I haven’t been reading much but what I have been reading is Growing up Aboriginal in Australia, edited by Anita Heiss. It’s a collection of life stories for various First Nations People all over Australia and it is both interesting and informing to read. I feel that Australia does not engage with it’s Indigenous Australians and many of their stories are concealed from the general population, either by way of media or what is taught during class in school. Most of what I know and understand about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders comes from my degree minor and self-research, of that self-research, Growing up Aboriginal in Australia is just one of the texts I’ve picked up. I recommend reading it, not just because it’s informative but the stories it contains are really quite beautiful and dispel ignorant stereotypical notions of the First Nations People.

I haven’t yet finished the book and so am not yet going to do a ‘review’ of it, but so far I’m finding it a lovely and honest representation of Indigenous Australians compared with what is “understood” (taught/portrayed) by the general non-Indigenous population. Though I use the term ‘lovely’, don’t get me wrong, the book is filled with struggles that Aboriginal people have had since the land was invaded, but I don’t have pity for these stories because I believe they speak of strength and resilience unmatched in this country. It’s not pity but admiration I have, that despite the fact that the systems were built on them and against them, they are still here.

If you decide not to read the book but are even a little curious, I highly recommend reading the story of Don Bemrose. It’s early in the book, so you don’t have to flick too far.

Happy reading!