Calli-Rose Woods grew up in a remote place she calls the "hottest of the hot".
Her hometown Wyndham, in far-north Western Australia, is the gateway to some of the Kimberley's most recognisable landscapes.
But the 21-year-old has undertaken a long journey to Canberra this week for a "once in a generation" event — for First Nations women to discuss their future.
"We all know, no matter what age we are, that a woman is who we run to for help," Ms Woods said.
"They know exactly where the problem starts, where the systematic problem is, where it goes wrong and where we can fix everything."
Women absent from 'key decisions'
The gathering has been years in the making.
More than 600 delegates attended, as well as federal minister Linda Burney and Marcia Langton of the Voice to Parliament advisory group.
It is the first national event of its kind, bringing Indigenous Australian women together to "raise their collective voice, and determine the way ahead".
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar led the three-day conference after more than five years travelling to all parts of the country, gathering the stories and perspectives of more than 2,000 women.
"Women have been absent from some of the key decisions that have been made about issues impacting them on a daily basis, in their communities," Ms Oscar said.
"It's no longer good enough for people to be making policy decisions and creating laws within systems and structures that leave women out."
Helping girls 'get a foot in the door'
Ms Woods, who now lives in Perth, said she felt a lack of agency over her life and community when she was a child.
The keen footballer wants more opportunities for Indigenous athletes, particularly those in regional and remote areas.
"I didn't have no opportunities for my sporting in Wyndham," she said.
"We had no girls team and I had to play on the junior boys team … after a while I got a bit too old for that."
She said that, in sport, "it's who you know, not what you know" — and many talented Indigenous athletes did not get a chance to talk to the people who mattered.
"I want to be that person in the future that all these kids can lean on, and I can get their foot in the door," she said.
Ms Woods said she hoped the summit would inspire more First Nations women to become leaders.
"It always felt a bit weird with the [white people] leading … a meeting, instead of being the support to the First Nations people," she said.
"It's better if we have the community-based people, the hierarchy in the communities — they're the ones learning, getting the knowledge and then applying it."
Women 'need to support each other'
The summit's purpose was to develop a national action plan to be launched next year.
Delegates also worked on the newly announced First Nations Gender Justice Institute at the Australian National University.
Youth delegate Jad David de Busch said she hoped the institute would bring about change.
"Opportunities and access hasn't been something that has been afforded to our people," the 25-year-old said.
"We've got a big few years with the referendum and treaty, and all of these yarns that are happening, and now more than ever we need to be supporting one another."
Ms Burney addressed the summit, calling for community-led change driven by women.
"If there is 40 million bucks for this, and 50 million bucks for that, you've got to tell me how to spend it," she said.
"Making decisions on that [Parliament] House up on the hill ain't going to cut it on the local level."
