Published 25 May 202516 June 2025 · open letter / Solidarity Open letter from First Nations storytellers to the Queensland State Library and the Queensland Education and Arts Minister First Nations Storytellers In Solidarity To the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Education and Arts Minister,We write as a community of First Nations authors, publishers, literary scholars, arts workers and Storytellers. We speak from our Sovereignty, which is rooted in Country and in the storytelling traditions we continue from our time-immemorial custodianship of our lands and waters. We write in solidarity with our Martu sibling, Ren Wyld, and with our siblings at black&write! who have invested years of their labour and cultural care into this precious program to nourish First Nations storytellers and publishing workers. On the 20th of May, Ren arrived in Magandjin to accept a well-deserved fellowship for their 110,000-word manuscript, documenting seven generations of stolen First Nations children. This manuscript is a vital act of truthtelling written to highlight that almost 28 years on from the handing down of the Bringing Them Home report, only 6% of recommendations to prevent the wide-scale removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families have been implemented. As Ren stated to the Guardian, “I wrote it to bring awareness to the stories of the Stolen Generations, and to talk about justice. It has nothing to do with anything else.” This prestigious fellowship, established in 2011 to nurture and empower the First Nations literary sector, is awarded on the literary merit of applications, and is independently assessed by First Nations experts and advisors.Mere hours before the award ceremony, Ren was informed by the State Library’s Chief Executive, Vicki McDonald, that their contract for the fellowship would be rescinded, and they would not be awarded the funds or the mentoring fellowship. It was made clear to Ren through their communications with the State Library, and by a journalist from NewsCorp who requested commentary on the withdrawal of the fellowship before Ren had been informed themself, that this decision was linked to social media posts made last year by Ren surrounding the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Since October of 2023, at least 62,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Occupying Forces, and as we write, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are at an imminent risk of starvation while Israel blocks the delivery of aid relief, in violation of international law. As Ren has written on social media, “I oppose all genocides, apartheid and other crimes against humanity. And for that, the State Library of Queensland has punished me.” This is in direct defiance to the State Library’s stated commitment to “an overarching and coordinated approach to truth-telling, our collection commitments, and delivery of First Nations initiatives.”It is incredibly clear that the decision to rescind Ren’s fellowship is a direct result of the increasing instances of ministerial overreach as a response to Zionist interest groups. Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek claimed in parliament that the fellowship was required to foster “social cohesion” and avoid undermining “public trust, both in our institutions and in the cultural sector more broadly”. There is a great irony to this accusation being deployed against a Stolen Generations descendant as part of an attempt to strip them of resources to tell the true history of the colony’s violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. That Ren’s solidarity with the Palestinian struggle has been weaponised against them, as part of a broader project to silence opposition to Israel’s crimes against humanity through the undermining of the artistic practices of colonised and racialised peoples in Australia, should be a matter of grave concern for all. This is not just a strategic undermining of cultural authority, it is also a clear and harmful violation of the sovereignty, self-determination and integrity of black&write!’s fellowship processes which have been successfully delivered every year since the inception of the black&write! fellowships in 2011. Again, these actions are in direct defiance of the State Library’s claims to be committed to the recognition and respect of First Nations expertise and advice for all initiatives and programs. How can the State Library claim to enact “respectful and meaningful engagement” with First Nations stories, histories and experiences while violating the cultural integrity and industry expertise of First Nations literary workers? Why would First Nations people trust an institution that attacks and undermines the sovereignty of our writers, overriding the self-determination of those who work on black&write! and the First Nations experts and advisors who awarded the fellowship?The State Library has released a statement claiming it will undertake “an independent review of the suite of awards and fellowships we administer”, but has advised that this will not include the David Unaipon Award. Ironically the story of David Unaipon is one of injustice, an injustice which is now echoed in the present. Just as David Unaipon’s Sovereignty as a storyteller was undermined when his words were stolen and published as written by William Ramsay Smith in the 1930s, so too is the State Library attempting to undermine the Sovereign storytelling of Ren Wyld over 90 years later.We, the undersigned First Nations storytellers, are exhausted by the colony’s perpetual erasure of our Sovereignty, our agency and our voices. We demand an immediate apology be offered to Ren Wyld and to the black&write! team, and for the fellowship to be reinstated in full. We further demand a commitment from the Queensland State Library to honour the integrity and independence of the awards and fellowship opportunities administered through the library, including black&write! and the David Unaipon Award. If you are a First Nations Storyteller and would like to add your name, please do so here. We are also now collecting signatories from our non-First Nations allies, if you would like to include your name on this letter in solidarity.First Nations StorytellersEvelyn Araluen, Goorie and KooriEugenia Flynn, Larrakia, TiwiDominic Guerrera, Narrindjeri and KaurnaJeanine Leane, WiradjuriNatalie Ironfield, DharugLay Maloney, Gumbaynggirr and GunggandjiAlison Whittaker, GomeroiMelissa Lucashenko, BundjalungNardi Smith, YuwaalaraayGary Foley, GumbaynggirrMitch Hibbens, WiradjuriMykaela Saunders, Twood Goori CommunityAmy Thunig-McGregor, Gomeroi/Gamilaroi/KamilaroiLulu Houdini, Gamilaraay, WonnaruaJaala Hallett, Dunghutti and GumbaynggirrMirii Dynevor, Kullilli, Ngarabal, Gamilaroi, WiradjuriNathan Mudyi Sentance, WiradjuriKat DingwallSharlene Allsopp, BundjalungALi Gumillya Baker, MirningTony Birch, Fitzroy (DD) BlakChelsea Watego, Munanjali and South Sea IslanderCelia Coulthard, AdnyamathanhaMonique Grbec, Stolen Generations living on Woi-WurrungTiarnie Edwards, NgarrindjeriAmy McQuire, DarumbalBrooke Scobie, BundjalungMadeline Hayman-Reber, GomeroiJannali Jones, GunaiTravis Akbar, WonguthaNatalie Harkin, NarunggaMaddison Miller, DharugEllen O’BrienArlie Alizzi, YugambehCrystal McKinnon, YamatjiSamia Goudie, BundjalungPhilip Morrissey, KalkadoonMelinda Mann, DarumbalTravis De Vries, GamilaroiJohn Morrissey, KalkadoonNayuka Gorrie, Gunai Kurnai, Gunditjmara, Wiradjuri and Yorta YortaDylan Peisley, NgarrindjeriEmber Giles, Ngarrindjeri and NgankurukuSamantha Yates, TaungurungTarneen Onus Browne, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Bindal and MeriamLilly Brown, GumbaynggirrSusie Anderson, Wergaia and Wemba WembaCharmaine Papertalk Green, YamajiAmanda PorterEmma Hicks, GamilaroiLady Shania Richards, Wongutha, Ndgaju, Mirning, Barngarla, Wirrengu, Nao, GubrunJazz Money, WiradjuriCasey Mulder, Ballardong NoongarBianca Valentino Jayne Christian, Baramadagal DharugKevin Yow Yeh, Wakka Wakka and South Sea IslanderKC, DharugWendy Somerville, JerrinjaBriana ClarkJayda Wilson, Gugada and WiranguAnissa Jones, Burubirangal DharugDeanne Matthews (Cooper), Boorooberongal DharugRhianna Malezer, Butchulla and KamilaroiAnna Wommatakimmi, Tiwi IslandsHeidi Duncan, BurramadagalVicki Morganson, Warrungnu NywaigiAlexis West, Birri Gubba, Wakka Wakka, South Sea Islander and CaucasianKate Daglas, GunditjmaraTracey Rigney, Wotjobaluk and NgarrindjeriBryan Andy, Yorta Yorta – Yullaba Yullaba Timmah Ball, Ballardong NoongarJodie Dowd, NoongarPaola Balla, Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara Elena Macdonald, Paredererme NationJennifer Kemarre Martiniello OAM, Lower Southern ArrernteKimmie Lovegrove, NgarrindjeriDeclan Furber Gillick, ArrernteJessica Herder, DunghuttiMadeline Wells, Mutti Mutti, Wotjobaluk, Wemba Wemba, Wadi Wadi, Trawlwoolway and Plangermaireener Cammi Murrup-Stewart, WurundjeriCass Lynch, NoongarCeleste Liddle, ArrenteBebe Oliver, Bardi JawiKitty Obsidian, Wiradjuri and GamilaroiJ KoolmatrieGeorgia Anderson, Umu Mere, Umai Lag Torres Strait IslandersMerryana Salem, WonnaruaALice Bellette, palawaKerry Klimm, Guguu Yalanji and Koko LamalamaLuke Pearson, GamilaroiBessie Holland, Worimi and BiripiBizzi Lavelle, Wakka Wakka and ArrenteKatrina Karlapina Power, Kaura, Narungga and NgarrindjeriJasmin McGaughey, Torres Strait IslanderJacob Boehme, Kaurna and NarunggaLucy Nelson, Koori and QuechuaNicole Smede, WorimiKaleesha Morris, Gumbaynggirr, Dhunghutti and KulkalgalElijah Money, WiradjuriGenevieve Grieves, WorimiEmma Sjaan Beukers, Ngiyampaa NgembaNJ Martin, WiradjuriMackenzie (Mayarrang) Lee, Larrakia, Wardaman and KarrajarriTais Rose WaisSany O’Sullivan, WiradjuriEugene Comisari, WiradjuriWarrawuWaverley Stanley Jr, Gumbaynggir, Birri Gubba, Kanju and Kabi KabiMel, LarrakiaJim Everett-puralia meenamatta, Pakana PlangermairreennerEmma Randall/Yugaamgan, YaeglWillem Brussen, Baramadagal DarugMaya Hodge, Lardil and YangkaalJared Thomas, NukunuCharmaine Ledden-Lewis, BundjalungThea Raveneau, Gunggari, Lardil and KullilliHan Burgess, PalawaKathryn Gledhill-Tucker, Nyungar, Ngadju, MirningClaire G. Coleman, NoongarSarah Hall, WiradjuriOtis Carmichael, WaanyiKirli Saunders, Gunai, Yuin, Gundungurra and BiripiCath Doe, YirrganydjiMelanie Saward, Bigambul and Wakka Wakka Judith Nangala Crispin, BpangerangNon-First Nations Allies Chloe MillsJuan Garrido SalgadoJennifer MackenzieIan GibbinsOmar SakrAlex CreeceLauren MitchellAngela WalshAviva TuffieldEmilie CollyerJason GrayAlice DarlingMaeve MarsdenJanet HutchinsonJarad BruinstroopRowena LennoxC O’CallaghanSamantha ByresAnne-Marie e WhiuRuth DawkinsBrooke MaddisonJessie WebbTorrey BruinstroopElsie HassettSean WestShastra DeoHello NieuwGavin HarrisRoshelle FongRita HoranyiSamah SabawiCatherine Văn-DaviesHellai GulMatia QuintanaSara M SalehJordana SilversteinKelly TubbPascalle BurtonLaura J CarrollLucy TreloarDan HoganPenni RussonJamila MainJumana BayehDarcy CampbellKK MunnCaroline GrahamHeidi MaierAntoinette WareKerry CodyEm ReadmanMadeleine HunterKellee GreenYumna KassabDinalie DabareraSarah RootsRhys WilliamsMichelle de KretserPoppy GeeSue MonkPenelope GebhardtCarly HeinrichLachlan HurseCathy BannisterDeanne CassidyAnne ElveryJo LangdonZoë BarryKatherine Lyall-WatsonEL WeberMargaret ReidPi LeeDeborah MacdonaldMatt HsuSvetlana SterlinSiobhan CooperTresa LeClercChiara SullivanRicardo FelipeAnabel BurrowsSiena JohnstoneTiffany TsaoAnwen CrawfordAline-Mwezi NiyonsengaSarah MalikAmanda RossJean TongSarah MottDavid StavangerRae MitchellElla WitneyEleanor DooleyRHChantelleJoanne WatsonNikki LuskJennifer MillsSam ColeyRobin M EamesGordan DuncanSarah McKenzieGrace HammondThomas RowenEmily HartSteve MinonKanika ChopraVictoria MasonNina JanjicMary KelseyJacqui BakerNed CurthoysAnna LorenBen EtheringtonAlison Atkinson-PhillipsRochelle SpencerKate Donaldson-LloydAnna COpelandRachel McGannHan Reardon-SmithCat YenSusan ReidKylie MirmohamadiSeraniLisa HartleyKelley SwainAntoinette LuuJasmeet Kaur SahiMatt SitasSujatha FernandesMargot LloydJulie JacksonJacinta Le PlastrierIzabella BizzottoCatherine KevinFernando Polo ValarezoZora SimicBritt KyndeSara HaddadMary DuongLacey-JaneMarlee Jane WardAshley HaywoodJacek AnderstCara RichardsRoanna GonsalvesOlivia De ZilvaWakefield PressEmily BradySari SmitthAlexandra McCallumKatrin KoenningQuentin BrownLiz SutherlandBreanna WrightTayer SteadLouise OmerSeb CalabrettoJeff RickerttCandice D’ArcyVanessa LanawayFiona Kelly McGregorNadia RhookArika CrottyMJ TamargoEli FreeJoel WellingtonHannah CraneThe ZeusMillicent GrayDeirdre OsborneKristy WaltersFreya Higgins-DesbiollesShannyn PalmerSallie ButlerRuby PivetEmilee CarterHannah VeseyGeoff HigginsCaroline FleaySasha JessopScheherazade BloulFi BelcherMargaret MerrileesTim LovedayAlexandra AlmondClare GallagherGrace WilsonAngelita BiscottiRania GhandourZarina CirkicAnthony MorganRae WhiteErica WagnerGreg McLarenIndy Doumenc-MadeirosCB MakoJess LilleyPaula AboodSusan AbulhawaPenelope LilfordJanet ParkerTessa QuartermaineArfur CarterDan MacLeodElias GreigAlex SawyerStephen WrightNadia NiazRusel LastAndrew SutherlandSue SwinburneKaz CookeK. Travers EiraLucia SorberaShu-Ling ChuaPedro AlvarezWill CoxJacquelyn LeighCD SangIsaac LivettAnna FeatherstoneLana NguenMichael McdonnellKatie BellMichael WhiteYamane FayedMicaela SahharFinegan KruckemeyerLuke HortonMegan PayneGemma BealeLloyd WhiteBronwen LevyDJ HuppatzLeone BrialeyBaden Offord AOSarah EsserAmelia RooneyHarry SaddlerZenobia AhmedZenobia FrostClare StrahanJes LaytonAnita SolakArtemis MunozCharles BarnettTrevor John OmaraAngela KarageorgosHenry FarnanRenae BeltonRashida Murphy First Nations Storytellers In Solidarity More by First Nations Storytellers In Solidarity › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. 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