How Chloe fuses an Indigenous upbringing with her Muslim faith

Chloe Cowan, an Australian Indigenous Muslim woman, says marking Ramadan is an opportunity to embrace spirituality and foster cross-cultural connection.

Chloe Cowan says her marriage has helped her broaden her cultural horizons. Credit: Supplied

Key Points

• Around 2,000 Indigenous Australians identify as Muslim, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• Chloe Cowan, an Australian Indigenous Muslim woman, says her marriage to an Iraqi man broadened her perspective.
• The couple say Ramadan offers their extended families an opportunity to share values, heritage and food.

Chloe Cowan is one of around 2,000 Indigenous Australians who follow Islam, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A proud Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr Kamilaroi women who was born on Dunghutti Country, Cowan said she converted to Islam before she met and married an Iraqi man, Osman Abas, in 2018.

My bloodline on my matriarchal side can be traced back as far as King Bennelong making my grandmother a princess of her tribal nation.

Chole Cowan

Chloe Cowan's grandmother, Georgina Binge Cowan.

Childhood picture of Chloe Cowan (R) with mother Wendy Cowan (L) and brother Tye Cowan in the middle. Credit: Supplied

Cowan told SBS Urdu that prior to meeting her now husband, she had grown up in a small coastal town without exposure to diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Chloe Cowan says her marriage has helped her broaden her cultural horizons. Credit: Supplied

"Marrying into a different culture really broadened my perspective, exposing me to various customs, languages and different family kinships," she said.

Cherishing my heritage, I am pleasantly surprised by the beautiful similarities I discover between my own culture and Iraqi culture.

Chloe Cowan

Cowan said that in her husband's cultural background, family holds great significance, and she finds parallels in her own values.

"Just as Iraqis gather for iftar to share meals, Aboriginals come together with their community (mob), ensuring everyone is well-fed and contributing to the communal cooking process," she added.

Ramadan is an opportunity to share values, heritage and food, the couple say. Credit: Supplied

Similarly, Abas said marrying Cowan had enabled him to delve into different cultures, languages, history and the "frequently overlooked Indigenous issues in Australia".

Cowan said being an Indigenous Australian Muslim feels akin to navigating two distinct worlds, both of which are occasionally misrepresented.

Abas agreed: "The observance of Ramadan is a poignant example as my wife and I share a connection over Indigenous issues, as both our cultures have been impacted by Western imperialism and colonialism."

The shared experience has not only fostered our bond but also instilled pride in our identities.

Osman Abas

The couple said Ramadan offered their extended families an opportunity to share values, heritage and food.

Cowan says both sides of her family enjoy coming together and sharing meals. Credit: Supplied

Abas's mother, Muna Hassan, celebrates Ramadan by preparing Iraqi food and cultural traditions, and Cowan frequently joins iftar with her in-laws.

"Ramadan has instilled a greater sense of appreciation for Allah (God) and his abundant provisions in my life," Cowan said.