Patricia Adjei on Bringing the Spirit of Reconciliation to Life

This article has been guest edited by Yatu Widders Hunt, Director of PR and research agency, Cox Inall Ridgeway, and founder of online community @ausindigenousfashion.

As a proud Wuthathi, Mabuiag Islander and Ghanaian woman, Patricia Adjei has dedicated her career to fighting for the cultural and intellectual property rights of First Nations communities. Her passion for visual arts, cultural expression and fashion has seen her take on incredible roles at the Australia Council for the Arts, Copyright Agency and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

In 2018, Patricia reviewed and provided advice on Country Road’s first Indigenous Engagement Guidelines, to affirm how the brand can commit to moving forward in partnership with First Nations communities.

In line with Reconciliation Week, guest contributor Yatu Widders Hunt speaks to Patricia about ethical engagement, exciting collaboration opportunities and how to bring the spirit of reconciliation to life.

Patricia, you’ve had an amazingly diverse career in the First Nations arts sector. Tell us about what led you to where you are today?

"It has been an interesting journey! I actually studied law at uni because I am passionate about human rights and justice. I always thought I’d work at the United Nations so that was my focus, but I didn’t know what I was going to do or how I would get there.

After a short stint in Government, I started working at a small community legal centre specialising in arts and the law—the ArtsLaw Centre—and I thought it would bring my love of the arts and social justice together. Arts had played a big role in my life. I actually played the clarinet when I was at school and my sister Barbara Drummond performed with Bangarra Dance Theatre. I also have many cousins who are still performers.

Through ArtsLaw, I got to travel all around Australia talking to First Nations artists about some of the legal challenges they were facing and coming up with solutions. I realised that’s what I really enjoyed because I was communicating and breaking down the law to people.

I’ve worked at a few different places along the way, but ultimately, I’ve ended up at the Australia Council for the Arts, which is where I think I’ve honed my advocacy and policy skills. It has also afforded me the privilege of seeing First Nations artists develop over their careers and organisations grow over the decades.”

You’ve always been a strong advocate for reconciliation. Why do you think it’s so important?

"I think it will genuinely help relationships in this country move forward and for us all to understand the true history of the country. There are communities here with over 60,000 years of cultural practices which have evolved over time.

Even if we think about our Country, First Nations people know how to live with the land and how to interact better with our environment.

I recently went to the Sydney Writers’ Festival and heard Melissa Lucashenko speak. She was talking about how modern Australia has only been around for 230 odd years, so hasn’t had that long a time to understand the environment. In the early accounts, the environment was always described as so ‘harsh and rugged.’ First Nations communities have developed practices and science to manage and work with the environment over time. This is just a small example of how we can learn from each other and build better understanding."

The theme of Reconciliation Week 2021 is ‘More than a Word, Reconciliation Takes Action.’ How can we all take action this year?

"I think now that most of us are based in Australia for the next little while, we should take this opportunity to experience Indigenous Australia.

One practical thing we can all do is spend money with First Nations businesses and truly explore our regional and remote areas. If you’re going to Tasmania for instance, seek out a cultural tour with a local Palawa company or go to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August.

There are so many amazing First Nations arts, culture and fashion events to explore across the country."

In 2018, you provided advice to Country Road on its first set of Indigenous Engagement Guidelines. Why is it important for organisations to establish protocols like this?

"It actually supports really respectful ways of engaging with First Nations culture and people. It’s an important part of Corporate Social Responsibility, in embedding human rights in your practice.

Another great example of something similar is the Australia Council protocols, which are based on ethical principles from a United Nations Declaration. They also have the 10 principles that First Nations lawyer Dr Terri Janke has formulated around respect, seeking permissions and ensuring a commitment to benefit sharing.

Under Australian law there is no law that specifically protects Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, so protocols and guidelines play a really important role in supporting the way we all work."

Thinking about the emergence of new fashion and art collaborations, what does true collaboration and co design mean to you?

"For me it’s really about listening to what designers want to see in the final product and taking a slower approach. It’s about making sure there are proper commissions for designers and doing things in a respectful way. It might be a very different way of working to what we know as ‘fast fashion’ but it’s a new way we can work together.

There are some great case studies of people doing great things—including Country Road!"

What excites you about the future of First Nations art, culture and fashion?

"It’s so exciting to see the different stories from designers and the different styles of dress and homewares. It’s like Pandora’s Box has been opened.

The visual arts has been one of the most commercially successful industries for First Nations people. Some of the research from the Australia Council shows that there is a growing public value for the arts which extends out to the creative industries, including fashion. It’s actually really important to support First Nations fashion as a growth industry."

The Australia Council First Nations arts and cultural protocols can be found here. Don’t forget to watch the First Nations arts awards on Thursday 27 May from 7.30pm AEST on NITV and streamed on the Australia Council Facebook page.