When Edith Wright discovered the turbulent history of her great-grandfathers, who were some of the founders of the pearling industry in the waters off Broome, she knew she had to write down the storyEdith is a Bardi Jawi woman from the saltwater country of Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula.
When she was a little girl growing up in the Kimberley, her dad would tell her stories about his two European grandfathers.
Both men were pioneers in W.A's pearling industry, which required the skill - and forced labour - of Aboriginal people.
After many years spent researching her dad's stories, Edith has come to a new understanding of her family's complicated legacy.
Further information
The Burden and the Blessing is published by Magabala Books
Read more about the history of the W.A pearling industry
This episode of Conversations was produced by Elizabeth Kulas and the executive producer is Nicola Harrison.
