Kuracca
Us Mob Writing - First Nation Voices
All sixty-five poems in Kuracca equate to some sixty-five thousand years and beyond of what it means to be here in the now, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women representing their families, communities, heritage, their shadows, their promise, their matriarch, themselves. – Yvette Holt, Chairperson First Nations Australia Writers Network
All contributors are members of Canberra’s longest running Indigenous writers group called ‘Us Mob Writing’ and this book is dedicated to the late Wiradjuri Elder and award-winning writer, Kerry-Reed Gilbert.
“Powerful and palpable, Kuracca honours the work of a cultural powerhouse and matriarch
in style. The book showcases the strengths and fresh and exciting writing of a tightly bonded group. This is healing.”
With a strong focus on inspiring other First Nations peoples to write, the anthology includes both emerging and award-winning writers, a preface by Chairperson Us Mob Writing, Marissa McDowell and a foreword by Chairperson First Nations Australia Writers Network, Yvette Holt.
“A remarkable thought-provoking collaboration by Us Mob Writing group. Their poetry and
stories are next to none and Kuracca is a must read. The book pays tribute to Kerry Reed-Gilbert’s legacy as a First Nations leader. ”
Kuracca was supported through the ACT Government artsACT funding
Aunty Kerry Reed-GIlbert (24 October 1956 – 13 July 2019)
Image © Marissa McDowell
Apology Concert 20 Year Anniversary, Canberra 2018
This anthology Kuracca (the white sulphur crested cockatoo) is dedicated to the late Aunty Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Wiradjuri warrior, writer, poet, author, activist and leader in the writing arena. She has nurtured, inspired and encouraged First Nation writers from across the country. Aunty Kerry leaves behind a lasting legacy of literature and a generation of writers that she has supported.
Kuracca is Aunty Kerry Reed-Gilbert's totem, after which she named her business ‘Kuracca Consultancy’. The white sulphur crested cockatoo is a constant reminder of her presence. Aunty Kerry was a member of Us Mob Writing which was initially established in 1997 as a local Indigenous writers group. Us Mob Writing is one of Canberra's longest running published writing groups that continues to write contemporary prose, poetry, and literature.
Us Mob Writing would like to acknowledge Aunty Kerry Reed- Gilbert’s tireless effort in supporting Australian First Nation writers.
Contributors
Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Lisa Fuller, Joyce Graham, Samantha Faulkner, Samia Goudie, Elaine Patricia Lomas, Odette Fuller, Jessika Spencer, Marissa McDowell, Barrina South, Brenda Gifford, Yvette Holt (Foreword)
About Us Mob Writing
Us Mob Writing group is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander poets, writers and storytellers based in Canberra and the surrounding areas. Our members past and present have written poetry, plays, songs, documentary films, short films, television dramas, children’s story books, novels, short stories, biographies, and autobiographies.
Us Mob Writing group members have included major national and international literary award winners, a national literary awards judge, and multiple nationally and internationally published, performed, and produced writers, including winners of the David Unaipon Award.
Members' poetry and prose have been published in many journals and anthologies nationally and internationally, including in the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature. Their work has been translated to French, Korean, Bengali, Dutch and other languages.
Us Mob Writing have previously published By Close of Business, a poetry anthology in 2013 and Too Deadly: Our Voice, Our Way, Our Business in 2017. Us Mob Writing members continually promote and showcase First Nations Australian poetry nationally and internationally.
Book Cover Artist
Belinda is a Wiradjuri artist from Cowra, New South Wales. Her artwork has been commissioned and featured in a number of Government organisations, advertisements and is privately collected. The cover artwork commissioned for Kuracca, ‘Yinaagalang-dhu yarra giilang-galang ngurambang-ga’, is about many Indigenous women gathering together and telling story on Country. These women are from the bush, desert, saltwater and freshwater Country from across the nation.
The Wiradyuri translation is by Elaine Patricia Lomas and Letetia Harris. The Wiradyuri words were taken from A New Wiradjuri Dictionary compiled by Dr Stan Grant Snr and Dr John Rudder, 2010. The cover artwork commission was made possible through the assistance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Grant supported by the Australian Capital Territory Government.