8 fierce advocates from the community discuss their experience of being queer and First Nations.

“You are blak enough. You are queer enough.” 

On today’s episode we sat down with eight Queer First Nations people including Eva Grace and Niq Mullaley, Tobiasz Millar, Shania Eddy, Zoe Sullivan, Dani Sib, and Ingrid and Dillian Cumming to have a yarn, hear their stories, their advice, and their hopes for the future. 

This podcast was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar and we wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as traditional custodians of this land, its waters, and its communities. We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past, present, and future as sovereign leaders, sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.  

Eva Grace Mullaley is a Widi woman from the Yamatji Nation, in the Midwest of WA, has been working in the Arts for nearly 20 years and is currently, the Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, the only Aboriginal Theatre Company in WA. Eva was on the Yirra Yaakin board for 5 years, was the executive/development producer for the Blackfulla Performing Arts Alliance (a peak body on the verge of incorporation) and is also an active member of Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Moogahlin Performing Arts and peak Indigenous dance organisation, Blakdance; who are also part of a national cohort representing First Nation s Performing Arts across the nation. 

Janeiq “Niq” Mullaley is a young, trans identifying, Yamatji brotherboy. He has been dragged to theatre and arts performances and toured the country pretty extensively his whole life because of his mum’s work. Niq loves to draw, sing, perform and just generally be creative. 

Tobiasz is a proud gay Larrakia/Wadjigan man from the Northern Territory. He’s been living in Boorloo for the past 12 years. He is a qualified teacher having worked in both public and private school systems, in a range of roles (Department of Communities tutor, Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Teacher Assistant and Classroom Teacher). During his time working in a school, he always took it upon himself to step into the role of Cultural coordinator. Culture being an area he wished to promote and share. Earlier this year, Tobiasz stepped away from teaching to explore the world or consultancy and coordination as the Cultural and Diversity Coordinator at Not-for-profit family service provider, Wanslea. Tobiasz is an active advocate for change and volunteers as one of the founding members of Boorloo Justice a grassroots Social Justice/Advocacy group here in Perth. 

Shania (they/she) is a proud queer Gomeroi person currently residing on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. A fierce advocate for quality sexual health education for all people, Shania currently works as an Aboriginal Educator in relationships and sexuality. Shania’s passion for intersectionality in the Blak and LGBTIQA+ communities is echoed throughout all of their personal and professional achievements. 

Zoe (she/her) is a Murri woman and a queer person. She grew up most of her life on Gubbi Gubbi country (Sunshine Coast), although her mob are originally from Bindal and Nguburinji countries of Far North Queensland. She was raised in a strong blak matriarch and is proud to be an Indigenous woman. She identifies as a lesbian but is queer in both sexuality and gender identity. She is currently completing her Masters in Sexology and works as an LGBTQIA+ peer educator and a sexual health peer educator. Through both her career and outside of work, she endeavours to and has a passion for proudly representing her people and creating safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ and First Nations peoples can exist as their whole selves. 

Ingrid Cumming is a Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle, Western Australia and recognised young leader within the First Nations community. Ingrid is the founder and principal consultant of Kart Koort Wiern consultancy, representing First Nations Business globally for over ten years, alumni of Murdoch University and Melbourne Business School. Ingrid was part of the establishment of the Indigenous Women in Business network and has served as a Commissioner for Conservation for the WA state government. Ingrid has worked with a variety of sectors and organisations, creating, facilitating and evaluating programs and strategies to address issues and strengths. Ingrid has won and been a finalist in a range of awards like NAIDOC Perth, Telstra Women in Business, Curtin Vice-Chancellor Awards, ‘Champion for Change’ by EPHEA (Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia), WA Heritage Awards and Belmont Small Business Awards. Ingrid has presented at various forums and conferences around the world in relation to engagement, equity and diversity matters including as a delegate at the UN Women Leaders Conference in Israel in 2013, TedXPerth in 2014 been on various TV programs, including the Drum in 2021. Ingrid is a strong ally of LGBTIQ, First Nations, Youth and diverse groups, stakeholders and organisations. 

Dillian is an exciting new addition to YPN team. A proud Whadjuk Ballardong Noongar person, Dillian is currently completing their studies in animation at TAFE and is passionate about advocating for intersectionality in the LGBTIQA+ community. Dillian is neurodivergent (ASD and ADD) and is always eager to share their lived experience, contributing to our monthly committee meetings with their bright, bubbly, enthusiastic disposition.  Despite being one of our youngest members, Dillian has a range of achievements under their belt already including participating in a Noongar Cultural Ceremony on Wardandi land for the World Surfing League event in 2022, performing on stage with their school’s drama club, delivering a Welcome to Country for the WA Days award in 2022 (in the presence of the Premier), and delivering a Welcome to Country at TEDxYouth at Kings Park 2022. Dillian has caught the acting bug and is excited to hit the stage again. When they’re not trotting the boards, Dillian likes fantasy books, Sonic and Pokemon, and spending time with their family cat. 

Dani Sib is a proud Baad/Bard and Yawuru ambooriny (person) from the Kimberley, WA currently residing on Whadjuck Noongar Boodjar. Their passion for music sees them creating songs about their experiences as a First Nations queer person with hopes to inspire young mob. They’ve performed many events but their most memorable moment so far was playing ‘Marijuanna Annie’ in the 2020 Bran Nue Dae musical with the WA Opera.