Tasma Walton, an actor and author known for 'I Am Nannertgarrook', alongside Darren Rix and Craig Cormick, co-authors of 'Warra Warra Wai', explore the reclaiming of Indigenous narratives and identities. They discuss the impact of colonialism on First Nations families and the urgent need to restore traditional place names. Anthony Sharwood shares insights from his work on the Polish freedom fighter connected to the mountain. The conversation highlights storytelling's power in fostering cultural understanding and the emotional resilience inherited from women's histories.
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insights INSIGHT
Reclaiming Indigenous Place Names
Indigenous peoples used original place names and stories to reclaim their land and culture.
Cook's renamed places erase cultural identity but repopulating original names restores connection to country.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Personal Story of Kidnapping
Tasma Walton's novel tells the story of women and children kidnapped by sealers and taken far from their homeland.
She wrote it through a deeply personal, first-person narrative to honor her ancestor's experience and reclaim identity.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Indigenous First Encounter Stories
Indigenous tribes communicated about the arrival of Cook's ship using smoke signals and messages.
Some believed the white crew were ancestral ghost people, reflecting deep cultural interpretations of first encounters.
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How Indigenous Australians Discovered Captain Cook and what they tell about the coming of the ghost people
Craig Cormick
Darren Rix
This book explores the journey along Australia's east coast to reclaim Indigenous place names and stories that were displaced by Captain Cook's naming conventions. Through extensive interviews with elders and traditional owners, the authors reveal the diverse perspectives of First Nations people on the arrival of the Endeavour. The narratives share creation stories and sacred sites, highlighting the cultural significance of the landscape and the impact of colonial encounters. The authors aim to contribute to truth-telling and reconciliation by presenting the history of Australia from the perspective of its First Nations people. It serves as a resource for understanding the rich heritage and deep connection to country that has been passed down through generations.
Kosciuszko
Kosciuszko
Anthony Sharwood
This book explores the life of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a Polish engineer and freedom fighter, and his connection to the naming of Australia's highest mountain. It delves into Kosciuszko's involvement in the American Revolutionary War and his stance against slavery. The book examines the colonial versus post-colonial lenses on the landscape, raising questions about the traditional custodians of the country. It also addresses the conflicting perspectives on the mountain's name, involving the Australian-Polish community and the Ngurugu people. Ultimately, the book encourages readers to consider the dignity of the traditional owners and their desires for the land.
I Am Nanut Garruk
I Am Nanut Garruk
I Am Nannertgarrook
Tasma Walton
This book tells the story of a group of women and children who were kidnapped by sealers from Mon Mar (Point Nepean) in the 1830s. It aims to reclaim the identity of the author's ancestor by telling the story through her worldview. The narrative explores the impact of colonial violence on First Nations people and the loss of connection to country. The book reclaims language and celebrates the rich, ancient depth of women's lore. The author invites readers into this worldview, emphasizing the power and sustenance that comes from connection to place and spirit.
The ghost people arrived by boat. They never left. But the stories of first encounters and what came next live large, 250 years later, in First Nations families and communities. An ambitious journey to reclaim the names and stories disappeared by Captain James Cook, but never lost. A deeply personal excavation of herstories and the women wrenched from their Country by colonial sealers. A Polish freedom fighter and the fight for the mountain that bears his name. Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to talk ghosts, reclaimation and revival with four authors at the 2025 Sorrento Writers Festival.
Speakers
Darren Rix and Dr Craig Cormick, co-authors of Warra Warra Wai: How indigenous Australians discovered Captain Cook and what they tell about the coming of the Ghost People (Scribner Australia. 2024)
Tasma Walton, actor, screenwriter, novelist and author of I am Nannertgarrook (S&S Bundyi, 2025) Anthony Sharwood, journalist and author of Kosciuszko: The Incredible Life of the Man Behind The Mountain (Hachette Australia, 2024)
Thanks to festival founder and director Corrie Perkin and the Sorrento Festival production team.
Big Ideas