Mavis Robinson, I'm known as Aunty May throughout the community 
of New South Wales and I'm a life member of the AECG but I also
come from Kemsey up the North Coast. I grew up with Gumbainggir and Dainggatti 
language around me and I was born in Moree and I am a Kamilaroi woman.
My Aboriginal tradition is still part and parcel of my life.
There are protocols and there are procedures that I have to go through
when talking to Elders, when speaking and asking permission
to use their knowledge. The kinship which is part and parcel again of any 
Aboriginal cultural group is very, very strong and a lot of 
people still know their totem. A lot of people still know their moieties.
They know all of those things that relate to their culture.
In New South Wales it's very matriarchal, and women tend to be your Nans, 
your Mums, tend to be those people who people go to.
We're matriarchal here in New South Wales and we tend to be that way and 
it's very, very strong. And the Elders are part of that.
People who hold knowledge are respected and when I do welcome
to country in New South Wales schools I acknowledge the Elders and the 
Elders are a holder of all sorts of knowledge.