On Truth-Listening: In-Conversation with Savannah Travia-Dann, Luisa Mitchell and Sisonke Msimang
Since February 2025, Centre for Stories has been working towards testing, researching, and delivering a truth-listening and truth-telling project, First Stories, run in partnership between First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities across Western Australia to build lasting relationships, storytelling skills, and healing.
The First Stories team is led by Luisa Mitchell and Savannah Travia-Dann, with support from Project Advisor Sisonke Msimang, First Nations Writing Programs Director, Casey Mulder, and an Aboriginal Advisory Group.
To learn more about First Stories and the sister program Solid Connections, explore our progress in 2025.
In this in-conversation, the First Stories team yarn about truth-telling and truth-listening to provide context on the story behind Portside Review: Methodologies of Listening.
Sisonke Msimang is the author of two books and many essays on race, gender and creativity, and she writes, speaks and facilitates conversations about belonging. Formerly Head Story Trainer at the Centre, Sisonke was the Project Lead for First Stories in 2025, focussed on storytelling as a practice of building community between First Nations and CaLD communities. She continues to provide strategic oversight for the team.
Originally born and raised in Broome, WA, Luisa Mitchell (Shaw) is a Nyungar-Anglo-Australian author with a background in film, podcasts and events now living on Whadjuk Nyungar Boodjar. Her debut book of poems is launching in 2025 with Fremantle Press, titled Song of the Shadow of a Seed: a reflection on her ancestry, colonial histories and decolonial processes. She is managing the First Stories project.
Savannah Travia-Dann is a Nyul Nyul woman from Winawaal Burr (near Broome, WA). She is an independent artist who enjoys weaving the spiritual and physical worlds through her artistic practice. She is supporting the First Stories Project through events and storytelling workshop coordination.