Australia's first truth-telling commission has invited celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to engage with First Peoples in the wake of the "damaging and disrespectful" depiction of an Indigenous character in his new book.
National Indigenous Times understands the Yoorrook Justice Commission has written to Mr Oliver's agent and publisher.
Mr Oliver has apologised and withdrawn his children's book, Billy and the Epic Escape, which features a First Nations girl - Ruby - living in foster care in a fictional community near Mparntwe/Alice Springs, who is stolen to join a gang of children working for the story's villain.
Publisher Penguin Random House UK admitted there had been no consultation with any Indigenous organisation, community or individual before the book was published.
On Tuesday morning, the Commission invited Mr Oliver to engage with the body, with Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter offering the celebrity chef the chance to meet with First Peoples "as part of a learning and healing process".
"Too often we see people who mean well, cause harm or offence because they don't know the full story of our shared history in Australia," Commissioner Hunter said.
The sublot of Billy and the Epic Escape sees the villain promise funding for community projects to the adults who should be responsible for Ruby, before she is rescued by English children and tells them she can read people's minds and communicate with animals and plants because "that's the Indigenous way".
Despite the fact she is from Mparntwe/Alice Springs, Ruby uses words from the Gamilaraay people of NSW and Queensland.
"The publication of Billy and the Epic Escape shows why truth-telling is so important – to learn and understand history from First Peoples' perspective," Commissioner Hunter said.
"We hope this can be the start of a positive process that also helps foster greater understanding among everyday Australians."
View this post on Instagram
On Instagram, Commissioner Hunter quoted Wiradyuri author and publisher-at-large at Simon & Schuster's First Nations imprint, Bundyi Publishing, Dr Anita Heiss, who stated: "There is no space in Australian publishing (or elsewhere) for our stories to be told through a colonial lens."
In a response to the Commissioner's post, Dr Heiss said: "Had a lot more to say! As you can imagine."
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) said Mr Oliver indulged in the "trivialisation and stereotyping of First Nations people and experiences" in a way that is "damaging and disrespectful".
In a statement, Mr Oliver said he was "devastated" to have caused offence, apologising "wholeheartedly".
"It was never my intention to misinterpret this deeply painful issue," he said.
"Together with my publishers, we have decided to withdraw the book from sale."
