Lowinné, a young Aboriginal woman, eagerly anticipates uniting with Tughanah now that he has come of age. But the two lovers still have to be patient. For countless cycles, their respective clans have converged during their grand annual journey to Trowenna, the majestic land at the Earth’s edge. During one such journey, Lowinné has an extraordinary encounter, compelling her to make a daring proposition to her father, the sage of the Nyu clan. This proposal risks shattering an age-old taboo. Has she genuinely received a divine message? Can her father grant her audacious request? Seeking clarity, the elder retreats into the wilderness, hoping to commune with the celestial patriarch.
However, the perpetual motion of the clans persists. The grand gathering at the Great Rainbow Serpent Mountain is on the horizon, signaling the day of unions. This significant event is a time of joy and sacred ceremonies for all southern clans. Lowinné ardently desires to honor Tjukuba, the primordial creation narrative, also known as the ‘Dreamtime’. But a sudden twist of fate catapults her life in an unforeseen direction, filled with challenges and moments of isolation. During these challenging moments, the celestial spirits unleash the fury of nature, threatening the very essence of their world.
How will the Nyu confront adversities that jeopardize their clan’s existence? From where can Lowinné summon the resilience to secure a future for her loved ones? What revered artifacts and ageless traditions will guide her?
The Forgotten Island Clan
Untouched for millennia, Australia remains a sanctuary for some of the world’s oldest and most captivating cultures: those of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Yet, by the close of the 18th century, colonization swiftly obliterated ancient lifestyles, shattering traditions and plunging entire communities into conflict, decay, and desolation. Even more tragic was the fate of a vast, isolated island to the south of the expansive continent: the utter annihilation of its original inhabitants.
Tasmania serves as the dramatic backdrop for the prehistoric series ‘The Forgotten Island Clan’. This narrative envisions the establishment and endurance of a fictional clan across numerous eras, both before and after Tasmania’s detachment from the mainland. Amidst climatic and demographic shifts, each installment unveils Aboriginal customs, myths, beliefs, and sagacity, narrated through the exploits of clan members confronting novel challenges. Indeed, the Traditional Owners of the ancestral lands of the southern island, Trowenna, have over time cultivated rituals, relics, and a profoundly rich culture whose intricacy and enigma we’re just beginning to glimpse.
How did the forebears visualize the world’s inception and successfully preserve their age-old traditions? Which strategies did they craft to sustain their existence, distant from what’s known as ‘civilization’? What insights can this remarkable legacy offer, especially as contemporary Australians rediscover and celebrate it? The series ‘The Forgotten Island Clan’ seeks to furnish credible responses, fortified by the authors’ research and creativity.