SPEAKING FIRE – FIRST NATIONS STORIES AND IDEAS
WHERE: Redfern Community Centre
29–53 Hugo St, Redfern NSW 2016
COST: $10–$15, free for Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes peoples.
Start: 12 pm
Speaking Fire: a gathering of First Nations truth-tellers and truth-listeners, celebrating survival, resistance and Blak brilliance.
Opening Ceremony, performances, talks, workshops, show, stories and conversation – stay for the whole program of events or feel welcome to drop-in.
Speaking Fire – Opening Ceremony: 12 pm–1 pm
Speaking Fire begins, as we have always done, with a Smoking Ceremony, clearing and cleansing the way forward for a day of discussion, deliberation and deliberate conversations.
Speaking Fire – Open Mic: 1 pm–2 pm
Redfern/South Sydney poets and story tellers spark the stage fire warming up the stage and microphones for the remainder of Speaking Fire.
Con-Verse: Radical Hope in Times of Helplessness: 2 pm–3 pm
Radical hope in times of helplessness invites First Nations writers into deep discussion and poetry sharing. Talk with Speaking Fire guests about what it’s like to live with/without hope in a global climate that has lost its way.
Write to Speak – Spoken Word / Hip Hop Wordshop: 2 pm–3 pm
Whether you’re a young person or young at heart, learn from seasoned performers SOLCHLD and MicKillalKid.
One on One – Talk: 3 pm–4 pm
Join Speaking Fire Curator Rob Waters as he delves deep into A Savage Turn, the searing debut poetry collection by Gamilaroi poet, folklorist and musician Luke Patterson. Luke’s debut poetry collection is out now with Magabala Books.
Our Voice – Our Way, Workshop: 3 pm–4:30 pm
Looking to learn and understand Indigenous languages from around the state? In cooperation with the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust language practitioners will present multiple language workshops in the Downstairs Space.
Speaking Fire Showcase: 5 pm–7 pm
Poets and musical acts, speak fire and sing Story as Indigenous people have since time immemorial. Watch, dance, sing-a-long and cheer with a powerful line of First Nations performers.
FEATURING: Ali Cobby Eckermann, Beni Yanthan (Yanbeni), Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, Jason Munro Jr, Jayden Kitchener-Waters, Laurie May, Lorna Munro, Luke Patterson, Merinda Dutton, NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust language practitioners, Rob Waters and SOLCHLD
CURATOR: Rob Waters
Content Warning: Most poetry events are all ages and some content may not be suitable for children. Performances may include strong language and / or adult themes.
Event times local time.
Speaking Fire artwork – artwork design Klo Davies, Ngundaan Marketing. Concepts: Rob Waters and Miles Merrill.
