But it is far more recently that we have begun to share and
teach the cross-cultural perspectives of how our First Australians have always
been custodians and caretakers of the land, water, plants and creatures.
Now we aim for this more inclusive approach to our conservation efforts and thus welcome any support for these endeavours including books such as this one. I'm not terribly familiar with wildlife of Western Australia beyond the most well-known and these meelyu - spiny-tailed skinks - were new to me entirely.
What an absolute pleasure it is to be able to review this
wonderful, and very important, new book with its roots in Wiradjuri Country and
its language.
Author, Belinda Bridge, has a strong matrilineal connection
to Wiradjuri land and has long been passionate about preserving the language
and culture of her mob. She is well qualified to be sharing knowledge as she
holds a post-grad in Wiradjuri Language, Heritage and Culture, along with her
degree in Creative Writing and Professional Writing, and her TAFE teaching of
Wiradjuri Language.
This new book can provide entry level language for students
new to learning Wiradjuri across the year levels, and even adults. The six
cycles of Wiradjuri Country are determined by the moon and the calendar months
paired to each in this book are indicative only. These cycles can be changeable
when impacted by weather events.
The animals most active during these cycles are named and
illustrated but this may also change due to those fluctuations of the cycles.
For example:
dinawan = emu
galing-galing bu niganaga bu ganhang-girri = wet and hot and
becoming warm [December & January)
yili gariwang-girri = dry becoming cool [April & May].
Your jarjums will find it fascinating but all children,
whether on Wiradjuri lands or not, will also be intrigued. And what an
opportunity to explore the weather and wildlife of the Country on which your
kiddos live and learn. My middle daughter, Aunty Kim at her school on Country
(Lithgow PS), is passionate about teaching her students their language and
culture, and even though she has learned so much over the past six years she's
been living and working there, this will be still be of great value to her.
For those who are focused on a future of walking together,
and who are developing their own First Nations collections mindfully, this is
an extremely valuable resource.
The design is really engaging as well - with striking
illustrations from Peta-Joy Williams and a sense of connection and flow
throughout the book which, after all, is exactly what the learning is about -
from ancestors to the present to the future, from year to year, cycle to cyle.
It's a fabulous book conceived and executed with skill by
two Wiradjuri creators, making this even more significant, particularly for
those little fellas who are growing up in their own Wiradjuri culture.
An outstanding 5 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘rating
for this one.
River
brings life.
River
brings us together.
River holds
the stories.
In a
direct, deceptively simple and life-affirming way, Prayer For A River
celebrates the importance of water to all living things, and reminds us of what
we can do to acknowledge and support this valuable resource.
It’s not
often that we have the opportunity to read a story that is a prayer that is a
rumination that is a plea that is a devotion that is an invocation that is a
thanksgiving that is a poem.
Thank you to ALL who entered.
It's part of a First Knowledge series for younger readers, and based on award-winning adult books.
Illustrations are by Blak Douglas, a Dhungutti man who is an illustrator and designer, and who has won the Archibald Prize. His work here showcases design fantastically, with lots of colour and a unique look and feel.
Lots of wonderful alliteration adds rhythm to the text.
Wurrtoo the hairy-nosed wombat, alone underground for years, is always expanding his burrow on Kangaroo Island. Although nocturnal, he uses daylight to go and picnic at the top of the lighthouse to be close to the Sky, with whom he has fallen in love.
Aunty Munya introduces First Nations Seasons, which will undoubtably be followed by more glorious books of this kind. Stunning illustrations by the extraordinary talent of award-winning artist and illustrator Charmaine Leddon-Lewis, complement the excellent text, and command the attention of the reader.
There is so much for which to be grateful, but there are also times I am ashamed of our national behaviour and attitudes (there will be more on this in a review coming up in the next few weeks).
Especially, given I am the mother and grandmother of Wiradjuri
offspring, the national attitude towards our First Nations peoples is not only
a disgrace, but shows no signs of improvement.
Although set in Australia and referencing our First Nations peoples’ care for Country, the implications are global and reflect our maltreatment of precious forests.
Tree abuse and destruction threaten not just the survival of the creatures that call the tree ecosystems their homes, but by association, our very existence.
The Aboriginals knew this and
still practise their ancient lore via Songlines to ensure their mutual
survival. It is this sacred tree knowledge that indigenous writer, filmmaker and musician
Victor Steffensen endeavours to relay in The Trees.
The fluffle of bunnies who play together as a footy team are dispirited, because all their adversaries are bigger, faster and stronger than they are.
So, wily old Crow suggests a solution – he will go and find some other creatures to boost their side, and help the bunny team to play even better.
