This weekend, the Byron Writers Festival is placing Australian First Nations writers and poets at the heart of its three-day celebration, starting Friday, August 9. Set against the backdrop of the scenic Arakwal Bumberbin country of the Bundjalung Nation, the festival promises a rich exploration of storytelling, culture, and creativity under the theme “From the Ground Up.” First Nations Writers Take Centre Stage at 2024 Byron Writers Festival
As Australia’s largest regional writers’ festival, this year’s event aligns with the NAIDOC theme “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud,” highlighting the voices and stories of Indigenous writers and artists. The lineup features a stellar group of First Nations talents, including Bronwyn Bancroft, Wayne Bergmann, Tony Birch, Daniel Browning, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Jane Harrison, Delta Kay, Melissa Lucashenko, Amy McQuire, Jazz Money, Rhoda Roberts, Mykaela Saunders, Steph Tisdell, and Nicky Winmar, among others.
The festival offers a platform for these brilliant storytellers to delve into a wide array of topics, from politics and history to creativity, the environment, and family. Many local Bundjalung voices will join the conversation, ensuring that the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture and knowledge is at the forefront of the discussions.
Celebrating Bundjalung Voices and Stories
Among the respected Bundjalung guests is bestselling author Melissa Lucashenko, who, along with Traditional Owner Delta Kay, will participate in the session “Wisdom of The Elders.” This session promises to be a profound exchange of knowledge and stories, drawing on the deep cultural roots of the Bundjalung people.
Writer and broadcaster Daniel Browning will engage audiences with “Close to the Subject,” while award-winning speculative fiction writer Mykaela Saunders will present “Always Will Be.” Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Mindy Woods will share culinary stories in “Karkalla at Home,” and Rhoda Roberts will bring her creative prowess to the stage with her one-woman show “My Cousin Frank,” premiering with the local theatre company NORPA in August. Roberts will also participate in the session “Aboriginal Sporting Legends.”
A Festival of Strength and Joy in First Nations Storytelling
Grace Lucas-Pennington, a Byron Writers Festival Board Member, editor, and writer, reflected on the significance of this year’s program, stating, “The Festival program is a testament to the strength and joy in First Nations storytelling today. I see lots of connection to the NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the fire burning,’ each of our stories an ember of the endless fire that has burned here for millennia.”
Audiences will have the opportunity to hear from AFL legend and Noongar man Nicky Winmar, who will discuss his iconic stand against racism on the playing field 30 years ago and its ongoing impact. Amy McQuire, a prominent Aboriginal Affairs journalist and author of Black Witness, will delve into topics such as “Press Freedom,” “First Nations Justice,” and the festival’s keynote event, “From the Ground Up.”
Nyikina man Wayne Bergmann, a lawyer and advocate for Indigenous rights in the Kimberley for over two decades, will discuss his memoir Some People Want to Shoot Me. Bergmann will also join the “Wisdom of the Elders” panel alongside celebrated playwright Jane Harrison.
Exploring Poetry and Creative Expression
Poetry will weave strong threads throughout the festival, featuring esteemed poet Ali Cobby Eckermann, who recently won the NSW Premier’s Book of the Year Award. Multidisciplinary artist Jazz Money will present her new poetry collection Mark the Dawn, while Australian Poetry Slam Champion Rob Waters and poet-musician Nicole Smede will showcase their talents. The festival’s “Electric Poetics” evening event and the Poetry Walk will offer audiences an immersive experience, with poets reciting their work across different sites in the Bangalow Showground.
A Commitment to Accessibility and Cultural Respect
Byron Writers Festival is committed to making the event accessible, offering fully-subsidised MobTix for three-day, one-day, and Kids Big Day Out festival passes, supported by The Vasudhara Fund.
Held in the hinterland town of Bangalow, just 15 minutes from Byron Bay, the festival takes place on the beautiful Bundjalung Country. Organizers pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land, acknowledging them as the original storytellers of the region.
With free shuttle buses operating daily from Byron Bay, the 2024 Byron Writers Festival invites all to experience the rich tapestry of First Nations storytelling, culture, and creativity, continuing the age-old tradition of sharing stories on this sacred land.
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Source: https://nit.com.au/09-08-2024/13008/indigenous-authors-star-at-byron-writers-festival
