Jen Evans is hoping her recent literary success helps to path the way for her to become a role model for Queer and Aboriginal writers.
Dr Evans, who is currently Aboriginal Research Fellow at the College of Health and Medicine, recently received the Tasmanian Aboriginal Writer’s Fellowship at the 2022 Tasmanian Literary Awards
“Being awarded the literary prize has been a huge surprise and honour, something that I never would have dreamt possible,” Jen said.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Dr Evans is a Queer Dharug woman living on, and with connections to, palawa country, lutruwita (Tasmania), and a Blaq social and cultural geographer whose research and advocacy blends technology, Lcountry and queerness to create safe spaces for Indigenous methodological research.
Jen hopes the Fellowship will provide an opportunity for her to become a role model for Queer and Aboriginal writers.
“The Fellowship has given me the confidence to know that in my writing, I am asking the right questions in the right way,” Jen said.
“That all our collective efforts to challenge colonisation are not only interesting but fundamentally essential.
“I can go forward exploring my Queerness and Blakness in my writing and open up my questions and ideas for discussion.”
Jen attributes her recent success to her family, which has continued to provide much inspiration for her to pursue her career goals.
“My family has always inspired me. I come from a large creative family, where we encourage each other to think without boundaries and have a go without being afraid,” Jen said.
“This attitude is a tribute to our ancestors whose endurance and tenacity to survive and thrive has been passed down to us and will continue to do so.”