Among those Caroline Martin-Briggs embraced on Sunday, some she hadn't seen in years. Others were family members she met for the first time.
Dozens of descendants of Boonwurrung matriarch Louisa Briggs gathered on Country just south of the Birrarung (Yarra River) in Naarm to unveil and celebrate a mural honouring their Ancestor.
Ms Briggs, born in the 1830s, is remembered as a staunch leader who fought for the rights of Aboriginal people.
Ms Martin-Briggs is her great great granddaughter, senior Boonwurrung woman and knowledge holder.
She explained to National Indigenous Times how her Ancestor was kidnapped from her Country and taken to Tasmania by sealers and whalers, within a time of colonial trafficking and atrocities still under-recognised today, returned to the mainland with Aboriginal Tasmanian John Briggs, son of Woretemoeteyenner and grandson of Manalargenna.
Their 10 children started family lines.
Louisa Briggs is the Ancestor of all the existing Boonwurrung people today.
Louisa Briggs also took part in rebellions at Coranderrk Mission "fighting for the rights of all people living on the reserve and the conditions", Ms Martin-Briggs detailed, gave evidence in two select committees in 1872 and 1881 and, in a rare occurrence at the time, was documented in early colony newspaper The Argus in 1876.
"They called her a 'most resolute lady'. We know her as a most resolute woman now," Ms Martin-Briggs said.
Her Ancestor was an early activist, disrupting the system, Ms Martin-Briggs said.
Louisa Briggs was removed from a number of Missions as a result of her continued advocacy for the rights of her people and is buried at Cummeragunja mission near the New South Wales-Victoria border where she was eventually "safe", her great great granddaughter continued.
"We're in a built up city...(where in) now we've got to try and interpret who we are as Boonwurrung people under all of this concrete," she said.
"And today we actually get an opportunity, on a concrete wall, to have our Ancestors recognised. It is pretty significant."
Ms Martin-Briggs described how the photo used of her grandmother incorporates the possum skin cloak she made, and is on permanent display with City of Port Phillip, to honour her old people.
It's draped across Louisa Briggs' shoulders in the mural, rather than the domestic servant's dress she wore in the original photo.
Jaeden Williams-Briggs, Ms Martin-Briggs' son, similarly made new connections on Sunday.
The call was put out wide and far to have all descendants come together. A historical Boonwurrung gathering is being planned on March 28 and 29.
Mr Williams-Briggs delivered the Welcome to Country, and shared Boonwurrung knowledge with those present. He is also founder and director of Biik Bundjil, a cultural organisation leading efforts to embed Boonwurrung culture and understanding.
The mural is part of a bigger effort for these family lines to connect, Mr Williams-Briggs said.
It's part of creating a "ripple effect, for our kids' and kid's kids", teaching the next generations tens of thousands of years culture.
There together as a family, they create those ripple effects to continue on.
"We can only imagine the magic to come," he said.
Mr Williams-Briggs is a long-time friend of mural artist Peter Seaton.
It was an honour and opportunity he's grateful for, Mr Seaton said.
Approvals to create the public work came after three attempts, he explained.
"Proud is an understatement," Ms Martin-Briggs said of the day.
"I'm really emotional, but my heart is really happy, really happy," she said, as another family member emerged to re-connect in joy.
Another public work celebrating Louisa Briggs is expected to be unveiled nearby to the mural later this year, as part of the Victorian Women's Public Art Program.
