Kim Scott

Kim Scott is an Australian novelist known for her novels focusing on Indigenous Australians and the effects of cultural and political colonization. Scott was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1957 and is an Indigenous person hailing from the Noongar people. She is a renowned author and an important figure fostering the conversation around Indigenous issues in an increasingly serene but celebrated way.

Her writings often focus on uncomfortable truths, such as the realities of life on Australian soil for First Nations peoples. Through her stories, she unravels layers of colonialism and its effects, telling stories of historical trauma and injustice, offering readers a glimpse into the Indigenous way of life.

Scott’s most famous work is her Miles Franklin Award winning novel Benang: From the Heart (1999). The novel is split into three parts, the first of which is focused on the main character, Bobby Wabalanginy. The second part is the story of Bobby’s great great grandmother, Benang, the story of her Indigenous ancestors and their resilience in the face of colonialism and racism. Benang eventually settled on the farm owned by her white father, a place of refuge and healing.

The third part is set in the Australian financial year of 1996 where Bobby strives to re-establish ties with his people's traditions. In doing so, Bobby will not only honour his ancestry but also foster healing and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Through this book, Scott successfully conveys her messages of belonging and connection to a wider audience.

Scott has continued to write in the 21st century, releasing her 2012 novel, That Deadman Dance, which was also the winner of a Miles Franklin Award. The novel focuses upon a small group of Noongar people from the Western Australian coast whose land was colonised by Britain in 1841. Toby’s Point plot of land belonged to the Noongar people for generations, but are now forced to make a living by working for the other settlers. The novel follows the lives of the characters as they learn to negotiate their lives on the land that is not truly their own.

Scott wrote her most recent novel in 2017, Taboo. The story follows Nat, who, after being taken away from her family and sent to a Residential School in Toronto, decides to break away from traditional ways and create a new identity that is all her own. As she is entangled in a forbidden relationship with Art, her choices lead to a drastic outcome when her community discovers her hidden past. Through this narrative, Scott challenges concepts of gender roles, cultural taboos and forbidden relationships in a way that is both shocking and empowering.

Throughout her career, Scott has received numerous awards and accolades. She was the first Indigenous author to win the Miles Franklin Award and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014. She continues to write works and engage Austalia’s communities to recognise the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous people.

Kim Scott is a highly acclaimed author and an integral part of the Australian writing landscape. Although her work often focuses on difficult, dark truths, her writing offers comfort and resilience to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers, inspiring acceptance and understanding. Her literature is both emotionally and historically charged, empowering readers to think critically and engage with familiar issues in a sensitive yet important way.