Indigenous editing mentorships
State Library recognises that the number of, and opportunities for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the publishing industry are inadequate.
The mentorships recognise that there are challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the publishing industry that include cultural expectations and sensitivities around:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and a risk of cultural and identity appropriation by non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- the collaborative and communal nature of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander story telling and knowledge
- the commercial interests of the publishing industry and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and and their communities, and
- ensuring that the unique voice that could be captured in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing is not sacrificed to editorial considerations around structural styles and consistency, readability and standardised English.
The mentorships present an unparalleled opportunity to produce Indigenous editors of Indigenous writing.
Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of the Indigenous Editing Mentorships.
- Ellen van Neerven-Currie
- Linda McBride-Yuke
Since completing the Editing Mentorship program, Ellen and Linda have been appointed to SLQ staff as black&write! Indigenous editors.
We hope to offer further Indigenous Editing Mentorships in the future.
For further information, email indigenous.writing@slq.qld.gov.au or phone 07 3842 9985.
The black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project has been generously supported by:
- Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund
- Arts Queensland
- Queensland University of Technology through the Creative Industries Faculty (Writing) and the Oodgeroo Unit.
