Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Tara June Winch's Exploration of Aboriginal Identities in "The Yield" and "Swallow the Air"Rakočevič, Stania (Avtor) Čerče, Danica (Mentor) Tara June WinchIndigenous Australianssettler colonialismresistance literatureIndigenous identitiesIndigenous empowermentThis master’s thesis analyses Tara June Winch’s portrayal of Indigenous Australians’ identities in her novels "The Yield" and "Swallow the Air". The Wiradjuri author explores the lives of different generations of Indigenous Australians impacted by the events of colonialism and the ensuing systemic violence. My analysis presents her works as resistance novels and powerful cultural tools for Indigenous identity reclamation and empowerment. The first part of the thesis examines the history of settler colonialism in Australia and the lives of Indigenous Australians before and after the establishment of the Australian Federation. This socio-political exploration serves as a foundation for the subsequent analysis of Aboriginal resistance, particularly within the field of literature. I examine Indigenous Australian literature as a significant ground for resistance and underline the political importance of Aboriginal counter-discursive works. The second part of the thesis delves into a detailed examination of Winch’s novels. The analysis builds upon the argument that Aboriginal literary works that challenge dominant narratives and foster a sense of agency and strength among Indigenous Australians help pave the way for the social and political empowerment of Indigenous people. I examine how Winch portrays Indigenous identities within the context of colonial dispossession, oppression, racial marginalisation, and Indigenous resistance and how her stories challenge the dominant system that continues to silence Indigenous voices. The thesis demonstrates that by reclaiming Aboriginal identities, which have been repressed and misrepresented by the system established after the colonisation of the continent, Winch produces works that undermine the status quo and carve out a space for Indigenous people to express and fight for their autonomy and self-determination.20252025-02-12 07:45:17Magistrsko delo/naloga167266sl