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Writing Blak Legacies: A First Nations Literature Gala

Live Event

Celebrate the richness and cultural significance of First Nations writing with a special gala event marking the release of the University of Queensland Press’ First Nations Classics series. 

This year, the University of Queensland Press released the first instalment of its First Nations Classics series, recognising the brilliant and vital literary contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers across the decades. To mark the publication of this landmark series, the Wheeler Centre and Blak & Bright present a vibrant evening of reflections, readings and performance featuring many of the series authors and contributors, hosted by acclaimed author Tony Birch. Hear from Evelyn Araluen, Larissa Behrendt, Ellen van Neerven, Alison Whittaker, Jeanine Leane, Archie Weller, Kev Carmody and Tara June Winch, alongside series editor Yasmin Smith and series designer Jenna Lee, with a special musical performance by Nardi Simpson and Yarn Bomb by Zerene Jaadwa. Together they will celebrate the 2023 NAIDOC theme ‘For Our Elders’, recognising the importance of intergenerational knowledge and storytelling and bringing renewed attention to timeless works of literature that are as important, engaging and relevant today as they were on first publication. Kev Carmody, Larissa Behrendt and Tara June Winch will appear via video.

Artwork by Jenna Lee. 

Presented in partnership with Blak & Bright. Supported by RMIT Culture.   

In the Foyer: Yawa

As part of this event, in the foyer of The Capitol, audiences will have the opportunity to play Yawa, a four-player arcade game created in a collaboration between N'arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM, artist Troy Innocent with Jarra Karalinar Steel (art) and Narayana Johnson (music). Yawa means journey in Boonwurrung language. To play, four players explore an abstract map of Country and collect words in the Boonwurrung language as they go. Learn more about YAWA here.  

Event and Ticketing Details

Dates & Times

Thursday 06 July
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location

The Capitol

113 Swanston Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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Accessibility

Auslan Interpreted

Wheelchair accessible

Accessible toilets available

Assistive Listening

You can learn more about accessiblity at The Capitol at rmit.edu.au. Please notify us of all access requirements when booking online so we can assist you with your visit. If you require further information, please contact reception on 03 9094 7800 or ticketing@wheelercentre.com.

Additional Notes

Published by UQP, the First Nations Classics is inspired by the richness and cultural importance of First Nations writing. The First Nations Classics series currently includes: Unbranded by Herb Wharton, introduced by Kev Carmody Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Nugi Garimara (Doris Pilkington), introduced by Tara June Winch Blood by Tony Birch, introduced by Larissa Behrendt Heat and Light by Ellen van Neerven, introduced by Alison Whittaker Don't Take Your Love to Town by Ruby Langford Gibini, introduced by Nardi Simpson The Window Seat by Archie Weller, introduced by Ernie Dingo Purple Threads by Jeanine Leane, introduced by Evelyn Araluen Holocaust Island by Graeme Dixon, introduced by Ali Cobby Eckermann Readers can look forward to more First Nations Classics in 2024. You can learn more about the series at uqp.com.au. The bookseller for this event is Amplify Bookstore. 

Event Notes

Please note: Kev Carmody, Larissa Behrendt and Tara June Winch will appear via video.

Featuring

Evelyn Araluen

Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie and Koori poet, researcher, and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal.

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Larissa Behrendt

Larissa Behrendt AO is the Laureate Fellow at Jumbunna Research, UTS. She is an award winning author and filmmaker and the host of Speaking Out on ABC Radio.
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Tony Birch

Tony Birch is the author of four novels, five short fiction collections, and two poetry books. His most recent book is the novel, Women and Children (UQP).
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Kev Carmody

Celebrated Indigenous singer-songwriter Kev Carmody was born in 1946 to an Irish-Australian father and Aboriginal mother. Carmody is particularly well-known for co-writing From Little Things Big Things Grow with Paul Kelly in ...

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Zerene Jaadwa

Zerene has always been taught by her mother to stand tall and proud, not only as a Woman, but as a Blak Queer Woman. As an Activist, Actor, Educator and Creative Zerene has fought long and hard to ensure all voices, stories and ...

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Jeanine Leane

Jeanine Leane belongs to the Wiradjuri people from the Murrumbidgee River in south west NSW. She is a writer poet and teacher whose prose, essays and poetry have been published widely in Australia and abroad. She is the editor ...

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Jenna Lee

Jenna Lee is a Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and KarraJarri Saltwater woman with mixed Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Anglo-Australian ancestry. Using art to explore and celebrate her many overlapping identities, Lee works ...

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Nardi Simpson

Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay storyteller from New South Wales' (NSW) northwest freshwater plains. As a member of Indigenous duo Stiff Gins, Nardi has travelled nationally and internationally for the past 22 years. She ...

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Yasmin Smith

Yasmin Smith is an editor, writer and poet of South Sea Islander, Kabi Kabi, Northern Cheyenne and English heritage. Beginning her publishing career at the national black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project, she has ...

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Ellen van Neerven

Ellen van Neerven is an award-winning writer of Mununjali Yugambeh (South East Queensland) and Dutch heritage. They write fiction, poetry, plays and non-fiction. Ellen’s first book, Heat and Light, was the recipient of the David Unaipon Award ...

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Archie Weller

Aged twenty-one Archie Weller won runner-up in the inaugural Vogel Bread prize with The Day of the Dog, written in just six weeks and later he worked on the film script of what became the movie Blackfellahs based on his book. But he had been writing short stories and poetry since the age of thirteen, many published in various anthologies, several winning awards. The fantasy novel The Land of the Golden Clouds won the Human Rights Award and lastly his book The Unknown Soldier comprises poetry, some winning awards overseas. Since then he has been translated in Chinese, German, Dutch, Danish, French, Italian and Indian in both his own work and in anthologies. Also published in many First Nation works. He has written several plays - one of which - Purple Dreams - opened the Brisbane Festival. His short stories Going Home and The Window Seat are taught in schools.
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Alison Whittaker

Alison Whittaker is a Gomeroi multitasker. Between 2017–2018, she was a Fulbright scholar at Harvard Law School, where she was named the Dean’s Scholar in Race, Gender and Criminal Law. Alison is a Senior Researcher at the ...

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Tara June Winch

Tara June Winch is a Wiradjuri author, born in Australia in 1983 and based in France. Her first novel, Swallow the Air, was critically acclaimed and she was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist, and has won ...

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