Designed by Nakia in consultation with the Vixens athletes to reflect the values of the playing squad as well as stories told by Nakia’s ancestors.
Using four bunches of the native flora golden wattle, the artwork represents four of the Vixens’ team values.
The 10 footprints along the side panel are unique to signify each player wearing the dress this weekend and the different pattern with each footprint is unique to represent the different roles of each player and walking and playing on sacred land. Regardless of what court they play on, it’s sacred land that holds many stories.
The Minglip star will replace the current PKNC (Phoenix and Kestrels Netball Club) initials and represents the story of the seven sisters coming together, adapted differently across aboriginal nations. The story aligns with the Vixens’ value of ‘stronger together’ and symbolises the pact on and off the court and the history of the two teams, Phoenix and Kestrels coming together as one.
Nakia was approached by Netball Victoria to design the Vixens’ inaugural indigenous dress as a program alumni of Richmond Football Club’s Korin Gamadji Institute (KGI)
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“The process started after an opportunity I was given through the KGI, where I was approached by Netball Victoria and Melbourne Vixens to design the dress,” said Nakia.
“I spoke to my nans and mum about possible themes and ideas, cultural appropriation and symbols; and that’s where we came to agree that ‘strong women’ was a theme that represented the Melbourne Vixens.
“I think it’s a great privilege to be able to design the first ever Melbourne Vixens Indigenous dress. We still need to come a long way in terms of acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this country, but I think it’s a step in the right direction in acknowledging and presenting our culture and doing that in such a respectful way.
“Also, for me just being a role model for my son so he can look back at the dress and say, ‘my mum did that’ and have a sense of pride.”
The Melbourne Vixens were presented with their dresses by Nakia at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Wednesday night. They will wear the dresses in their Round 10 game against Queensland Firebirds on the Gold Coast.
The Korin Gamadji Institute has partnered with Netball Victoria on the Lagunta Sister’s Program since 2015, delivering a netball program to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school girls to develop talent and industry pathways while strengthening connection to culture, and career and education opportunities.
The Lagunta Sisters have competed in the 15/U and 17/U VACSAL State Football Netball Carnival for the last three years, winning the 17/U competition last year. The KGI are committed to the program to support Aboriginal women in netball and industry pathways.
2018 NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held nationally from Sunday 8 – 15 July.
For more information, head to www.naidoc.org.au
Words taken from: https://melbournevixens.com.au/
