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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.

Tusiata Avia standing infront of a black and white promo wall, holding up her book 'The Savage Coloniser Book' with one hand, and putting her finger towards the book with another. She is smiling, looking at the camera, wearing red lipstick, and earrings. She has long reddish-brown hair, that is curled with a front fringe. She has many tattoos shown on her wrists and fingers.

Tusiata Avia

Tusiata Avia is a Samoan, Palangi (New Zealand European) poet who explores Pasifika and cross-cultural themes; and the borders between traditional and contemporary life, and between place and the self. Avia’s critically acclaimed theatrical performance of Wild Dogs Under My Skirt (2019) won Best Director, Best Production and Best Lighting Design at the Wellington Theatre Awards. In 2021, The Savage Coloniser Book won the Poetry Award at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

Events

FREE

Big Blak Poetry Read

Six of the fiercely best poets read three of their best poems. With Jazz Money, Charmaine Papertalk Green, Tony Birch, Kirli Saunders, Ellen van Neerven, plus International poet Tusiata Avia.

March 19, 2022
5.00pm—6.00pm
@ The Wheeler Centre: Performance Space