Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM (1937) A life dedicated to Alyawarr, Anmatyerr issues and to defending her people’s traditional way of life.
 

Born on Arapunya (Utopia Station), Rosalie lived on her homelands until the age of nine, before relocating to Mparntwe (Alice Springs). At 16 she played the lead role in the film, Jedda. The film was the first to feature an Aboriginal person in a lead role.

After 10 years in a Melbourne convent, Rosalie returned to Mparntwe and started a career of over 60 years in human rights and politics.
 

Rosalie is passionate about Aboriginal people having access to their land, language and culture. Her contribution at local and national levels is vast, including Advisor on Aboriginal Affairs in the NT, to Trailblazer for the Oxfam Straight Talk program.
 

Rosalie has received countless awards, including an Order of Australia Medal, Northern Territorian of the year and finalist for Australian of the Year.

She was prolific in convening Sovereign Treaty Talks in Mparntwe, a nationally collaborative roadmap for the communities to author the process and lead from the grassroots. 
 

Still a household name from her many television appearances, including the powerful mic drop on Q&A, at 83 years of age, Rosalie remains one of the most powerful voices for change in Aboriginal Australia.