We get the chance to sit with Rowena Welsh Jarrett, a proud Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr Woman and member of the Redfern and La Perouse communities. Rowena is a lifelong advocate for Aboriginal cultural heritage and Director at Wadjiid (RWJ PTY LTD). Born and raised on Gadigal land, Rowena has dedicated over 20 years to cultural heritage work, community leadership, and ensuring the continuation of cultural practices within urban Sydney and coastal communities.
Rowena shares powerful reflections on the resilience of her family lines, the deep responsibility of being born and belonging to Country, and the importance of passing on cultural tools to future generations. She speaks on land rights, repatriation, and the realities of working with both grief and strength while navigating the pressures and expectations of cultural heritage practice.
Rowena discusses the complexities of cultural continuity, the power of language revival, honouring matriarchal legacy, responding to curated histories, and explores her role in nurturing cultural tools to pass on to future generations. She challenges stereotypes of “frozen” or prehistoric culture and champions greater self-determination and respect for people of the land in both heritage work and policy.
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