These short stories in easy to read format give children a glimpse into the worlds of Aboriginal people from different backgrounds. They come from different areas within Australia including Stradbroke Island off the coast of Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.
From Western Australia there is ‘My Son’s Dreaming Story’, given to Oodgeroo’s son by Gloria Brennan, who was a Wongyr woman. Photographs of the desert around the Warbuton Ranges illustrate the variety of the landscape.
Moodrooroo’s (Colin Johnson) ‘A Snake Story for Kids’ is a modern story about Waugyal, a being who lives in the rivers and looks after people when they cross flowing water. This story is accompanied by a beautiful photograph of the side-necked turtle that lives in the same environment as Waugyal – marshy woodlands near the Swan River.
‘Tonah Leah, the Fire Spirit’ and ‘The Moon and the Snake’ were written by Jim Everett of the Plangermairreener people of Eastern Tasmania. His stories involve conversations with children, where stories are retold.
Note that the word ‘tribe’ is used throughout, but is not a word used today. On page 10 there is a contradiction: ‘Traditional [sic] Aborigines had no written language so they always drew with symbols’.
The Nunukul, also spelt Noonuccal and known also as Moondjan, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of three Quandamooka peoples, who traditionally live on the northern portion of Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island in the area of Amity Point, Queensland. Plangermairreener – language group of Tasmanians belonging to the land midway down the east coast of Tasmania.
Oodgeroo belonged to Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island). Born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska (3 November 1920 – 16 September 1993), she was an Australian poet, political campaigner for Aboriginal rights, artist and educator.
Series: More legends of our land
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
