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About the author
Ellen van Neerven is a indigenous writer, editor and literary advocate from Queensland. Van Neerven (they/them) is known for their work in fiction, poetry and non-fiction, often exploring themes of identity, culture, community and connection to Country. As the editor of Flock, they brought together stories from 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers representing different generations and experiences. The anthology includes works by both established and emerging First Nations authors, showcasing the diversity, creativity and strength of Indigenous storytelling across Australia.
You can read more about the author here: ➥ Ellen van Neerven Wikipedia Profile
About the novel
Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now, edited by Ellen van Neerven, is a collection of 20 short stories by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors from different generations. The anthology explores a wide range of First Nations experiences, histories and perspectives, with stories set in the past, present and future.
Through themes such as connection to Country, family, identity, community, resilience and the ongoing impacts of colonisation, the collection highlights the diversity and strength of First Nations storytelling. Each story offers a unique voice and style, creating a rich and thought-provoking portrait of First Nations life and culture across Australia.
Historical Context:
From the early 1900s through to the 1970s, Australian federal and state governments, religious organisations, and child welfare agencies, systematically removed thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities. This traumatic practice gave rise to the term "Stolen Generations."
The policies that authorised these removals inflicted lasting harm, creating intergenerational trauma that continues to resonate within First Nations communities today. Official government policy aimed to assimilate Indigenous Australians into a predominantly white national identity. These assimilation measures produced devastating consequences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultural traditions.
Analysis
Dive deeper into the real-world social dynamics and structural analysis of the text:
➥ Analysis Article: The Stolen Generations AITSIS
➥ News Article: Flock first nations stories then and now
➥ News Article: Flock first nations stories
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