Post AuLIKu4JCy59M0MgCW by KarenWyld@aus.social
 (DIR) More posts by KarenWyld@aus.social
 (DIR) Post #AuLIKmH8BPaLBSIo4m by KarenWyld@aus.social
       2025-05-22T04:24:19Z
       
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       Some of you may have seen the media articles, press releases, open letters etc about me having a prestigious literary fellowship rescinded hours before the award ceremony on Tuesday. I'd flown to Brisbane for the event, only to be told that morning, in a brief meeting.  I was not provided with much context as to my perceived wrongdoings. The Black & Write program (writing Fellowship plus editorial internships), along with other invaluable literary programs for First Nations writers, is now under review. https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/about/news-and-media/media-centre/statement-state-librarian-and-ceo-vicki-mcdonald-am?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKZIiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp-tOJs2hAv1Cu27cf74OEX1ve61kFR-796CIRo8vqXfpAGGr-Eu5XfnEwEyO_aem_54HEYoHYfatVFhPdXpeDMwMy thoughts are with the other (still confidential) recipient, who has had their moment stolen. Along with the other short-listed writers, esteemed First Nations peers on the judging panel, and the Blak-led Black & Write Team. I also feel for people who were turned away, including Elders, not knowing the ceremony had been abruptly cancelled. Including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - both community members and people working in creative industries - that initiated and supported this program since 2010. I'll be okay. And I'll continue to lift up other First Nations writers and artists. And I will not be silenced
       
 (DIR) Post #AuLIKu4JCy59M0MgCW by KarenWyld@aus.social
       2025-05-22T04:29:15Z
       
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       2/ I'd like to share with you the acceptance speech that I was not able to give, because I and the event were cancelled:-I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the unceded lands of Turrbal (tour-a- bul), Yuggera (you-gu-ra) and Jagerra (Jar-gera) peoples and pay my respect to their Elders, past and present. I’m overwhelmed to be awarded a Black & Write Fellowship, and grateful to the judges, the Black & Write team, State Library of Queensland, Copyright Agency, Creative Australia, and new publishing partner University of Queensland Press. I also thank Create SA, Creative Australia and Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund for arts funding to develop this manuscript. Countless people have inspired this work of fiction. Many have passed on, some too soon. I will always treasure the stories they’ve shared with me. In this moment, I think of my mother, a member of the Stolen Generations. She passed on shortly after I’d finished writing this manuscript. I dedicate this work to her.Through this novel, I pay respect to every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who was taken by the government as a child, and their parents who grieved this unfathomable loss. And acknowledge the people who help heal the trauma and advocate for justice. In my story, children are taken home with the help of a sentient whirlwind. In reality, not all of the tens of thousands of forcibly removed First Nations children came home. And very few have seen any form of justice. Next Monday it will be 28 years since the Bringing Them Home Report was presented. In that time only 6% of the recommendations have been actioned. Stolen Generations survivors are passing on, without justice. Recommendations need to be completed now, not when they’re all gone. And current rates of out-of-home out-of-community child removals need to stop. We must learn from the past, and not keep repeating injustices. >>>> 3/
       
 (DIR) Post #AuLIL1yZoAFZsXkDNQ by KarenWyld@aus.social
       2025-05-22T04:31:12Z
       
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       3/-While I write about historical acts of state violence, the state of Israel is currently silencing writers, poets and journalists through assassination, abduction, torture and starvation. We’re witnessing an unprecedented live-streamed genocide. Last week was the 77th Nakba commemoration, and Palestinian people are still enduring catastrophic injustices.As I speak of the Stolen Generations, right now the apartheid state of Israel is murdering, orphaning, abducting and forcibly disappearing Indigenous children. What will these stolen children be called in the future? Will they ever see justice?We must not be silent or silenced. We all need to speak up against crimes of humanity – past or present. And reject despair and apathy. Through sharing stories we strengthen global solidarity, and plot better futures. Literary programs, such as Black and Write, enable our stories, our truths, to be heard. I’m honoured that the judges selected this story.In closing, I offer my congratulations to [redacted] and short-listed writers ]redacted]. I look forward to reading all of your books one day.
       
 (DIR) Post #AuLIL9efG54lh6UQS0 by KarenWyld@aus.social
       2025-05-22T04:39:23Z
       
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       adding, this fellowship for First Nations writers includes editing of the two recipients' manuscripts, $15,000 each, skills development, and potential publishing with the program's partner publisher. So, yes, this is a huge hit to me financially and career-wise. But I'll be ok, eventually. And I will not be silenced over human rights abuses - past or present. Indigenous solidarity is powerful. That's why Indigenous artists, writers and academics are being targeted by people in positions of power and privilege.