Whale Writer with Jodi Edwards and Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

Local First Nations author Jodi Edwards has been teaching us the Dharawal language at the festival these past couple of years. But she is also continuing to pursue her own academic research into the relationship of coastal First Nations people to the whale population that migrates past our beaches. Jodi will come to True Story fresh from delivering the keynote speech at the international Society for Marine Mammalogy’s first ever conference in Australia. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about her groundbreaking work with Lillian Rodrigues-Pang.

About Jodi Edwards

Dr. Jodi Edwards is a Yuin woman with Dharawal kinship who is dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous culture and language. A certified Wayapa® Wuurrk Practitioner, she is renowned for her cultural tours that share Aboriginal stories through the lens of Mother Earth. Her advocacy for improved cultural education has spanned over two decades, earning her numerous accolades, including the 2022 Illawarra Regional NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Person of the Year. Dr. Edwards, who earned her PhD in Indigenous Studies from Macquarie University, is also a curriculum advisor for the NSW Education Standards Authority, and a passionate advocate for awakening the Dharawal language.

Learn more about Unbroken Whispers project:

https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/project/4-3/

https://www.theillawarraflame.com.au/news/unique-project-to-reawaken-the-whale-songline

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/aunty-jodi-grew-up-learning-about-her-connection-to-whales-now-shes-leading-a-project-to-protect-them/rhfdkev2j

Buy Ezy Dharawal Language books: https://kooricurriculum.com/collections/ezy-series?srsltid=AfmBOopUKjUbeqiI00vIwmkCUAE-YMlx-iAoNBiVIYoIJFr_Gnrk0vDs

ⓘ True Story Festival info + tickets

True Story Festival 2025 is on November 15-16 at Coledale Community Hall. For more info go to ⁠https://southcoastwriters.org/true-story-festival⁠

Super Early Bird Tickets for True Story Festival 2025 are available now at: ⁠https://events.humanitix.com/true-story-festival-2025⁠

Credits

Recorded by Two Heads Media

Curated by Caroline Baum, Sarah Nicholson (South Coast Writers Centre) & Genevieve Swart

With thanks to The Illawarra Flame

The South Coast Writers Centre acknowledges the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we offer our respect to elders past, present and emerging.