As a proud Arabana, Mudbura, Gurindji and Warlpiri woman, Colleen Raven Strangways’s photography is infused with a spirit of activism and acknowledgement, sparked by her relationship with courageous First Nations women and her trailblazing father.

Strangway has a strong drive to take photos of Aboriginal culture and tell the positive stories of the strength and beauty she sees in her community. Her portraits are an energising force and a counterpoint to the photos we are accustomed to seeing in magazines and newspapers, showing Aboriginal people in despair.

Her new series will illuminate and immerse visitors in the stories and songlines of First Nations elders as ‘knowledge holders’. By revealing a feeling of their connectedness, movement and spirituality, Strangways enhances the pivotal role of elders in our society.

Main image: Colleen Raven Strangways (Nharla Photography), Kati Tahanda Protector, 2012.