The Wheeler Centre

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers have been sharing stories on this continent for millennia. From best-selling and award-winning poetry, memoir and fiction to powerful works that defy categorisation, Blak writing depicts, challenges and honours culture, community and Country. Much-loved books by First Nations writers stand strong on shelves in homes, libraries, bookshops and classrooms – but there are always more books and writers to be discovered and rediscovered. In 2023, University of Queensland Press (UQP) introduced its First Nations Classics series to amplify Blak voices in the literary canon. This NAIDOC Week, celebrate the second instalment of First Nations Classics with some of the remarkable authors and contributors involved in the series. Hear from acclaimed writers Larissa Behrendt, Fiona Foley, Claire G. Coleman and Dylan Coleman, with host Tony Birch and a special performance by Tamala Shelton, as they celebrate the sharing of First Nations storytelling through the generations. This event honours the 2024 NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’ and the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations cultures. Presented in partnership with Blak & Bright