Marlee Silva is a 24-year-old Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman based in Sydney. She is the founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas, a social media initiative and podcast, which is dedicated to celebrating Indigenous women and girls through storytelling. The Tiddas 4 Tiddas Instagram account was set up in 2018 as a way of continuing the 2018 NAIDOC theme 'Because of her, we can', and has already attracted more than 28,000 followers in just over a year. Marlee now hosts the Tiddas 4 Tiddas podcast through Mamamia, where she interviews inspiring Indigenous women who are working to change the world, one day at a time. Marlee has previously been published as a contributor in Anita Heiss' anthology Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, and in various online publications with her poetry and non-fiction work. Together with her sister Keely, Marlee was a finalist for the 2019 Human Rights Awards, and also features in the January 2020 issue of Australia's marie claire magazine in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
My Tidda, My Sister is a beautifully written collection of stories from the lives of incredible and resilient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Our past, our present and our FUTURE is all but a journey. Marlee is a proud young Aboriginal woman who has dedicated herself to telling the stories of these amazing women; an achievement to be commended for. As Aboriginal peoples we originate from different nations and we all have different stories, but as a race of people we have one thing in common: as Indigenous peoples, we were all subjected to historical injustices. There is no time more important than now for us all to honour those who have paved the way for us to thrive today. We should celebrate who we are! It is what we have in our hearts that matters most. I applaud Marlee in honouring those women in a way that will continue to provide greater understanding of the complexities we all face as Indigenous peoples, from our connectedness to country to the different shades of our skin colour. Well done Marlee, this is a fine tribute that we can all be proud of. -- Nova Peris OAM OLY MAICD 'My Tidda, My Sister is a beautifully written collection of stories from the lives of incredible and resilient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Our past, our present and our FUTURE is all but a journey. Marlee is a proud young Aboriginal woman who has dedicated herself to telling the stories of these amazing women; an achievement to be commended for. As Aboriginal peoples we originate from different nations and we all have different stories, but as a race of people we have one thing in common: as Indigenous peoples, we were all subjected to historical injustices. There is no time more important than now for us all to honour those who have paved the way for us to thrive today. We should celebrate who we are! It is what we have in our hearts that matters most. I applaud Marlee in honouring those women in a way that will continue to provide greater understanding of the complexities we all face as Indigenous peoples, from our connectedness to country to the different shades of our skin colour. Well done Marlee, this is a fine tribute that we can all be proud of.' - Nova Peris OAM OLY MAICD 'Marlee Silva has shared a precious legacy with us - a culture of kinship that she inherited from her Gamilaroi great grandmother, Violet Pearl French. In this inspiring book of testimony from Aboriginal women, the role of our Tiddas, our sisters, is central. Tiddas give each other strength through love. The teaching of her great grandmother - to never give up - is a message about staying strong. Violet also taught 'look to tomorrow.' Do not become trapped in our past, become strong. I will give this book to every young woman who becomes fearful or despondent. This book is a beautiful expression of hope and overcoming our fears.' Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO, BA (Hons), ANU, PhD Macq. U, D. Litt. ANU, FASSA