Twenty years later, these conversations are as urgent as ever. First Nations women continue to lead in the arts, yet structural inequalities remain. Gender pay gaps persist, representation in leadership is lacking, and cultural labour is still undervalued. In the face of these challenges, First Nations women artists refuse to be defined by barriers — they continue to set the standard, break ground, and reshape the landscape of contemporary art.

History allows us to reflect on the challenges artists have faced in sustaining a practice — barriers of systemic racism, gender bias, and economic precarity. But it also allows us to recognise their resilience and power. These artists are not only creators; they are cultural leaders and truth-tellers.

As we consider the artists in this year’s exhibition, we think about the realities they navigate — being First Nations, being women, and being artists in a country that still struggles to reckon with its colonial past. And yet, their work is undeniable. Their stories, their talent, and their vision demand recognition.

First Nations women have always been at the forefront of change. Their art is resistance, it is truth, and it is the future.