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Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the sacred lands on which we work. We pay our respects to the people of the Kulin Nations and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past present and future.

We recognise all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first storytellers; and that knowledge transfer through storytelling is imbedded in the very DNA of this Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.

Writers discuss the importance of First Nations imprints in publishing. What else is needed in the publishing ecology? With Rachel Bin Salleh, Tisha Carter, Yasmin Smith and moderated by Sandra Phillips.


Featuring...

Rachel Bin Salleh

Rachel Bin Salleh is descended from the Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley region of WA. Rachel is passionate about Indigenous people telling their stories and started her career in publishing at Magabala Books in the 1990s. In 2014 Rachel became Magabala’s Publisher and in 2018 she wrote her first book Alfred’s War, a poignant…

Tisha Carter

Tisha is an Anmatjere woman from Petyale outside Ti Tree remote community, around 230 kms north of Mparntwe Alice Springs. She has worked tirelessly for her local community for over a decade across many roles, including with Akeyulerre Healing Centre – a local Arrernte cultural centre. Her passion is organising cultural healing and poetry workshops…

Sandra Phillips

Dr Sandra Phillips has a wealth of experience in higher education and in publishing. Sandra is Wakka Wakka and Gooreng Gooreng and a mother and grandmother.

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 worked across literary fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and poetry with a focus on supporting First Nations creatives and their stories. She…

Marie Elena Ellis

Marie Elena Ellis is an Arrernte Warlpiri woman from Amoonguna Community, 11km south-east of Mparntwe Alice Springs. She is a cultural adviser, educator, multi-linguist and interpreter. She was selected to be on the First Nations Advisory Board for Pearson Publishing, one of the largest publishers of education resources in Australia. Marie is a scriptwriter and a writer of short stories…