SKIN DEEP

Today on the blog we will be meeting four incredible Indigenous women, to acknowledge and celebrate the First Nations people who have been here on this land since time immemorial.

On January 26th here in Australia, a day that is formally observed as ‘Australia Day’, there has been a growing movement to educate beyond the widespread misconceptions regarding Australia’s history and white settlement.

“January 26 marks the beginning of colonial violence, illegal occupation, dehumanisation, genocide and the dispossession of and desecration of land... It is estimated that between 1778 and 1900, the population of Aboriginal people decreased by a devastating 90%… Research from the University of Newcastle has found there were at least 270 state-sanctioned massacres over 140 years in an attempt to eradicate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people… To affirm that Australia was discovered is to actively erase history and perpetuate terra nullius [nobody’s land]. Archaeological evidence ties Aboriginal people to the mainland of Australia over 65,000 years ago.”
- Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson, “8 Things You Need To Know About Jan 26”, via Clothing The Gaps, Jan 2022

We as a nation, need to see change.

Change begins at an individual level, and understanding begins with story telling.

SKIN DEEP is all about story telling, self-love, and owning and sharing our stories to build connection. I believe the beginning of all connection and a deeper understanding of each other comes from listening to and holding space for each others’ stories.

The SKIN DEEP campaign will start here, and continue sharing stories from a diverse range of women throughout all of 2022.

When ‘ILI SKIN TONICS began, I wanted to ensure all women saw themselves represented in my branding, communications and media.

‘ILI products are for all skin types, and every body.

As a brand owner I have a responsibility and a desire to show up in a way that reflects ‘ILI’s values with integrity to what I stand for.

We don’t just stand for inclusivity and diversity, we stand for really CELEBRATING all women.

I want to explore the way we see ourselves, our relationship with our skin and how it represents us. I want to promote self-love and respect, not only through what we put on our skin but how we treat ourselves and each other. And I want all women to see themselves reflected in this brand, in all imagery and also in what I put out into the world.

Just writing this down makes me feel vulnerable to the reality that I might get it wrong sometimes. That I can’t possibly be all things to all people, and that sometimes I might offend or make mistakes. But part of sharing this with you is to be held to account, and to be open with you all. I know I am imperfect and I will make mistakes, but it won’t stop me from trying, from listening, and then trying again.

Around the time of the SKIN DEEP Photoshoot I asked Carron, Jasmine, Keera & Zoe about their relationship with their skin, and the role it has played in shaping their identity as First Nations women living in Australia. In conversation with these women I was moved and inspired by what they had to say, so I asked for their permission to share their personal experiences and stories with all of us.

Much love,

xx Heidi

Founder
‘ILI SKIN TONICS

Hey ladies, we would love to get to know more about you and hear the stories behind the gorgeous women we see in the photographs!

Why don’t you start by telling us which nation you’re from, and then we would love to hear about your relationship with your skin.
Does it form or shape your identity in any way? If yes, how?
Tell us what your skin says about you? How does it impact your day to day life as a First Nations woman living in Australia in today’s social and political climate?
Is there anything else you would like to share or have people know and understand more about you?

Carron Daveson
Nation: I'm a proud Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Ngadjuri and Papua New Guinean woman.

I believe that society often uses the colour of your skin as a representation of your culture, and more specifically the degree of your Aboriginality. This is a challenge that First Nations people face on a daily basis if they are deemed to be not dark enough. The legacy of history is still with us and used against us. It is still a very sensitive aspect for First Nations people and continues into intergenerational trauma because of the denial of our identity. This is where our education system is lacking in providing the information about the true history of Australia and how the colour of our skin, whether it be ‘too dark’ or ‘too light’ has been used against us.

For me personally having a darker complexion I am not challenged on my cultural identity but subjected to the stereotypes and racism that First Nations people are faced with. I have had people approach me to validate another First Nations person’s identity because they were not deemed to be dark enough. This is frustrating and upsetting as First Nations people come in all shades of colour.

Australia needs to break the cycle of societal views that are based on stereotypes, discrimination and racism. Australia needs to acknowledge and educate if we are to move forward embracing First Nations culture, history and people… whatever shade of colour we are today.

I have always embraced the colour of my skin because it embodies the beauty of my two cultures. My skin represents the resilience and sacrifice my ancestors have had to endure for me to be where I am today.

Jasmine Miller
Nation: I am a proud Wirangu and Kokatha woman from the Far West Coast of South Australia

My skin defines me - as a mother, wife and teacher.

It is so important for me to feel confident and comfortable in my own skin and to share with those around me how proud I am of the journey in my life so far.

My relationship with my skin has changed in recent years as I have stepped into my new role as mother to my son Jaitjawara (Jait). Going through these many changes during pregnancy and after birth has allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for my skin and body which nurtured and grew new life. The connection that mothers have with their child/ren is so special but the most beautiful thing I have found is that sometimes we are reminded of this change and transition in our lives with marks on our skin to remember the life that we grew.

Education is my passion, it is my drive, and it is where I plan to make an impact. Each day I teach between 25-30 students. Each day I am breaking down learnt perceptions about First Nations people and each day I am making a change for future generations.

First Nations people are not defined by their skin colour. First Nations people come in all different shades.

Keera Laccos-Barrett
Nation: Ngarrindjeri

Our connections to our earth (the living being) are more intricate and complex than pigmentation in the skin, our stories talk of women who are beautiful but they are not presented in the superficial way of European medieval literature ‘fair skin- blue eyes’. I understand that skin association with Aboriginal identity is a colonised concept and as such has no precedence in denying or confirming my existence as an Aboriginal woman, this is despite something such as pigmentation being used as a tool by other people to deny my Aboriginal identity. The relationship between skin colour and Indigeneity should not be critiqued through a colonised perspective, that is not the way to understand.

When people ask my ethnicity, I hate how some have tried to use my skin as a weapon to attack my identity;

‘You don’t look Aboriginal, you don’t have that Aboriginal nose. You must be stoked to get all the good parts and not the bad parts!’

‘I look more Aboriginal than you; So what are you? Like ¼ black?’

‘So even with skin like yours, as white as you are; you’ll still look to claim all those black benefits no doubt?’

‘I suppose, you are the colour of Coon cheese haha’.

‘So your kids would be white then if your partner is? You are breeding out the colour anyway? So they wont be Aboriginal?’

‘You’re not a proper Aboriginal though’.

My relationship with my skin in terms of my identity is complex, but it is an organ essential to my living and I care for it as I do any other organ of my body that gives me the gift of life.

Zoe Flinn
Nation: I am a Papua New Guinean, Torres Straight Islander, Irish and Scottish woman. My family is from the Keveloho Tribe.

As a woman with a mix of nationality and culture, I have experienced life with many different perspectives.

As a fair skinned woman who carries such rich culture and history both beautiful and extremely traumatic, I have found people find it hard to accept the fact that I am indigenous. I often get questioned, and asked what percentage etc. This has at times often made me feel ashamed to be fair skinned and a lot of my childhood I wished to have darker pigment to my skin so that I would feel more understood.

Standing next to my father who has dark skin and myself looking the exact opposite, with blue eyes, freckles and red hair, countless people have stared, assumed that I am not his child - my whole life I have been referred to as ‘the postman’s daughter’. This has had a huge impact on me feeling disconnected to my culture. As I have grown and become a mother I have a different relationship with my skin, I love my skin because of its uniqueness. Although at the end of the day it’s about what’s on the inside, your blood, your genetics and the stories and culture you keep alive.

I am so proud of my skin and my culture. It’s an honour to share my story.