Here in Australia, we have the longest continuous civilisation, despite the systematic attempts to destroy this by the colonisers. I don’t understand why this is not something to celebrate, to engage with, to raise up and be proud of. Increasingly, acknowledgements of country are used in public settings, Australia Post has just updated the addressing guidelines to include Traditional Place names.
Songspirals is a book about sharing traditional women’s songlines from the Yolgnu women. Reading it feels like a conversation; there are the songlines, explanations of the songlines and the personal experiences of the authors Laklak Burarrwanga, Ritjilili Ganambarr, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Banbapuy Ganambarr, Djawundil Maymuru, Sarah Wright, Sandie Suchet-Pearson and Kate Lloyd.
Songlines was the joint winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Non-Fiction, was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award for Non-Fiction and long-listed for the Stellar Prize.
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