Maddy Connors is an Aboriginal artist, illustrator and designer specialising in contemporary pieces using both traditional and digital methods.
Her business, Yarli Creative, aims to create art which evokes a connection, and a rich conversation. Yarli Creative creates customised digital illustrations to bring policy documents, health promotions, logos and Reconciliation Action Plans to life.
Maddy's website: https://yarlicreative.com.au/
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
How do you properly do an Acknowledgement of Country?
Start by saying 'I would like to start this meeting by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today,' then name the specific traditional owners of that land (e.g., Wurundjeri people) and pay respects to elders past and present.
How should you ask Aboriginal people questions about their culture respectfully?
Approach questions with genuine interest and a real yearning to learn, read body language to see if someone is uncomfortable, take it slow, and avoid invasive questions like asking what percentage Aboriginal someone is.
What should prompt someone to start learning about Aboriginal history and change their behaviour?
It needs to come from a genuine place rather than following a trend—read books, watch documentaries, start with local Aboriginal history before going national, and be mindful of language such as capitalising 'Aboriginal'.
Maddy describes how her creativity as a young person stemmed from experiencing depression, anxiety, a death in the family, and family violence, with painting, drawing and writing becoming her outlets.
Before COVID, Maddy attended a Nagamilly-run retreat for Aboriginal mothers starting businesses, where she built confidence and lasting connections with other women in similar situations.
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
According to Maddy Connors, a Welcome to Country must be performed by a Traditional Owner of that specific land, while an Acknowledgement of Country can be done by anyone to recognise the Traditional Owners of the land they are meeting or standing on.
From episode 764→Maddy Connors says she prefers 'Aboriginal', 'First Nations', or specific mob names (like Yorta Yorta or Dja Dja Wurrung) over 'Indigenous'. She also notes that 'Aboriginal' should always be capitalised, as should 'Indigenous', since it refers to a specific group of people, similar to 'Australian' or 'Indian'.
From episode 764→Maddy advises first checking whether the organisation selling the art is owned and run by Aboriginal people. If not, confirm that the Aboriginal artists are being properly paid and credited/acknowledged for their work.
From episode 764→Every episode featuring Maddy Connors on The Daily Talk Show.
