Fremantle Launches Search for Storytellers in Backyard Truth-Telling Initiative
The City of Fremantle, in partnership with the Centre for Stories, is actively seeking participants for its upcoming Backyard Truth-Telling Series, a unique storytelling program scheduled for May. This community-driven initiative aims to create intimate, respectful spaces in various backyards across Walyalup/Fremantle, where individuals can share personal narratives about the profound impacts of colonisation.
Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue and Understanding
Mayor Ben Lawver emphasised the program's goal of fostering connection and deep listening. "Backyard Truth-Telling is an opportunity to connect, learn, and listen deeply as truth-telling involves truth listening," he stated. "It's an inclusive community event in intimate settings around Walyalup, which will allow individual stories of truth and resilience to be heard in a calm and respectful space." The series brings together First Nations storytellers with non-Indigenous and culturally diverse community members, promoting a shared understanding of historical and contemporary experiences.
Building on Past Success and Looking to the Future
Since its inception in 2024, the Backyard Truth-Telling Series has featured 13 storytellers from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds. Past stories have included personal family colonial histories, experiences teaching Aboriginal children in the Kimberley, and journeys of reconnecting with Aboriginal identity. Luisa Mitchell, project manager for First Stories at the Centre for Stories, highlighted the transformative power of storytelling. "The Walyalup community members who attend the events become the holders of these stories and by the end, we are all united in looking towards the future and dreaming up the kind of nation we want to become," she explained.
Opportunities for Emerging and Established Storytellers
The program is now calling for expressions of interest from both emerging and established Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian storytellers. Selected participants will benefit from three storytelling workshops in April, facilitated by mentor Ron Bradfield Jr, a Bardi and Jawi saltwater artist and storyteller. These workshops will be held at the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, providing a supportive environment for developing narratives.
An information session for interested storytellers is scheduled for March 7 from 10am to noon at the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre. Expressions of interest are open via the city's website until March 25 at 5pm. Participants chosen for the series will receive a fee for their involvement in the workshops and for sharing their story at one of the May backyard events, recognising the value of their contributions to this important community dialogue.
