AustLit

'In this book Bill Neidjie – manager and negotiator of the Bunitj Clan Estate – which forms part of Kakadu National Park, relives the past in order to give some meaningful structure to the future. He attempts to help non-Aboriginal people understand the bond between Aboriginal people and their traditionally inherited land through poetry.' (Publication summary)

'Before people had heard of fire, they ate their food raw. In those days, giant kangaroos lived in the same land as the Wiradjuri tribe. The kangaroos were huge, over 10 feet tall, ate grass and leaves but didn’t like people and sometimes squashed them. The people were afraid. A brave young man, Wirroowaa, asked the powerful spirit call Byamee for help. First Wirroowaa had to prove his bravery by covering himself in white clay and doing a special dance. Although the clay could only be found where the kangaroos camped, Wirroowaa was successful. Byamee was pleased and blessed the clay. Byamee was pleased and blessed the clay. “Then Byamee caused the breeze to make two sticks rub together and burst into flame, starting a bushfire.” The fire chased away the kangaroos forever. “The people were very happy and now that they knew how to make fire by rubbing sticks together, the Wiradjuri never again had to eat raw food. These days the white clay is still sacred and the story of brave Wirroowaa is still told.”' (Publication summary)

'Margo migrated from Poland in 1963 and has since spent many years in the desert regions of Central Australia spending time with several Aboriginal communities. Her poetry is presented alongside photographs of everyone from singers Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach to artists Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Eunice Napangardi and Mary Dixon Nungarrayi, complemented also by photographs of some of the most inspirational landscapes in the country, from the Tanami Desert, the road to Kintore and the Simpson Desert from the air. She pays tribute to many of the people she encounters on her travels with poems for Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri, Pansy Napangati, Lily Hargraves, Edward Blitner, Ada Petyarre, sisters Gloria and Nancy Petyarre and well known artist, the late Emily Kame Knwarreye. The poetry and photographs tell the story of her learning about the land and the traditional owners of the country she and her family have made home.' (Source: Keeaira Press website)