Bundjalung Gumbayngirr storyteller Dakota Feirer joins Vanessa Morris on Banksia to discuss debut poetry collection Arsenic Flower.

Exploring the legacy of generational trauma and cultural wisdom of First Nations people, Dakota speaks about using poetry to confront matters connecting to these, and how he feels fortunate to use this medium in such a way thanks to the Blak literary community that came before him, as well as using humour to discuss matters such as calculating Aboriginality through pieces Neville’s Quantum Theory and Easy Bake Reconciliation Cupcakes.

He also speaks about the formation of these poems across different lands and Countries including Yuin, Wodi Wodi, Dharawal, Jagera, Turrbal and Lenepe Land and how place contributes to shaping poems, as well as the importance of the spear poem series throughout the collection.

Dakota's work consists of poems, prose and spoken word performances that engage with Country, culture, resurgence and manhood and he believes in healing Country and our communities through art and storytelling.

Learn more about Arsenic Flower by Dakota Feirer here.