In the sidelines of the launch, NITV Radio spoke with Mykaela Saunders, who provided the introduction for one of the 8 new additions, Alexis Wright’s 'Plains of Promise'.
Saunders, an accomplished author and academic, shared her deep connection to the book, which was first released in 1997.
She highlighted its poignant depiction of the stolen generations, a topic that gained mainstream attention with the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report the same year.
“It was a landmark report. And the process that went into it. For the first time people discovered what the Stolen Generations went through and are still going through,” Mykaela Saunders said.
“It revealed the stories of generations of women who were removed, and moved around, and disconnected from culture and returned to culture…”
“On a personal level, that is the time when my mother and her brother, my uncle, were connected with their grandmother. And they were in their forties when they first met.”
I grew up watching movies where Aboriginal people were not there in the future. We were genocided; we were extinct; we were mysteriously vanished. And I know that that is not going to happenMykaela Saunders
We also discussed Saunders’ own book, 'Always Will Be', which draws inspiration from the rallying cry for First Nations land rights, “Always Was, Always Will Be.”
She explained the origin and powerful message of this phrase, emphasizing its relevance today, especially as NAIDOC Week 2024 approaches.
We also explored why she chose speculative fiction as her storytelling medium to convey her thought-provoking narratives, exploring complex themes and pushing the boundaries of conventional genres.
“I grew up watching movies where Aboriginal people were not there in the future. We were genocided; we were extinct; we were mysteriously vanished. And I know that that is not going to happen.”
“One of the reasons is that there weren’t any Aboriginal people writing our stories that are set in the future.”
First Nations Classics series not only preserves significant literary works but also ensures their continued impact on future generations of readers.
