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Notes
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Dedication: This dedication is to a person that helped me through the heartaches, pains and joys of my life. This woman has been a fighter of always and has never given up no matter what obstacles were put in front of her. She gave me strength, guidance and understanding of my own identity and spirituality. She is a true believer of the struggles of Aboriginal people and to keep culture strong in the hearts of our children. This woman has a gift and knowledge which is of no comparison to any person I know.
I dedicate this book to My Big Tidda, Cheryl Buchanan, thank you for helping my dream come true and I love you. To my mother and all my family, you hold a special place in my life. My daughter, who will grow strong, black and beautiful. My grandmother I have never seen, but I know she still walks with us every day.
Contents
- Abusei"Innocence taken as a child, made murri child grow reckless and wild", single work poetry (p. 5)
- Aunty Winniei"I remember as a young girl her pick me and others out of the gutters", single work poetry (p. 6-7)
- A.T.S.I.C.i"Hey I'm Black I work for ATSIC", single work poetry (p. 8)
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Burrii"Burri ripped through my sisters heart",
single work
poetry
(p. 9)
Note: Author note: Burri, aboriginal word for fire
- Biagai"My life was so alone until the 10th of May, 1989", single work poetry (p. 10-11)
- Biaga Kowinka Sylvea Buchanani"You are the beauty of this earth", single work poetry (p. 13)
- Chris Griffini"It is hard to find people who understand", single work poetry (p. 14)
- Captain Cook Tooki"Lots of Cultural heritage slowly lost.", single work poetry (p. 15)
- Cunnamullai"Landscapes cracked grass so brown", single work poetry (p. 17)
- Century Zinci"Native title is prostitution of our land", single work poetry (p. 18)
- Departingi"My emotions are starting to take over my heart", single work poetry (p. 19)
- Drowningi"We are all trying to keep our head above water", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Dedication: Aunty Irisi"We cry, we mourn time after time", single work poetry (p. 21)
- Day They Locked Up Lorenzo Ervini"This innocent man only came to give positive insight", single work poetry (p. 22-23)
- Desecration of a Nationi"Write up in the paper 26th January 1988 a time to celebrate", single work poetry (p. 24-25)
- Dedication: Phillip and Christinei"Strumming a guitar or mucking around Phillip always made me smile", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Dedication: Paul Pryori"I constantly sit and wonder why are our spirits blue", single work poetry (p. 27)
- Deaths in Custodyi"Never speaking from experience, just knowing our brothers aren't taking life,", single work poetry (p. 29)
- Dreamtime Realityi"As I sit in the bush inhaling the whistling breeze", single work poetry (p. 31)
- Domestic Violence Oh Why! No More!i"She sits there crying with eyes searching for an answer", single work poetry (p. 32-33)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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BlackWords : Writers on Identity
2014
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 14 no. 3 2014; The BlackWords Essays 2015; (p. 2) The BlackWords Essays 2019;'In the 1960s Oodgeroo Noonuccal (then Kath Walker) hit the literary limelight as Australia’s first published ‘Aboriginal poet’ and since then Aboriginal writers have used their work as a form of self-definition and to defend our rights to our identity. Many authors are inspired by the need to redress historical government definitions of Aboriginality, to reclaim pride in First Nation status, to explain the diversity of Aboriginal experience, and to demonstrate the realities and complexities of ‘being Aboriginal’ in the 21st century.'
Source: Author's introduction.
-
BlackWords : Writers on Identity
2014
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 14 no. 3 2014; The BlackWords Essays 2015; (p. 2) The BlackWords Essays 2019;'In the 1960s Oodgeroo Noonuccal (then Kath Walker) hit the literary limelight as Australia’s first published ‘Aboriginal poet’ and since then Aboriginal writers have used their work as a form of self-definition and to defend our rights to our identity. Many authors are inspired by the need to redress historical government definitions of Aboriginality, to reclaim pride in First Nation status, to explain the diversity of Aboriginal experience, and to demonstrate the realities and complexities of ‘being Aboriginal’ in the 21st century.'
Source: Author's introduction.