AustLit
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In this informative interview with Kim Wilkins (length 13 minutes 46 seconds), Ambelin Kwaymullina discusses various aspects of writing her series The Tribe and specifically her dystopian novel, The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf. The interviewer and author are careful to avoid significant spoilers.
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Sections
Timing
Main Topics
Themes 0:00-4:12 - Link between speculative/dystopian fiction and Indigenous experiences of invasion
- Teenage sense of belonging, injustice
- Notion of resolving complexity – Indigenous processes
- Significance of the theme of memory in the story
Worldbuilding for Fantasy 4:12-8:16 - 'Inventing' gifts for the ‘illegals’ – links to Indigenous culture and personal family members
- The ethics of using Indigenous stories in fiction [a very important segment of the video]
- Using the general principles underpinning how Aboriginal peoples understand the world to write the story of Ashala Wolf
- Advice to emerging writers on worldbuilding
- Revisiting of the ethics of appropriating the stories and traditions of vulnerable peoples
Storytelling Craft 8:16-13:46 - Planning: pros and cons of allowing a novel to develop organically vs detailed pre-planning
- Challenging of the way characters are discussed as it impinges on the real-life experience of marginalised peoples
- Tips for creating a strong, complex female character – especially drawing on an Indigenous leadership style
- Use of first person narration
- Saying good-bye to characters
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Teachers view the interview during the planning stages of a unit, based on The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf, The Tribe series, or on fantasy writing more generally. This viewing will assist in determining a focus for your teaching. Then, during the unit students can view aspects of the video at relevant moments (see timings above) to clarify aspects of the novel or providing a starting point for further exploration (e.g., using Indigenous stories in fiction). This video would be useful for use in a flipped classroom also.
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At this point, teachers might find it useful to read an essay, ‘The Cultural and Historical Background to The Tribe series: An Essay from the Author' – see pages 4 to 5 of the Walker Books Education Resource Booklet. The essay provides useful background written by the author, Ambelin Kwaymullina, that can be drawn on during the planning phase of the unit and will be especially useful to non-Indigenous teachers. It also expands on some of the ideas raised in Part 2 of the video. Extracts from the essay might also be useful to prompt student discussion.
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