Carrying connection forward

For FLTLT Aimee McCartney, culture is more than a part of her identity; it is the foundation of who she is.

A Taungurung, Wotjobaluk, Wemba Wemba and Boon Wurrung woman from Victoria, FLTLT McCartney grew up on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne and maintains strong ancestral ties across the state, from the Wimmera region and into the Kulin Nation.

To celebrate NAIDOC Week from July 5 to 12, the PCO reflected on the significance of culture, connection to Country and the legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Culture, to me, is everything,” FLTLT McCartney said.

“It is who I am, it is my family, my community and everything I know about myself.

“From the decisions I have made throughout my life to the things I value most, they all come back to being a proud Aboriginal woman.”

FLTLT McCartney said her connection to Country remained a constant source of strength and belonging.

“It’s travelling across Victoria, seeing the waterways and mountains, and knowing that I have ancestral connections to those places.

“Those connections influence my values and the way I live my life.”

This year's theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’, celebrates five decades of NAIDOC and the enduring resilience and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For FLTLT McCartney, NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity to reflect on the resilience and contributions of First Nations peoples and recognise the work of those who came before.

“It’s about celebrating who we are and acknowledging our history, where we have come from and how we continue to celebrate our culture every day,” she said.

“We look back [from] the shoulders of giants. The opportunities we have today [were] built on the work and sacrifices of previous generations.”

FLTLT McCartney joined the RAAF in 2018 as one of the first indigenous liasion officers, serving at RAAF Base Point Cook and RAAF Base Williams.

“It was a new role within Air Force and one that allowed us to work closely with communities across Australia,” she said.

“Building those relationships is important because Defence members are often serving away from home and connecting with local communities helps create a sense of belonging and a greater understanding of the lands on which we serve.”

FLTLT McCartney believes these connections foster mutual respect and provide opportunities to contribute positively to local communities.

“Even though we are visitors on these lands, we can show respect, learn from local communities and contribute to the continuation of the world’s oldest living culture,” she said.

At RAAF Base East Sale, that commitment to connection and understanding is reflected at the base’s yarning circle.

Established in 2021, the yarning circle hosts a range of activities, including smoking ceremonies, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week events, cultural education sessions and informal meetings.

“It is a place where respect is at the forefront. It allows people to come together, build relationships and have genuine conversations in a space designed around belonging and community,” FLTLT McCartney said.

Outside of her Defence role, FLTLT McCartney is also a contemporary Aboriginal artist. As the founder of Luruk-In, she shares culture through paintings inspired by Country, waterways, mountains, skies and the stories of her ancestors.

“NAIDOC Week is not only for First Nations people,” she said.

“It is a time for everyone to come together, yarn, learn and celebrate the things that matter most, including Country, family and community.”

FLTLT McCartney said she feels supported and proud to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, stories and languages recognised and respected across Defence.

“It is an exciting time to be a First Nations person in the ADF,” she said.

“We are celebrated not only as individuals, but as part of a wider community, and that is something worth recognising during NAIDOC Week and every week of the year.”