Our Stories
The Power of Yarning: Yatu Widders Hunt and Elle Roseby on Reconciliation
Country to Couture footage courtesy of Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation and Indigenous Fashion Projects
Country Road celebrates the lands and waters that give us life; into which the songlines, stories, songs, ancestors and dreamings of First Nations Peoples are woven. May we pay respect to all First Nations Peoples, past and present, for their generosity and custodianship of Country. We demonstrate our respect for First Nations Peoples through our commitments to environmentally sustainable business practices and to working collaboratively and ethically to increase First Nations inclusion in our business and the Australian fashion and lifestyle industry.
Country Road is committed to working with First Nations Peoples towards a fairer and more inclusive Australia for all. This month, we're proud to launch Country Road Group’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). A RAP is a formal statement of an organisation’s commitment to reconciliation, the unifying process that brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the wider community into a relationship of respect that works towards justice and equity for all Australians.
In line with the launch, our managing director, Elle Roseby, sits down with Yatu Widders Hunt, proud descendant of the Dunghutti and Anaiwan Peoples from north-western New South Wales and general manager of Indigenous social change agency, Cox Inall Ridgeway, to discuss Country Road's reconciliation journey so far and what we can all do to advance reconciliation and advocate for First Nations communities.
In your own words, what is reconciliation and why is it important?
Yatu: For me, reconciliation is about relationships. We talk about always starting with respect and connection, and I think it's about working in genuine partnership to really drive more inclusivity and create a better and fair Australia.
I feel that there's a lot of hard truths that we still need to confront in this country, but it's so important that we do that together in a way that's meaningful and respectful. Ultimately, when I hear the word reconciliation, I think about the generosity of community and the concepts of friendship and partnership.
Elle: I think reconciliation is about strengthening those relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples for the benefit of all Australians. To support reconciliation is about working to overcome division and inequality too.
What is the Reconciliation Action Plan and why is it important for brands like Country Road to have a Reconciliation Action Plan?
Elle: A Reconciliation Action Plan, or RAP, is a formal statement of commitment by an organisation with a practical action plan.There are four RAP stages—Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate—allowing for progress and continual development in an organisation’s reconciliation commitments. Our RAP is at the first level: Reflect. We have been working with First Nations communities for some years now however we recognise there is still a long way to go to advancing reconciliation and this RAP outlines how we’re planning to do that.
At Country Road, having a RAP is incredibly important. We have stores across Australia, all of which are located on Aboriginal land. It’s important to acknowledge this and recognise the ongoing connection Traditional Custodians and Owners have with these lands.
We can contribute to reconciliation by connecting with people and communities through fashion and textiles and partnering with relevant community and educational organisations, artists and designers.
“RAPs really do send an important signal to the community that you are ready to walk with us and to celebrate the incredible rich histories of this great country.”
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Yatu: I completely agree. For me, a Reconciliation Action Plan is a really important public commitment. Not only does it encourage practical actions, it also asks brands to look internally and think about growing their own cultural capability to become better partners, to become better influencers. For me, RAPs really do send an important signal to the community that you are ready to walk with us and to celebrate the incredible rich histories of this great country.
“The Country Road reconciliation journey to date has been slow and intentional, because we really want to learn and engage with the right partners.”
Elle, can you tell us about Country Road's reconciliation journey?
Elle: The Country Road reconciliation journey to date has been slow and intentional, because we really want to learn and engage with the right partners. So with that intention, we started in 2019 with Cox Inall Ridgeway to run cultural competency education training for our support centre staff.
We also use our platforms. The great thing about our brand is that we have these social platforms, but so importantly, they really resonate with our customers. They really want to learn more, as do our teams.
We proudly promote Indigenous talent throughout our campaigns and feature interviews that promote awareness like Professor Megan Davis for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
In 2020, we launched a partnership with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation. We support the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), offering a 12-month mentorship program to the Fashion Designer Award winner. For 2020, it was Julie Shaw of MAARA Collective. In 2021 and 2022, it was Denni Francisco of Ngali. I think what we've enjoyed about those mentoring programs has been what we can actually teach each other. We also support Country to Couture, which is an event showcasing and celebrating First Nations art and design.
Yatu:It's so amazing to reflect on all of the things that Country Road has done and is doing in the reconciliation space. I think it's been quite amazing for me to also see the breadth and diversity of thinking around how Indigenous knowledge can be embedded in all parts of the business. There's so much that's public facing, that's beautiful and celebratory, but I get to see so much behind the scenes as well. I get to meet the Indigenous photographers that you engage on shoots, the Indigenous stylists, the policies and protocols that you develop to guide the business internally. Those are things that people may not see, but they’re certainly things that we feel.
Finally, what can we all do to advance reconciliation?
Elle: First of all, be curious. NAIDOC week was 3-10 July. It's a great opportunity to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, watch films, read books. Patricia Adjei—in an interview with you back in 2021, Yatu—highlighted spending money with First Nations businesses, seeking out cultural tours, including even going to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.
Very importantly, get behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart, read great articles. Country Road is proud to support the Uluru Statement, which recommends a First Nations voice to Parliament for the purpose of treaty making and truth-telling, genuinely understanding the true history of this country, which helps relationships move forward.
It's also about learning more yourself and being curious and taking an interest. If we stay curious and allow for that truth telling to be told, imagine what we can all do together.
Yatu:Elle, you've really touched on how we can all support the reconciliation process. It's about investing in our own learning and education, but that can be done in ways that are fun and celebratory. I think it is important to engage; to go to events, to read, to listen to podcasts, to engage in Indigenous hip hop, to listen to Spotify playlists. There is so much beauty and richness and story in creativity.
Professor Megan Davis actually talks about the power of yarning in the article that we did together. It's not always just about what we need to do to educate ourselves. It's also about how we can use our influence and start conversations that need to be had and inspire other people. I think working together and talking with each other is also really important to not only drive awareness, but to ensure that we're acknowledging and celebrating the beauty of what we have around us.
