Physical description

This book is a collection of Victorian Indigenous Elders' life stories and oral histories. The Elders share their stories in an attempt to ensure that both sides of Australia's history are finally heard. These stories tell of cultural resistance on missions, of defying assimilation laws, of forever moving around to save children from the welfare. They document the development of both fringe and urban communities and work in the Aboriginal rights movement. They clarify the ways in which these experiences have affected the individual authors along with the indigenous population in general. Also included in the book is a brief history and analysis of the legislation, policies, attitudes and strategies that have affected the lives of the authors and their families since colonisation. This aspect provides an historical perspective, encouraging a deeper understanding of the Elders' stories. Reconciliation can only eventuate with an understanding gained from hearing and including the voices of Indigenous Australians.

Contents:
The writing team
Indigenous elders: keepers of knowledge; custodians of land and culture
Aboriginal lands
Missions and reserves
Growing up running from the welfare /? Aunty Olive Jackson
Respecting our Elders /? Aunty Lola James
If your mother didn't tell you, then your grandmother did! /? Uncles Les Stewart
Don't dwell on trouble /? Aunty Audrey Critch
There are my people /? Aunty Gwen Nelson
We were all cousins, more or less /? Aunty Iris Lovett-Gardiner
Aboriginality is about culture, not colour /? Aunty Dianne Phillips
Take up the opportunities we struggled to make /? Aunty Frances Gallagher
Home /? Aunty Eileen Alberts
We were supposed to forget our Aboriginality /? Aunty Gwen Garoni
Not enough heart to say sorry? /? Uncle Brian Kennewell-Taylor
Learning from indigenous elders: Keeping the traditions, keeping the culture strong; Since time immemorial; Invasion: the tide ran red; The flood of legislation; Stolen children; Cultural resistance: holding on to children traditions and land; Organised resistance: a movement is born; The 1950s: community resistance to race laws; The price of assimilation; The Aboriginal rights movement; After the flood: self-determination; Turning the tide
Bibliography
Appendix. Cultural custodianship: developing an indigenous methodology.

Inscriptions & markings

maps, colour illustrations, b&w photographs