4 responses to “Silence that Speaks”

1. 

   mia farlane

   April 2, 2026

   Kia ora Iona, Thank you so much for sharing the video recording of Silence that Speaks: The Role (and Restriction) of the Arts in Responding to Suicide, in Aotearoa. I found it so moving and helpful. It was good to hear what both you and Nadine Hura said about the differences and similarities around how people grieve (and who can get bereavement leave or not). I loved you said about creating a space for people to kōrero or cry (or jump in the river) and what Hendrix Hennessy-Ropiha said about having a space where people could, if they wanted to, have tea and a biscuits and share their thoughts. Good to hear more about the anthology you edited, Elixir & Star Grief Almanac, Liminal Gatherings. On Saturday 4 April I’ll be letting my Farlane on Writing newsletter subscribers know about your call out for submissions (submissions window: between 20 April-20 May) for the Elixir & Star Press Liminal Gathering 2 . Mihi aroha, Mia

   Mia Farlane – author website http://MiaFarlane.com/about

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   1. 

      Iona Winter

      April 6, 2026

      Kia ora Mia, thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video. We had a great kōrero! I appreciate you sharing the ESP* submission details too – may we have some wonderful submissions for a liminal gathering 2. Nui te aroha x

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2. 

   Lynda Scott Araya

   April 7, 2026

   Kia ora koutou and thank you for putting together this presentation on the wretched business of suicide. The grief of the suicide bereaved is, as you know, stigmatized and silenced, but our voices must be heard and our representations of grief seen and acknowledged.

   What is still not acknowledged and which remains hidden and, even, uninvited, are the voices of those bereaved doing the grief mahi alone and who are often mocked, alienated, repressed, and ridiculed, with the narrative being, for women at least, that we are deranged and dangerous. For me, it has led my abusive husband to call me fat, unhinged, mentally unstable, a bitch, a ‘see you next Tuesday,’ for a previous boss to spit at me that I was ‘sick,’ and for a nasty website, complete with a noose, to be set up. I am doing grief without any whanau support at all, except for from my son, whose brother is dead. I have been mocked and reviled in my community, and my reputation tarnished. This continues almost nine years after my oldest son took his life.

   We too need our space.
   Thank you for your mahi and, Iona, for opening up submissions again. Your book is much needed.

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   1. 

      Iona Winter

      April 9, 2026

      Kia ora Lynda, thank you for your generous and honest comment. This kind of grief is a lonely place, and I’m grateful that spaces are beginning to open for us to kōrero about suicide bereavement – and we need more! Much aroha to you, Iona x

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