous women, is that the idea of being an entrepreneur can be entirely foreign. There may have been few chances to witness their mothers or Aunties lead the way in business, and the idea of thinking about their own goals can be overwhelming. Once business is seen as an opportunity for empowerment and social change however, women begin to see their potential and embrace their ability to make and create valuable products and services.
It is for these reasons that Good Return has partnered with Indigenous-led business Kimberley Jiyigas and the Menzies Foundation to elevate and support remarkable First Nations women in remote and regional communities across Northern Australia. We are working together to bring the right support and right capital so the women we work with can venture in the way that works for them.
On the ground, this means building support systems that respond to the need and in the Kimberley region this has resulted in the highly successful Maganda Makers business club. The club brings the women together in person or online, to network and share ideas, access resources and connections, and learn new skills. The women share learnings on marketing, budgeting and finance, production and sales and how to deal with the unique challenges of doing business in remote areas – where even getting to the post office in the wet season can be impossible.
Kathleen Cox is a Maganda Maker who owns and operates Goombaragin on the Bay, an eco-retreat on the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome. Kathleen’s approach to business demonstrates the different outlook on growth and success.
“My business goals are linked to my values – I wanted to reflect my connection to land, sea and air, and my desire to care for Country. Even when I am thinking about how to grow my business, I am always considering how to minimise my footprint on the land and about how to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the environment. For me, expansion is a creative thing – not about getting bigger in size.”
“As part of the Maganda Makers, I encourage other women to consider cultural tourism – and see that their understanding of culture and unique perspective on the land is a valuable asset. Indigenous women in business see competition as a positive and an opportunity for growth and learning – I love to refer visitors to other Indigenous businesses in the Dampier Peninsula.”
Embracing this unique approach to business could benefit so many working in the capital and financial ecosystem. If we can learn from the women who work to combine venturing with a care for family, community and Country we can create more inclusive opportunities for business growth that will have the potential to change the lives of many.
Dr Cindy Reese Mitchell PhD is program director for Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship at Good Return. Good Return is an Australia-based social purpose organisation focused on financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment.”
Future Weavers is led by Natasha Short and her business, Kimberley Jiyigas. It is locally implemented by Enterprise Partnerships WA and supported by the Menzies Foundation and Good Return.
Addressing Indigenous issues remains one of the most pressing leadership challenges facing Australia. Through a multi-dimensional approach, the Menzies Foundation is committed to exploring economic independence and long-lasting intergenerational change for Indigenous women through sustainable business development.
