Book groups provide an opportunity for readers to enjoy sharing with others, hearing other views and insights from books read. Like-minded people meet bimonthly at Shepparton Library to discuss books by Indigenous authors. People who belong to the group want to broaden their knowledge of the history of First Nations peoples and increase their understanding of the challenges Indigenous people face today.
Discussions are meaningful, engaging and insightful.
There is no shortage of books as new writers continue to emerge in a range of genres.
Novels include books by acclaimed author Melissa Lucashenko, with her captivating stories such as Too Much Lip, and the confronting and complex novel Song of the Crocodile by Nardi Simpson, which is filled with anguish, sorrow and injustice.
The books have the ability to open eyes to hearing stories not heard before, leading to inspiration for change.
Non-fiction books include biographies such as that of Indigenous leader Lowitja O’Donoghue and her epic lifelong journey fighting for rights and justice for all Indigenous Australians.
Valued member of the group, Aunty Kella Robinson, as a researcher, author and storyteller, contributes her knowledge and experience to enable insights and understandings from the issues and stories the group members discuss. In her own book Walking in the Footsteps of My Family, Aunty Kella shares her experiences growing up at Hillston in outback central NSW. As a Wemba Wemba woman, close to her culture and kin, Aunty Kella grew up with a strong sense of pride in her cultural identity. Listening to her stories help those present gain new insights and pass on to others what has been learnt.
A story of Aunty Kella’s grandfather is included in Black, White and Exempt, edited by Lucinda Aberdeen and Jennifer Jones. This book covers a part of history that highlights the effect colonisation has had on First Nations peoples. John Maynard introduces the topic: “Exemption is a powerful word for a concept and a policy that features in much of the Aboriginal experience since 1788. It is a term that has ruled over our lives in so many instances. Under the official policy of exemption, we were told that we could be exempt from being Aboriginal if we simply assimilated into wider non-Aboriginal society. But there was a Catch-22 within exemption: however hard we might try to meet the criteria of behaviour acceptable to white Australians, white Australians were never going to accept us as equal.”
Without the exemption certificate, Aboriginal people were excluded from school, military service, voting, employment, visiting hotels and even the streets of their towns.
Aunty Kella’s grandfather, Alf Kelly, was granted an exemption certificate in 1945, at the age of 76, so that he was able to receive the Commonwealth old-age pension. In order to become ‘exempt’, Alf had to prove he was of good character and vouched for by a reputable and responsible European. No problem for Alf, as he was held in high regard. He was also required to be ‘capable of earning his own living in the manner of a European’. Alf had certainly proved himself worthy of these requirements, having worked hard for 60 years. Aunty Kella says her grandfather ‘did not renounce his culture, nor cease association with other Aboriginal people’, although this was a requirement of the certificate. However, he did not pass on his beloved Ngiyampaa language, afraid for his family should they be heard speaking it. Alf had always kept his family moving to avoid removal of the children.
Aunty Kella shared a video of her family’s reunion gathering that reinforced the value of maintaining family and cultural connections.
However, Archie Roach has a different story. In his biography Tell Me Why, Archie tells how he did not escape removal. This led to the loss of family and culture, resulting in lifelong trauma. Archie said he didn’t understand why he became known as ‘that black bastard’ and still did not. Taken from his family at the age of two years, it took Archie almost a lifetime to find out who he really was. Reconnecting with his family, he asked: ‘Why did they do this to us?’
Stories like Archie’s enlarge our understanding of the effect of colonisation and the damage loss of family and culture inflicts. Archie’s story leads us to ask why the recent Closing the Gap report shows an increase in First Nations children in out-of-home care and an increase in incarceration and suicide. First Nations people have the solutions — their voices need to be heard and acted upon.
Many of the books read reveal how past policies were deliberately aiming to destroy family and connection to culture.
The list of First Nations authors will continue to grow as more and more writers emerge, challenging us with stories that increase our understanding and the need for change.
Goulburn Valley Libraries have a dedicated Aboriginal section. Anyone interested in joining Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group’s Book Group may contact respect.srrg@outlook.com for more information.