7 Submissions I do not feel that as a woman I have been supported to maintain my culture throughout the native title processes. These processes have put up barriers so that I can’t maintain my culture on Country – I maintain it away from Country. Coral King Some male anthropologists, lawyers and Traditional Owners can have a male-dominant gaze without meaning to. But most see men’s business matters as occupying places of primary consideration in ‘authentic’ representations of Indigenous laws and cultures. Adele Millard, non‑Indigenous anthropologist In the course of seven years, we experienced six different lawyers as the lead lawyer to prosecute our NT. These were all men. Jennifer Darr Throughout many of the submissions, women’s roles as ‘caretakers’ and ‘nurturers’ were highlighted, emphasising how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are deeply involved in their communities and cultural lives. While some of the women were also immersed in native title, others felt they were excluded from more formal native title decision-making and leadership roles. However, this did not always mean they were uninvolved in native title decision-making altogether. I believe women are more involved in NT as their role are the nurtures of families. I can only speak on the experience of Yuwi here. Jennifer Darr Women typically attend broader community/authorisation meetings and I expect are quite active participants in the informal community discussions which occur outside meetings. Adele Millard, non‑Indigenous anthropologist Submissions spoke of the ability of women to participate in native title processes more actively and/or perform leadership roles being hindered by the significant unpaid commitment required – on top of the already significant responsibilities to family and community. Women have a duty of care and of course this does not allow them to be able to participate in native title as they would like to do so. Michelle Francis Some women are so involved with working for clinics and schools, or in other community capacities, that they do not have time to take on governance roles with PBCs. But where they do, my experience has been that they take those roles very seriously. Adele Millard, non‑Indigenous anthropologist The pervasiveness of men in positions of authority – including those with historical allegations of physical and sexual violence – also deterred women from fully participating in the native title space in some communities. … in Kununurra specifically many traditional owning women refuse to sit at the same table as local senior men due to historical allegations of physical and sexual violence. Denise Gallo, non‑Indigenous woman Australian Human Rights Commission 51