You might be visiting hospital when Dr Kelvin Kong walks in: he’s celebrated as Australia’s first Indigenous surgeon. Or you’re watching Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi, who was the first Māori filmmaker to win an Academy Award. Maybe you’re researching health outcomes that could help close the health gap, in which case you’re likely to read publications by Professor Sandra Eades; she’s a leader in indigenous health and the first Aboriginal practitioner to be awarded a PhD.
These aren’t just career success stories – they’re proof that First Nations people are absolutely smashing it across every industry you can imagine.
Making music that moves the world
Music is a universal language, but when First Nations artists blend traditional cultural practices with contemporary sounds, they are preserving ancient traditions and creating something truly revolutionary.
Tanya Tagaq
Tanya Tagaq, an Inuk throat singer from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, has transformed a traditional art form into something completely groundbreaking.
Throat singing, traditionally performed by two women as a friendly competition, nearly disappeared due to colonialism. But Tagaq adapted the technique for solo performance, blending it with electronic, punk, and rock elements. Her powerful voice has earned her collaborations with international stars like Björk and won her the prestigious Polaris Music Prize in 2014, beating out Drake and Arcade Fire.
“We’re getting to the point where it’s going to be cool to be us, and that’s so exciting,” Tagaq says about the new generation of Indigenous artists making waves.
Jeremy Dutcher
Jeremy Dutcher, a Wolastoq man currently living in Toronto, discovered his calling when he listened to century-old wax cylinder recordings of his ancestors’ songs at the Canadian Museum of History.
Classically trained as an operatic tenor, Dutcher created his debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa by re-imagining traditional Wolastoqiyik songs with neo-classical arrangements. His work won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year.
“When we lose [the people who speak Wolastoqey], we’re not just losing words,” Dutcher says. “We’re losing entire ways of seeing the world. That’s what language is.”
Healing communities through medicine
Medicine isn’t just about treating illnesses – it’s about connection, understanding, and trust too. First Nations medical professionals bring deep cultural knowledge to their practise that helps them connect with patients and their needs in ways that transform healthcare.
Dr Stanley Vollant
Dr Stanley Vollant made history as the first Innu surgeon in Quebec and the first Indigenous person to head a medical association in North America.
His not-for-profit organisation Puamun Meshkenu works to inspire First Nations youth to realise their full potential. It was founded after Dr Vollant embarked on a 6,000km walk across Quebec between 2010 and 2017, visiting schools and Indigenous communities along the way to promote healthy habits.
“My vision is to bring people to celebrate wellness and also to celebrate [being] all together, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,” he says.
Dr Nadine Caron
Dr Nadine Caron is the first Canadian female general surgeon of First Nations descent, as well as the first female First Nations student to graduate from University of British Columbia’s medical school.
Now, she’s director of the Northern Biobank Initiative, ensuring rural and remote First Nations communities have equitable access to genomic research into diseases like colorectal, breast and thyroid cancer. Dr Caron was also inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in recognition of her transformative leadership in Indigenous health and surgical practice.
“This is recognition of all those individuals who believed in and supported me with my hopes and dreams, which have really only started and that I will one day pass on,” she said after her induction. “This honour is a symbol of what family, friends, colleagues, and community can do when we all wish for a tomorrow that is better for our children.”
Reaching for the stars
Space exploration and cutting-edge technology might seem worlds away from traditional Indigenous knowledge, but First Nations innovators are proving that ancient wisdom and modern science create a powerful combination.
John Herrington
John Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation, made history in 2002 when he became the first Native American to fly into space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-113 mission.
But Herrington’s journey to the stars wasn’t straightforward – he dropped out of college, worked in restaurants, and was a rock climber before joining the U.S. Navy and becoming a pilot. His path shows that success can come from unexpected directions when you combine determination with opportunity.
After retiring from NASA with over 330 hours in space, Herrington earned his PhD in education and now travels the world inspiring Indigenous youth to pursue STEM careers.
“A lot of people have a stereotypical view of what a Native American is, but in reality, we’re engineers, we’re scientists, we’re doctors, we’re lawyers,” he said in an interview with PBS in 2023. “It’s not just that we’re proud of who we are, but proud of what we do.”
Karlie Noon
Karlie Noon is a Gamilaraay woman from Tamworth, and the first Aboriginal person on the east coast of Australia to graduate with a combined degree in mathematics and physics.
Now, she works across Australia sharing science with young people, especially those from Indigenous and low socio-economic backgrounds. Her achievements have earned her recognition as a finalist in several major awards, including the Eureka Prize and ACT Young Australian of the Year.
“I hope that I can show people how important our role is, here under the beautiful sky we have, and show everyone that this place is something really to treasure,” Noon says.
Creating stories that matter
The creative industries have been revolutionised by First Nations storytellers who bring authentic perspectives to global audiences. They’re important cultural ambassadors changing how the world sees Indigenous stories.
Taika Waititi
Of Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui descent, Taika Waititi grew up in the Raukokore region of New Zealand. His acceptance speech for his Academy Award in 2020 resonated around the world – in fact, he’s the first person of Indigenous descent to win an Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
“I dedicate this to all the Indigenous kids in the world who want to do art and dance and write stories,” he said. “We are the original storytellers and we can make it here as well.”
Waititi had brief ambitions to enter the Air Force after watching Top Gun, until someone told him he needed to do “a lot of science and maths and physics stuff”. But his parents had always encouraged his creative side, and after watching a TV show and thinking “I could do that better than you,” he set off to write his own material – and the rest is history.
Cherie Dimaline
Métis author Cherie Dimaline always knew she wanted to be a writer, growing up fascinated by the stories her Mere (grandmother) would tell her and her brother.
She wrote her novel The Marrow Thieves hoping to open people’s eyes to the hardships her people have suffered – it has since become an international best seller and won five awards. Dimaline was also the first writer in residence for Aboriginal literature at the Toronto Public Library.
“The awards are so critical and important because it will start or continue a larger dialogue and I hope it will influence people’s opinions,” she said.
Designing the future of fashion
Fashion reflects identity, culture, and has been making statements throughout history. First Nations fashion designers are revolutionising the industry by bringing authentic Indigenous perspectives to both global runways and everyday wardrobes.
Dr Bronwyn Bancroft
Dr Bronwyn Bancroft, a proud Bundjalung woman, is noted as a pioneer of Indigenous fashion in Australia. In 1985, she established Designer Aboriginals, selling fabrics made by Aboriginal artists including herself, and training young Aboriginal women in all aspects of business.
She made history as one of the first three Australian fashion designers invited to show their work in Paris in 1987, and is also a celebrated artist and has authored 45 children’s books.
“It is an honour to record, reinterpret, and create a different perspective on my family, our Country and the richness that is embedded in these lives lived,” Dr Bancroft says.
Lesley Hampton
Anishinaabe designer and member of Temagami First Nation Lesley Hampton is making waves with her contemporary designs that address mental wellness and body neutrality through an Indigenous worldview.
Her pieces feature powerful messages about identity and healing, catching the attention of celebrities like Lizzo, and have been featured on international runways.
“I really hope that the work that I’m doing and the connections that I’m building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people within the fashion industry,” Hampton says. “I hope that those connections lay the format for other Indigenous youth who want to grow in the fashion industry to see themselves represented.”
Champions on the field
Sport provides powerful platforms for First Nations people to excel while inspiring others. These athletes inspire their communities and demonstrate that excellence comes in many forms.
Ash Barty
Ash Barty, a proud Ngaragu woman, dominated world tennis by becoming the first Indigenous Australian to win a Grand Slam singles title when she claimed Wimbledon in 2021.
She reached world number one and won the French Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open before retiring at just 25 to pursue other passions, including founding the Ash Barty Foundation to inspire young Australians through sport and education and providing computers for Indigenous Knowledge Centres throughout Queensland.
“I don’t do it for the recognition, that’s not what makes me happy,” Barty said in an interview with Vogue. “Each year we continue to grow and help the Knowledge Centres become better places for people to be, to learn and discover what they want in life, and to become curious.”
Pita Taufatofua
Pita Taufatofua is Tongan athlete who has competed in taekwondo, cross-country skiing, and canoe at the Olympics between 2016 and 2024.
But other than being an athlete, Taufatofua is also an engineer, UNICEF ambassador, motivational speaker, and environmentalist – he’s particularly passionate about raising awareness of rising ocean levels that are affecting his home and other islands in the Pacific.
“I always chose to learn from the pain and the failure,” he said in an interview with the Guardian. “It is not special to me, it is something that is transferable to anyone if they have the right mindset… Everyone has potential. It is whether you act on it or not.”
Your pathway starts here
The question isn’t whether you can make it – these role models prove you absolutely can. The real question is what deadly career will you choose to pursue?
Ready to explore your options and find the support you need? Check out our comprehensive resources for First Nations students, where you’ll find information about study pathways, scholarships, career guidance, and connections.
