Cirrus@Austlit

'David Marr’s intergenerational account of colonisation challenges us to think differently about truth-telling' (Introduction)

'A comprehensive, relevant, and accessible look at all aspects of Indigenous Australian history and culture.

'Indigenous Australia For Kids For Dummies is here to enlighten you about the history, struggles and triumphs of the diverse peoples that make up Australia's Indigenous communities. Did you know that Australia is home to the world's oldest culture? Experience 60,000 years of history and culture, plus, get right up-to-the-minute, with amazing facts about Indigenous sports and entertainment figures and info on what matters to Indigenous peoples today.

'This interactive book has loads of features that will engage and excite readers aged 10-15 years old - and their teachers and parents! Featuring profiles of celebrated Indigenous people like Cathy Freeman and Albert Namatjira, as well as fun research projects and hands-on activities that bring Indigenous Australia to life. Ever wanted to connect with your local Indigenous communities? This book will give you ideas about how you can connect with First Nations peoples and other interactive ways to extend your learning out of the book.

• Discover the rich culture, long history and special values of the world's oldest race
• Learn about Indigenous art, song, dance, literature and contributions to contemporary Australia
• Impress friends and family with your knowledge of Australian colonisation and Indigenous rights
• Figure out what's going on in the lives of Indigenous Australians today - and bust the most common myths

'This book is perfect for young readers who want to appreciate and understand the diverse, proud, and fascinating peoples that make up Australia's Indigenous communities.'  (Publication summary)

'When Indigenous lawyer Jasmine decides to take her mother Della on a tour of England’s most revered literary sites, Jasmine hopes it will bring them closer together and give her mother an inspiring break from the difficult life she has endured.

'Twenty-five years earlier the abduction and murder of Jasmine’s sister shocked and broke their tight-knit community in northern NSW. The legacy of losing their sister and daughter follows Jasmine and Della as they visit the homes of English literary greats such as Thomas Hardy, the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf, with Jasmine hoping to escape the challenges of the life she has carved for herself and Della, reflecting on the rich stories of her own life and people.' (Publication summary)

'Maralinga Tjarutja land, located in regional South Australia, was used for the British Nuclear Test Program between 1953 and 1963. The Maralinga Tjarutja people fought for the clean-up of contamination, for compensation and for the handback in 2009 of the Maralinga Village and Test Sites. They have since rebuilt traditional communities into vibrant, creative cultural communities that will ensure Maralinga Tjarutja custodianship of their lands into the future.

'New SAFC supported ABC documentary Maralinga Tjarutja tells this story through the eyes of the Maralinga Tjarutja people, who have lived on their lands for over 60 thousand years. The documentary shines a fresh spotlight on what is both a story of deep tragedy and also incredible resilience, celebrating the people, their tenacious spirit and cultural strength through which they fight to retain their country.'

Source: South Australian Film Corporation (Sighted: 4/11/2020).

'The 30-year career of this soft-spoken but fiercely intellectual artist is one of reclaiming Indigenous identities and rewriting history'

(Source : Abstract)

'One of Australia’s most interesting writers continues to evolve, in this punchy, relevant play about power and race in Canberra.' 

'An unlikely national hero, Alex is catapulted into government in a cynical power play. Used, abandoned and underestimated, now she's on a path that will send the political establishment into meltdown.'

Source: Screen Australia.

'Director Rachel Perkins leaves her mark on this satisfying spin-off of Ivan Sen’s film with the aid of a stellar cast and outstanding cinematography.'  (Introduction)

'Since Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen generation in 2008 the number of Indigenous children in out of home care in Australia has risen from 9,000 to over 16,000. Noongar woman Barbara was caring for her grandchildren when in 2013 her daughter Tiara was taken from school by welfare workers and returned to Queensland. At no time did FACS alert Barbara to any issues regarding Tiara’s welfare. Barbara fought for the next seven months to have her returned to her care. With the help of Grandmothers Against Removal (GMAR) Barbara won her case but knows there are possible long term consequences. “I can’t say that the time she was in FACS hasn’t changed her because it has. And I just hope that over time, we can help her deal with all the things she has to deal with. Sometimes I think that it’s too much for one little child.”'

Source: Pursekey Productions.

An interactive documentary telling the story of the shipwreck of Eliza Fraser on K'gari (later Fraser Island) from the perspective of the Butchulla people among whom she found herself.

'It shocks many people to learn that the number of Aboriginal children being removed today by welfare agencies is much higher than during the time of the Stolen Generations. After the Apology is a landmark documentary exploring the continued practice of child removal and the community response. Grandmothers Against Removal are fighting back and bringing the children home.' (Production summary)

After the Apology was broadcast on NITV on 14 October 2018. It will be available through NITV for sometime following the broadcast: https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/

'A vital Aboriginal perspective on colonial storytelling

'Indigenous lawyer and writer Larissa Behrendt has long been fascinated by the story of Eliza Fraser, who was purportedly captured by the local Butchulla people after she was shipwrecked on their island in 1836. In this deeply personal book, Behrendt uses Eliza’s tale as a starting point to interrogate how Aboriginal people – and indigenous people of other countries – have been portrayed in their colonizers’ stories. Citing works as diverse as Robinson Crusoe and Coonardoo, she explores the tropes in these accounts, such as the supposed promiscuity of Aboriginal women, the Europeans’ fixation on cannibalism, and the myth of the noble savage. Ultimately, Behrendt shows how these stories not only reflect the values of their storytellers but also reinforce those values – which in Australia led to the dispossession of Aboriginal people and the laws enforced against them. ' (Publication summary)