Giiyong Writers’ Forum: A heartfelt celebration of Aboriginal literature | PHOTOS

More than 100 people were treated to a series of emotive and inspiring presentations from Aboriginal writers who shared their stories. 

Held in the Monaroo Bobberrer Gudu Keeping Place at Jigamy Farm on Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2, the forum looked at the importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal culture, literature and languages. 

Saturday morning started with a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and a performance by the Duurunu Miru Dance Group, but what followed immediately after was a sombre but inspiring discussion. 

Keynote speaker Jeanine Leane started things off by talking about Aboriginal literature before leading a panel consisting of poet Ali Cobby Eckermann, publisher Lisa Fuller and fiction writer Dr Jared Thomas. 

Ms Fuller fought back tears as she recounted the loss and prejudices she, her tribe and the Aboriginal people have faced and continue to face on a daily basis. 

Audience member Heather O’Connor said she was moved by how much the speakers opened up. 

“It’s the bravery to stand up there and expose that much grief and sadness. We feel privileged to have been a part of it,” she said. 

Another participant Debra Cushion said she was so thankful that the forum took place on the Far South Coast as it allowed her to learn so much more about Indigenous literature. 

“When driving here we were talking about how much we know and how little we know about Aboriginal literature and culture. To see the speakers get up infront of 100 people and express their pain, and it’s so real, it was inspiring,” Ms Cushion said. 

The speakers also discussed the issue of cultural appropriation and the desire for people to get to know their culture and their people before writing them. 

“I don’t write about white fellas if I don’t know them. I don’t construct characters I don’t know. When you’re writing I think you should afford us the same respect,” Ms Leane said. 

Ms Eckermann echoed the views of Ms Leane saying that if you want to write a story and you want to include an Indigenous character than that is the perfect opportunity for you to reach out and connect with your local Aboriginal community. 

“If Aboriginal people aren’t around your kitchen table then why would you want to write about them?” Ms Eckermann asked the audience.

“You need to write about what you know, so to write about us you need to get to know us. Sit at our kitchen table, have dinner with us. It’s about bringing people together.”

While the forum was an eyeopening experience for non-Indigenous attendees, it also discussed topics which were of great value to members of the local Koori community. 

Dr Thomas acknowledged that within the Aboriginal community, people still have different beliefs and experiences. He stressed the importance of sharing their knowledge and learning from each other.

“You can’t expect all Aboriginal people to get it right either,” Dr Thomas said in regards to the representation of Aborginal people in both literature and within the media.

“We need to be interogating ourselves and critiquing our peers as well.”

Respected actor and playwright Glenn Shea then pleaded with the audience, asking for the Indigenous and non-Indigenous attendees to learn all they can about Aboriginal culture.

“It’s important to focus on connecting back to our idenity,” Mr Shea said. “Our identity connects us back to country and engages us back into belongong.”

After his brief presentation, Mr Shea got the whole room involved in learning about Aboriginal culture in a fun and interactive way.

With Mr Shea giving the directions, twelve games of The Storyteller, comprising of more than 90 participants, commenced. 

The Storyteller Boardgame is an education resource that Mr Shea created. It provides knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal people, society and culture from a generic and non-political perspective.

South East Arts general manager Andrew Gray said it was great to see around 100 people working in teams to be inspired by, and learn more about, Indigenous culture, all while sharing a laugh.

Mr Gray said another highlight of the Giiyong Forum on the Saturday afternoon was when an exerpt of Jane Harrison’s new play The Visitors was read out.

The Visitors gives people a powerful new perspective on a well-known event marking the beginnings of modern Australia. 

The play features seven senior law men, in fine suits who meet on the shores of a harbour to discuss the 11 large boats that have just arrived.

“Should they be welcomed to country or should these seven clan representatives of the Dharug nation, people from what became known as Sydney, combine to get rid of the unwelcome visitors?” the synopsis reads. 

“They take a vote – it must be unanimous – and one of them reckons the visitors mightn’t be all bad.” 

Mr Gray was full of praise for this play and said it was the perfect way to get forum attendees thinking and looking at things from another perspective. 

The Giiyong Writers’ Forum also gave participants the chance to kick off NAIDOC Week celebrations a day early with this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, Our Languages Matter, at the forefront of discussion.

Aboriginal language teacher Noeleen Lumby addressed the theme when she reflected on teaching and learning language in communities. 

Ms Lumby also took the time to teach everyone some basic Djiringanj, the first language of the Bega Valley. 

Ms Lumby is an Aboriginal woman who was born and raised on the ancestral lands of the D’harawal people in the Illawarra region. 

She spoke about the importance of her current work with Eden Elders and community in revitalising the South Coast Language. 

Ms Lumby then introduced 17-year-old Merimbula resident Tallara Andy who spoke about her recent project titled Black Duck Country: Local Sites, Local Stories. 

Overall Mr Gray said he couldn’t have been happier with how the Giiyong Writers’ Forum went.

“The Giiyong Writers Forum was a very successful start to the Jigamy Festival project with 130 people attending the forum and workshops,” Mr Gray said.

“The featured Aboriginal writers shared their stories and knowledge, with presentations that were moving, inspiring, informative and at times amusing. There was so much packed into the forum program, including a number of local writers.”

The Giiyong Writers Forum is one of three lead-up events to the Giiyong Festival in September 2018, which will be the first all-encompassing Aboriginal cultural festival for South East NSW.

Mr Gray said the next big event will take place on Saturday, October 28 with the focus on Indigenous music and theatre. 

It will invovled a concert that will be the culmination of a number of workshops taking place over a number of weeks. 

The Giiyong Festival is being produced by South East Arts, in collaboration with Twofold Aboriginal Corporation and Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, and is made possible through funding from Create NSW.