Sasha Kutabah Sarago – Reclaiming our ‘Gigorou’ Beauty as First Nations Women

Episode 30

Play episode

Hosted by
Caroline Kell

Caroline Kell is a proud Mbarbrum women who was born and raised on Kulin Lands. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Blak Wattle Coaching and Consulting. Caroline is a Former Counsellor and Executive Director who is deeply passionate about the social emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In this episode, Caroline is joined by proud Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Jirrbal, and African-American woman Sasha Kutabah Sarago.  Sasha is the author of the deeply raw and soul nourishing book  ‘Gigorou’  meaning ‘beautiful’ in Jirrbal, her grandmother’s language, which takes audiences on a journey of First Nations Wisdom and Womanhood.

Sasha is also a former model, business woman, and speaker who advocates for culture, diversity, and equity in business, media, and lifestyle. Her TEDx talk, ‘The (de)colonising of beauty,’ was recognised as an Editor’s Choice on TED.com in 2021.

In this yarn, Caroline and Sasha explore the themes of Sasha’s new book ‘Gigorou’,  which invites women to reclaim their femininity, their softness, their beauty, their rage, their power – all while navigating colonial beauty ideals and  standards.

They delve deep into the empowering concepts of decolonising beauty and Blak power, and radical self care for First Nations people.

Emotions run high as they discuss the necessary steps to reclaiming one’s voice and dismantling the stifling expectations placed upon First Nations women, a topic that resonates profoundly with Sasha. They also unpack the complex dynamics of anger as a First Nations tidda/sister, an episode not to be missed.

Link to Sasha’s TEDx talk – Decolonising Beauty, here. Sasha’s book Gigorou is also available at Booktopia and Audible.

To keep up to date with what Sasha’s up to, follow her on Instagram @ascensionmag. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and don’t forget to follow the show!

Follow Caroline on Instagram @blak_wattle_coaching and learn more about working with Caroline here!

We would like to acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples’ who have never ceded their sovereignty. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation where the podcast was taped. We pay our deepest respects to Traditional Owners across Australia and Elders past, present and emerging.

This podcast was brought to you by On Track Studio.

www.ontrackstudio.com.au

@on.track.studio

For advertising opportunities please email hello@ontrackstudio.com.au

More from this show

Subscribe

* indicates required
Yarning Up with Caroline KellEpisode 30