Life Lessons, Or Something like Them single work   life story  
Issue Details: First known date: 2018... 2018 Life Lessons, Or Something like Them
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‘I’m no good at dot painting. I tried my best in dance until the pressure on my thighs became too much – I was always more of a ‘lounging kangaroo’ myself. Even though I write with honesty and my story is my own genuine account of growing up as an Aboriginal person, I still question whether what I say will resonate with anyone. Whether this account is specific to me and me alone, and my rollercoaster of identity is really a one-person ride. I have never been relegated to the back of a bus. I have never been denied the right to vote in my lifetime. I have grown up with my family, in our own home, with the blood of both my parents in my veins. My struggle comes in different forms, and these small battles feel like mountains some days. I guess that is what this book is about, right? I hope I can contribute in some way. So here goes: my name is Shahni and I am a proud Jirrinja woman.’ (Introduction)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia Anita Heiss (editor), Collingwood : Black Inc. , 2018 12263094 2018 anthology life story autobiography Indigenous story

    'What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, attempts to showcase as many diverse voices, experiences and stories as possible in order to answer that question. Each account reveals, to some degree, the impacts of invasion and colonisation – on language, on country, on ways of life, and on how people are treated daily in the community, the education system, the workplace and friendship groups.

    'Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside newly discovered voices of all ages, with experiences spanning coastal and desert regions, cities and remote communities. All of them speak to the heart – sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect.

    'This groundbreaking anthology aims to enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today.' (Publication Summary)

    Collingwood : Black Inc. , 2018
    pg. 254-261
Last amended 24 Jul 2018 12:14:38
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