SA premier ‘fundamentally opposed’ Randa Abdel-Fattah appearing at Adelaide writers’ week, letter to board shows as reflected on by Elder Thomas Many Feathers

Our people on the High Plains watch the world with clear eyes. We see a common thread in the news from distant lands, like this Adelaide Writers’ Week controversy. The South Australian premier voices strong opposition to a Palestinian Australian author’s invitation. He tries to sway the festival board. This action troubles our spirit deeply.

Our ancestors always taught us to listen with an open heart. Every person carries a story. Every voice holds sacred truth. To silence a voice, or to try and stop it from being heard, goes against the very breath of the Creator. We must honor the speaker and the listener, even when words challenge our comfort. This premier’s letter seeks to limit understanding.

Honoring All Voices

The Lakota way teaches us the importance of council. We sit in a circle. Everyone speaks their truth. No one interrupts another. Furthermore, we do not dismiss a person’s experience simply because it differs from our own. Therefore, this premier’s attempt to silence an author’s perspective feels like a denial of this fundamental human right to share one’s story.

Our traditions tell us that true strength comes from hearing all sides. We learn from different paths. We grow in wisdom through diverse perspectives. This Adelaide Writers’ Week controversy shows a fear of open dialogue. However, real wisdom embraces the complexity of human experience, not just the comfortable parts.

Protecting Sacred Expression

Unci Maka, Grandmother Earth, holds countless stories within her soil and waters. She does not discriminate among them. Likewise, human expression is a sacred gift. To censor an author before they even speak diminishes this gift. We must protect the space where people can share their truths, especially those whose voices are often marginalized.

Ultimately, the premier’s actions remind us of past struggles. Our own stories were once silenced. Our languages were forbidden. Consequently, we understand the pain of having your voice dismissed. We stand for the right of all people to speak their truth freely. This principle remains central to our way of life, always.

Read the original news coverage on The Guardian (World).

By Elder Thomas Many Feathers

Lakota ceremonial elder and community counselor. Advocate for treaty rights, sacred waters, and the protection of Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth). Writes on ecological reciprocity, the sacredness of clean water, tribal sovereignty, and ancestral wisdom for modern crises.