My keynote will address why Aborigines think differently, and what this means in terms of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing. My presentation will explore how my writing, and the pakana community, expresses Aboriginality and connections to Country in diverse and creative ways - from caring for Country, continuing traditional practices, reviving language and dance, and contemporary art: What was happening when I wrote hard political poetry, and why this changed when my focus was taken up to look more deeply into what being Aboriginal is all about. “My keynote for ASAL2022 will tell a story about the changes in my years of writing political papers and poetry to writing about Country and Aboriginal perspectives of philosophy. His written works now include plays, political papers and short stories and he has been published in many major anthologies. He wrote his first play, “Survivors” in 1984 after seeing Jack Davis’ play The Dreamers. Jim began writing poetry at an early age. He has had a long history in the public service in Aboriginal Affairs, as well as lecturing in Aboriginal heritage, culture and history, producing radio and television progams, and has also been a Writer-in-Residence at Risdon Cove in Tasmania and has travelled extensively in Australia visiting many remote Aboriginal communities. His working life included thirteen years at sea and over thirty years of formal involvement in the Aboriginal struggle. Everett left primary school at age 14 to begin work. His name puralia meenamatta meaning ‘paperbark’ from the Ben Lomond area, is taken from his main ancestry, the Plangermairreenner people. Playwright, poet, and political activist Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta is descended from the Ben Lomond people, a clan of the Cape Portland nations in North-east Tasmania.

Paperbark by Jack Davis