Interview with Rachel Bin Salleh
by Yohann Devezy

There is a striking authenticity to Rachel Bin Salleh, long time publisher at Magabala Books, Australia’s leading Indigenous publishing house. Her leadership in publishing Indigenous stories has significantly contributed to the literary landscape of Australia. Despite such a profound contribution to society, Rachel reflects on her life and achievements with humour and humility.

Growing up in Broome, an exceptionally multicultural pearling town in northern Western Australia, her family reflected the diversity of the place she was raised in. Her mother came out to Australia from the Catholic estates in Northern Ireland when she was a teenager, while her father was Aboriginal/Malaysian born and raised on Yawuru land. Raised in a Catholic/Muslim household along with her younger brother, Daniel, Rachel took to reading at a young age. Despite having what she describes as a quiet and carefree upbringing, racism within the town, particularly toward Aboriginal people, saw her develop a consciousness of race early on in life. Her father was a passionate advocate for Aboriginal rights and equality, driven by his desire to create a better world for his children. Reflecting on the racialised climate within Broome as a child, she likened it to an apartheid of sorts. ‘No matter what people say, Broome had this racial hierarchy. There was a blood quantum and caste-place for all of us. How much Asian, how much Aboriginal, how much European.’ Low-paid Asian migrant workers (and Indigenous people) were the backbone of Broome’s pearling industry for many years. These immigrant workers were exempt from the White Australia Policy that restricted immigration to white people only until the 1960s. Nevertheless, Asian and Indigenous communities faced discrimination and racism within the town including, for Indigenous people, the removal of their children who were of mixed descent.

Moving briefly to Perth for high school, she started her journey at university. Needing to support herself financially, Rachel took up part-time work in various industries, including retail – a bookshop. This decision contributed to her career as publisher.

‘I fell into publishing by accident because I needed a job and had no clue as to what Magabala was or what publishing was! The greatest experience that has informed my journey has been working as a bookseller at the Kimberley Bookshop in Broome. That gave me a nuanced understanding of the variety of peoples’ reading habits, and an insight into what people were wanting to read and connect with.’

Starting at Magabala at the age of 20 as a project editor, Rachel progressed through a range of roles before taking on her current role as publisher. Thinking about this journey into the literary world, Rachel recognises that this is a path not often walked by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ‘Publishing is not an industry that is open to everyone. Particularly People of Colour or those from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds. You often needed to know someone, as at its core this industry is elitist and class driven. While feeling as though she stumbled into her profession, storytelling has always been important to Rachel.

‘Books have always played an important role in my life since I was young. My mum always read poetry and the Classics when we were growing up. My grandmother always spoke to us in language, always sang to us, always told us stories at night. So, I grew up in a great storytelling household with two wonderful female storytellers – one that continued the Irish tradition and one that continued stories from our home Country.’

Rachel believes her mother’s passion for sharing literature in the household came from her own marginalisation and lack of civil rights in Northern Ireland.

Having been part of the publishing of many books, in 2018, Rachel put pen to paper to write her own story, Alfred’s War. Feeling the pressure to write and despite feeling as though she had nothing to say, Rachel wrote a powerful children’s book that unmasked the experiences of Indigenous soldiers returning to Australia from WWI. She says,

‘… with this book I wanted to tell a story that spoke to the civil rights and injustice that was denied to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander returned soldiers. They went from being treated and paid as equals to returning home and being denied access to greater public life, they were excluded from property grants, equality and sent back to live on the margins with no voice whatsoever.’

Much her like her father before her, Rachel was driven to quietly advocate for civil rights. For her, these silences especially around the historical treatment of Indigenous returned soldiers, were much like secrets a family keeps – the more they remain untold, the more difficult they become to talk about. For Rachel sharing this story with young people meant this national unacknowledged secret would be brought into the light. This is important for Rachel as she recalls growing up with many books but having access to only one story with representation about Aboriginal culture, people and history. For Rachel, this is the power of Magabala books; the ability to publish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, this does not come without its challenges.

Magabala published Dark Emu, an Australian best seller and multiple award winner. Bruce Pascoe, its author, has been the centre of national controversy particularly in relation to questions relating to his Indigeneity as well as the accuracy of Pascoe’s scholarship. ‘It’s a trade publication. People need to get a grip on reality.’ Reflecting on the publicity surrounding Dark Emu Rachel is less interested in buying into debates surrounding Pascoe’s cultural identity and focuses more on the debate that Pascoe’s work has created. She says, ‘Bruce is challenging the way we think about our history and the stereotypes pertaining to Indigenous intelligence, ingenuity and knowledge systems … these are the important conversations that we need to be having.’

One of the first manuscripts that Rachel edited at Magabala Books was understood to have been written by an emerging Indigenous author in South Australia. This book went on to win a prestigious award, and it was later discovered that the story was a literary hoax, written by a white, male, taxi driver.

Nevertheless, the focus for Rachel is on publishing Indigenous stories written by Indigenous people. The history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories being told by non-Indigenous authors makes the work of Magabala even more important. She says ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples need to be able to talk to their own experiences and be given the space and platform to be able to do so. More than that, these stories need also be listened to – properly listened to, to understand what is really being said. We seem to have lost the ability to listen. Voice and truth need to remain with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers.’

Thinking about texts deemed progressive in the past, Rachel highlights just how problematic they are in contemporary times. ‘You know, a book written by a non-Indigenous female more than 40 – 50 years ago, with an Aboriginal woman as its main protagonist, was seen as progressive and pushing the boundaries, and arrived with much fanfare. Now when we objectively look back, we see how terribly misguided it all was, full of rampant unconscious bias and how it fed into negative stereotypes.’ Rachel also points to the importance of Indigenous storytelling being for greater community good, an ideal that is more than the individual. ‘Words have impact and real-life consequences – not only on the individual but on certain communities at large. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been legislated against with words, that make up misguided ideals, that in turn make up inherently racist policies, that ultimately have controlled our beings and lives. We have known this truth about your words for over 233 years.’

While there is an ever-increasing interest in the works Magabala publishes, she rolls her eyes at this late ‘awakening’. ‘We’ve been doing this for so long and I can’t believe you just woke up!’. However, she sees great opportunity in sharing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories to the broadest audience possible.

Despite being a part of Magabala Books for many years, she is getting ready to move on. Thinking about succession planning, Rachel is committed to bringing in the next generation of Indigenous disruptors into the industry from all walks of life. She is excited to be able to hand over the reins to the next group of talented young people. She says, ‘I don’t want to become an obstructionist, cultural gatekeeper … the future is a young person’s game’. For now, amid global uncertainty, Rachel is keen to take things one week at a time. She doesn’t make plans – ‘too much commitment’. ‘Right now, I’m happy to be home, feeling grounded.’

Rachel Bin Salleh is the Publisher of Magabala Books. She won the inaugural Literary Lions Medal from Writing WA in 2020. Based in Rubibi/Broome, Rachel is descended from the Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley region, and has worked in publishing for over 20 years. She has worked with internationally recognised authors to present First Nations stories by, from, and for First Nations audiences. This includes Bruce Pascoe, Kirli Saunders, Alf Taylor, and others.

Yohann Devezy is an author who seeks to create beautiful books with a message of hope, strength and acceptance. He is driven by a desire to write stories that are to be shared across generations, stories that are underpinned by the embracing of inclusivity and diversity. He is passionate about LGBTIQ inclusion and broader social justice issues. Born in France, he lives in Perth, Australia where he is a chef and works as a teacher.