Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives WILL build strong minds, places and futures – Cara Shipp 2014

Book sharing

Fantastic contemporary poet Originally from Kaurna nation, SA, adopted by

Eckermann family, history of disconnection, trying to reconnect with family

Series of connected poems exploring an Aboriginal woman’s trauma as her whole family is massacred

Produced as part of the black&write! Indigenous writing and editing projecthttp://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/awards/blackwrite

Crisp, hard-hitting in its simplicity/understatement – but very intelligent and well crafted

Yr 10 -12, would really have to study whole text

Ygambeh/Bundjalung woman born in Brisbane Author of ‘Too Flash’, ‘Killing Darcy’ Central character Jo –raw, funny, real Divorcee Jo buys her own plot of land and feels proud

of herself – she’s beat whitefellas at their own game, it’s traditionally her country and it’s legally recognised as hers

She becomes the centre of a native title dispute between different Aboriginal groups, and finds love on the wrong side of the native title dispute

‘Aboriginal English’ interspersed with some Aboriginal language, warm wisdom of elders, spiritual

Bit of swearing, sexual references, so Year 10-12 (maybe 9), easy read

Sally Morgan’s daughter, Ambelin Kwaymullina, from WA (Palyku)

Set in the future, dystopian, mixed with Dreaming Post-Apocalyptic/sci fi - “The Reckoning” destroyed

civilisation, and a new race is rising up with unique abilities. Main character is guided by the ancient spirits of the land

Heroine, Ashala, strong, feisty, no reluctant heroine, and such a connection to nature

Themes to do with “illegals” and detention centres – many parallels can be made to current politics

Complex, lots of twists, probably good for extended Year 8-9

Wollongong-born, of Wiradjuri, Afghan and European descent

Powerful, stunning writing – rich imagery Aboriginal dialect and snippets of language Beauty of dreaming stories, memories,

juxtaposed against gritty reality -disintegrating communities

Alcohol, domestic violence– best for Yr 10-12 NSW syllabus:

http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/english/area_of_study/belonging/3717/swallow_the_air.htm

Yarning Strong series 3-4, 5-6 (also suitable for 7-8) Professional support important resources Lesson plans for Jali Boy on my blog

Picture books: fantastic resources for any level Examples of art – contemporary and traditional Clare Bradford, Deakin Uni, has done a lot of analysis of

race relations as represented in picture books – useful stuff to bring in to a senior classroom (see Unsettling Narratives: Postcolonial Readings of Children’s Literature, 2007)

Other gems:

Mark Olive’s Outback Café It’s more than art, National Museum of Australia Aboriginal Sydney – Aboriginal Studies Press

Broome, Australia’s oldest independent Indigenous publishing house

Please peruse the latest titles!

I will be reviewing some titles on my blog!