Wiradjuri advice
Hello,
I know your hearts are going to sink reading this so I apologise in advance!
I am a white British disabled woman and I’m writing a fictional story that features a Wiradjuri woman, c. 1925-1930. I want to know how to do this appropriately, respectfully and accurately.
My research suggests various things, one of which is that I shouldn’t be doing this at all. But how could I write about NSW, mid-1920s, and feature only white people? That would seem very wrong.
Other reading suggests I should contact the Wiradjuri Elders and get permission before even starting. I have tried to do this but the various places that I have contacted have, understandably enough, refused to supply any contact details so I am not sure how to do it?
It was always my intention to find a sensitivity/authenticity reader - I’ve done this myself for books featuring disabled characters - but in order to do that, I need to have a fairly polished manuscript, which I can’t do if I don’t have permission to write!
I have written a first draft and I really want to go about this correctly but I’m going round and round in circles. Have I got things wrong? Am I trying to do them in the wrong order?
I should also say I’ve never written a book before so this might go nowhere, but even if it never makes it beyond a few enquiry letters and then a lifetime on my laptop, I want to ensure I haven’t written anything damaging or inaccurate.
Any guidance would be hugely appreciated, with great thanks.