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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'...Message Stick is a collection of poems and short stories that defies the expected. Drawing from the contemporary, traditional and urban life experiences of established and emerging writers, Message Stick is an Aboriginal view of black culture, past, present and future. It is not manufactured dialogue by those 'who think they know', it is the many and diverse voices of Aboriginal Australia.' (Backcover)
Contents
- Child Protectioni"A wild undisciplined", single work poetry (p. 1)
- Colonial Foolsi"White washed with colonisation", single work poetry (p. 2)
- Innocent Guiltyi"In my defence and let me state I", single work poetry (p. 3)
- Confusioni"Money and trust are missin'", single work poetry (p. 4)
- The Last Goodbyei"His nostrils fill with the sweet smell of eucalyptus", single work poetry (p. 5)
- Earth Motheri"The women have come and they gather around", single work poetry (p. 6)
- Granny's Teachingi"At the age of five, Granny said to me", single work poetry (p. 7-8)
- Hawk and the Aboriginei"I see you soaring above", single work poetry (p. 9)
- Red Earth Alice Springs 1991i"Flew out of Brisbane", single work poetry (p. 10)
- Black Digger March Tall (Anzac Day 1993)i"Black Diggers this is your day", single work poetry (p. 11)
- A Perfect Worldi"I've seen a rainbow etched in my Eternity", single work poetry (p. 12-13)
- Dreaming Tracks Lead Me Wanderingi"Dreaming tracks lead me wandering", single work poetry (p. 14)
- Contemporary Koori Womani"Still they call me many things", single work poetry (p. 15-16)
- Once Was Enoughi"It was a Sunday in December in 1994", single work poetry (p. 17)
- The Colours of Aboriginalityi"I've been called Vegemite,", single work poetry (p. 18-19)
- The Koori Flagi"There's black for our skin and what we feel within.", single work poetry (p. 20-21)
- To Be an Aborigine...i"Unemployed, dark skin, and fat noses", single work poetry (p. 22-23)
- To Be an Aboriginei"Unemployed, dark skin and fat noses", single work poetry (p. 22-23)
- Hidden Destinyi"Did you read the poem about the blond", single work poetry (p. 24)
- Black Hearti"What about me?", single work poetry (p. 25)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Indigenous Stories Told Collectively
BlackWords : Indigenous Stories Told Collectively
2015
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The BlackWords Essays 2015; (p. 5) The BlackWords Essays 2019;In this essay Heiss discusses and explains the important role of anthologies in the creation of communities of writers and in acknowledging, consolidating and launching writing careers.
-
Indigenous Women Writing in Australia and North America
1998
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Women's Book Review , vol. 10 no. 1998; (p. 31-33) -
Message Stick in Book Form
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 22 October no. 162 1997; (p. 26)
— Review of Message Stick : Contemporary Aboriginal Writing 1997 anthology short story poetry
-
Message Stick in Book Form
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 22 October no. 162 1997; (p. 26)
— Review of Message Stick : Contemporary Aboriginal Writing 1997 anthology short story poetry -
Indigenous Women Writing in Australia and North America
1998
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Women's Book Review , vol. 10 no. 1998; (p. 31-33) -
Indigenous Stories Told Collectively
BlackWords : Indigenous Stories Told Collectively
2015
single work
criticism
— Appears in: The BlackWords Essays 2015; (p. 5) The BlackWords Essays 2019;In this essay Heiss discusses and explains the important role of anthologies in the creation of communities of writers and in acknowledging, consolidating and launching writing careers.
- Aboriginality
- Aboriginal dispossession
- Stolen Generations (Australia)
- Aboriginal relationship with the land
- Aboriginal Australians
- Aboriginal women
- Indigenous pride
- Didjeridus
- Colonisation of Australia
- Aboriginal culture
- Pride
- Aboriginal-White relations
- Self development
- The Past
- Profiteering & black markets