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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Notes
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Also published as an educational kit with cassettes and teachers' resource notes.
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Originally told by Nganalgindja in the Gunwinggu (Kunwinjku) language.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also braille, sound recording.
Works about this Work
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Spreading the Seeds : Australian Indigenous Publishing for Young People
2009
single work
essay
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , May vol. 24 no. 2 2009; (p. 8-12)Sheahan-Bright explores '...the growth in publishing by Indigenous writers and publishers, and of writing on Indigenous cultural themes, and some of the issues which confront publishers when dealing with Indigenous writers and illustrators' (8). The article begins with some background, and points out that despite a cultural and artistic heritage that dates back thousands of years, Indigenous writing and publishing has not been widely recognised in mainstream Australian until most recently and Sheahan-Bright says "This is despite their having been engaged in colonial conflict and later subject to the...assimilation policies which discouraged involvement with European notions of literacy" (8). She discusses the origins of the Indigenous publishing houses Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP), Institute of Aboriginal Development (IAD Press), Magabala Books, Keeaira Press, Black Ink Press, Indij Readers and briefly refers to the above mentioned texts in the section entitled 'what's being published'. This leads into a summary of the five main issues in relation to Indigenous publishing and the 'need for authenticity in writing about Indigenous peoples and culture' (11). Sheahan-Bright lists these issues as 'respect for country and Indigenous control of material', relevance of copyright issues, lack of understanding from non-Indigenous Australians, the need to consider 'protocol, specific authority, appropriation' and finally, to develop an awareness of the social factors that contribute to the socially and economically disadvantaged position of the majority of Indigenous Australians. She argues that 'knowledge of Indigenous culture is a genuine part of Australian culture ...and the publishing output should reflect that' (12). However, she concludes that while 'there has been growth in publishing Indigenous voices in English', in general, 'there are many miles still to be travelled and many seeds still to be sown' (12)
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Know the Illustrator : Raymond Meeks
1988
single work
column
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 3 no. 4 1988; (p. 20-21) -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , vol. 32 no. 3 1988; (p. 32)
— Review of Pheasant and Kingfisher 1987 single work picture book -
Nude Boy in Cover-Up
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 2-3 April 1988;
— Review of Where the Forest Meets the Sea 1987 single work picture book ; So Much to Tell You 1987 single work novel ; Pheasant and Kingfisher 1987 single work picture book ; The Long Red Scarf 1987 single work picture book ; The Landing : A Night of Birds 1987 single work children's fiction ; Deezle Boy 1987 single work novel ; My Place : The Story of Australia from Now to Then 1987 single work picture book ; Digging to China 1988 single work picture book ; Obernewtyn 1987 single work novel ; A Paddock of Poems 1987 selected work poetry ; Looking Out For Sampson 1987 single work children's fiction ; The Makers 1987 single work novel ; Birk, the Berserker 1987 single work children's fiction ; Tucking Mummy In 1987 single work picture book -
Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards: 1988 Judges' Report
1988
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , vol. 32 no. 3 1988; (p. 5-12)
-
Nude Boy in Cover-Up
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 2-3 April 1988;
— Review of Where the Forest Meets the Sea 1987 single work picture book ; So Much to Tell You 1987 single work novel ; Pheasant and Kingfisher 1987 single work picture book ; The Long Red Scarf 1987 single work picture book ; The Landing : A Night of Birds 1987 single work children's fiction ; Deezle Boy 1987 single work novel ; My Place : The Story of Australia from Now to Then 1987 single work picture book ; Digging to China 1988 single work picture book ; Obernewtyn 1987 single work novel ; A Paddock of Poems 1987 selected work poetry ; Looking Out For Sampson 1987 single work children's fiction ; The Makers 1987 single work novel ; Birk, the Berserker 1987 single work children's fiction ; Tucking Mummy In 1987 single work picture book -
Untitled
1988
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , vol. 32 no. 3 1988; (p. 32)
— Review of Pheasant and Kingfisher 1987 single work picture book -
Know the Illustrator : Raymond Meeks
1988
single work
column
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , September vol. 3 no. 4 1988; (p. 20-21) -
Spreading the Seeds : Australian Indigenous Publishing for Young People
2009
single work
essay
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , May vol. 24 no. 2 2009; (p. 8-12)Sheahan-Bright explores '...the growth in publishing by Indigenous writers and publishers, and of writing on Indigenous cultural themes, and some of the issues which confront publishers when dealing with Indigenous writers and illustrators' (8). The article begins with some background, and points out that despite a cultural and artistic heritage that dates back thousands of years, Indigenous writing and publishing has not been widely recognised in mainstream Australian until most recently and Sheahan-Bright says "This is despite their having been engaged in colonial conflict and later subject to the...assimilation policies which discouraged involvement with European notions of literacy" (8). She discusses the origins of the Indigenous publishing houses Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP), Institute of Aboriginal Development (IAD Press), Magabala Books, Keeaira Press, Black Ink Press, Indij Readers and briefly refers to the above mentioned texts in the section entitled 'what's being published'. This leads into a summary of the five main issues in relation to Indigenous publishing and the 'need for authenticity in writing about Indigenous peoples and culture' (11). Sheahan-Bright lists these issues as 'respect for country and Indigenous control of material', relevance of copyright issues, lack of understanding from non-Indigenous Australians, the need to consider 'protocol, specific authority, appropriation' and finally, to develop an awareness of the social factors that contribute to the socially and economically disadvantaged position of the majority of Indigenous Australians. She argues that 'knowledge of Indigenous culture is a genuine part of Australian culture ...and the publishing output should reflect that' (12). However, she concludes that while 'there has been growth in publishing Indigenous voices in English', in general, 'there are many miles still to be travelled and many seeds still to be sown' (12)
-
Children's Book Council Awards
1988
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 105 1988; (p. 26-28) -
Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards: 1988 Judges' Report
1988
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , vol. 32 no. 3 1988; (p. 5-12)
Awards
- 1988 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards — Picture Book of the Year
- 1988 winner CBCA Book of the Year Awards — CBCA Award for New Illustrator Won by Ramond Meeks for the illustrations.
- Oenpelli / Gunbalunya, West Arnhem Land, Arnhem Land, Top End, Northern Territory,