Five First Nations Stories that will change the way you see the past and the present.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the unceded, ancestral lands on which this book was created and on which people will read this book. We remember the Old People, the Ancestors who fought and died to protect these lands. We acknowledge the Elders, past present and emerging and we honour their wisdom and teaching.
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New Release
2022
Present Tense People
What’s it like to live as a young First Nations Australian in the 21st century? Present Tense People is a collection of stories by five young First Nations Australians. Koort, an employee of a mining magnate, Birrala, a nurse, Indiya, an education student, Thuwarri, an archaeology student and Warra, a recent school graduate all share a common bond of First Nations ancestry, a deep connection to country and hope for a better future. However, their lives are also linked by ancestral and intergenerational grief, stereotypes and racism. Inspirational, real and honest, these stories set in five different regions of Australia, have the power to challenge and possibly change your ideas about Australia’s history and what it means to be a First Nations warrior living in the present tense.
Available to buy on Amazon or order through IngramSpark
About the book
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Five young First Nations share their lives and family stories in Present Tense People. The title refers to how these Australian storytellers are living in the ‘now’, whilst still carrying generational trauma from invasion and the collective historical stereotypes about their culture and people.
The purpose of sharing these five personal stories is twofold: to educate Australians about their families and clans’ powerful resilience and to counter stereotypes by celebrating the rich assortment of colourful First Nations cultural identities and languages that exist in this country.
Each of their powerful stories upholds ‘truth telling’ about what’s happened generationally in their families and more importantly, what continues today. These modern warriors’ stories have the power to challenge and possibly change one’s ideas about Australia’s history and the diversity and richness of contemporary Indigeneity.
Thuwarri, storyteller
I hope this book and our stories will educate people about the truth of the historical events that happened. Our intention is to educate and help them build an understanding of who we are as a people and peoples. As well as to understand the real rawness of intergenerational trauma that still exists in our families today- a direct result of colonisation.And that 'getting over it' isn't quite that easy!
Indiya, Storyteller
This book is a miracle. What a wonderful journey it has been and what a beautiful gift to help people challenge their perspectives. Thank you for sharing our stories. And I have a feeling this book is going to bring so much good from truth telling. And much healing".
About the Storytellers
We’re all storytellers, really. That’s what we do. That is our power as human beings. Not to tell people how to think and feel and therefore know—but through our stories allow them to discover questions within themselves.
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~Richard Wagamese, Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations
KOORT
Koort is a Whadjuk, Ballardong and Koreng man who lives in Perth and works for a large mining company. He believes, "Education and culture are paramount - I'll give that to my two boys. Cultural revival is massive for blackfellas ….who they are….. their identity".
BIRRALA
Birrala is a Yawuru nurse from a small Kimberley town where growing up was paradise on earth. "Growing up we usually went camping and fishing near Walmadany. We would go all the time, like most weekends. It’s kind of like this big long stretch of reef. It's got this big coral reef that goes straight out for a couple of kilometres. When the tide goes out, we go get the biggest mob of oysters on there and mum would go reef fishing. And they had heaps of rock pools with the biggest mob of octopus, too. It was always good when we were little cos we could just go off on adventures. We didn’t have to worry about danger and it was just one big open space".
INDIYA
Indiya is a Nhanda teacher from the Murchison region in W.A. She is proud of her heritage.
"I took my cup of tea and walked slowly away from the camp, admiring the beauty of the landscape of my ancient home. As I approached a large gum tree, suddenly thousands of thidandi (red tailed bllack cockatoos) lifted off from the tree, blackening the sky like rain clouds. Above me, I felt the beauty and strength of these giants with their black plumage and scarlet tail panels. They floated in flight, puncturing the silence with their calls. I felt empowerment surge through me. I felt proud to be a Nhanda woman and tears filled my eyes in gratitude".
THUWARRI
Thuwarri is from both Yamaji Wajarri ancestral lineage and Maori ancestral lineages. She lives in a remote town in the midwest of Western Australia.
"I grew up in Yamaji country, specifically in Badimaya country, but have female ancestral lineage to my mother’s Wajarri country. There I was taught cultural knowledge from my grandparents, learning how to respect the land and all the beings that reside in it. Art, storytelling, learning language and practising culture are healing forces that I will now pass on to my children and future generations".
WARRANANY
Warranany is a young Gija man from a remote Kimberley community struggling to live between two worlds. After moving back home from the city where he'd completed Year 12, Warranany is left questioning his future.
"So after I graduate, I might come back for a visit or maybe not, but its better for me to go home, and take time off, then I might come back :)".
In the end, he is forced to make a choice.
Present Tense People stories uphold truth-telling about Australia's history, justice and self-determination:
Excerpt from Makarrata - The Uluru Statement from the Heart,
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Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination. We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations.