“She was mytholised as the last of her people, she became the tragic face of the conquest of British colonists”

Many know the name Truganini and the harmful mistruth that she was the last surviving Palawa person, but very few know her story. By the time Truganini had learned to collect food and make shell necklaces, the colonial presence became not only intrusive but dangerous. She had experienced, witnessed, and felt the violence and brutalities inflicted on her people by the colony. By the time she was 17 she had lost her mother, sister, uncle and partner to violent attacks from the settlers. She left no children, but deep kinship connections and family remain within her community. Truganini and her tragic legacy…”