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Immerse yourself in the poetry of one of Australia's foremost Indigenous artists
My People is a compilation of the poetry of Oodgeroo, of the tribe Noonuccal, Custodian of the land Minjerribah. This collection of captivating poetry detailing the struggle of Australia's Indigenous peoples is more relevant today than ever before.
While she passed away in 1993, Oodgeroo remains one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal poets. Her poetry leaves little room to argue why that shouldn't be the case. Razor-sharp and incisive, while simultaneously haunting and beautiful, Oodgeroo's poems will enchant both young and old alike.
My People is a bewitching collection of Oodgeroo's poems that belongs on the bookshelves of every art lover and anyone with an appreciation of the written word.
List of contents
All One Race 1
Let Us Not Be Bitter 2
An Appeal 3
The Curlew Cried 5
Sounds Assail Me 6
Tree Grave 7
Dawn Wail for the Dead 8
Dark Unmarried Mothers 9
Not My Style 11
Last of His Tribe 12
The Child Wife 13
The Young Girl Wanda 14
Whynot Street 16
White Australia 17
Acacia Ridge 18
The Unhappy Race 19
Corroboree 20
Stone Age 21
Assimilation - No! 22
Integration - Yes! 23
The Teachers 24
Ballad of Totems 25
White Man, Dark Man 27
The Protectors 28
Intolerance 29
Bwalla the Hunter 30
No More Boomerang 32
Bora 35
Nona 37
The Food Gatherers 38
Aboriginal Charter of Rights 39
Gifts 41
Spinners 42
A Song of Hope 43
The Woor Woman 45
The Dawn Is at Hand 47
Municipal Gum 49
My Love 50
Colour Bar 51
Tribal Justice 52
Artist Son 54
Son of Mine 55
Dead Life 56
? 57
Jarri's Love Song 58
Community Rain Song 60
Namatjira 66
The Dispossessed 67
Interlude 68
The Bunyip 71
Understand, Old One 72
Gooboora, the Silent Pool 74
We Are Going 76
Cookalingee 77
United We Win 79
Song 80
God's One Mistake 81
Verses 82
Civilisation 84
Biami 86
Freedom 87
Return to Nature 88
Hope 89
Racism 90
I Am Proud 91
Then and Now 92
Daisy Bindi 93
The Past 95
Time Is Running Out 96
Balance 97
China ... Woman 98
Reed Flute Cave 99
Oh Trugganner! 101
Kiltara-Biljara* (Eagle Hawk) 104
Mongarlowe 106
Leave Straddie Unabridged 107
Custodians of the Land 108
Glossary 123
Biography 127
About the author
Author, poet and illustrator
Oodgeroo, of the tribe Noonuccal, was born in 1920 on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland. Formerly known as
Kath Walker, she lived and worked for most of her life, working tirelessly on behalf of Aboriginal people. She died in 1993.
Summary
Immerse yourself in the poetry of one of Australia's foremost Indigenous artists
My People is a compilation of the poetry of Oodgeroo, of the tribe Noonuccal, Custodian of the land Minjerribah. This collection of captivating poetry detailing the struggle of Australia's Indigenous peoples is more relevant today than ever before.
While she passed away in 1993, Oodgeroo remains one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal poets. Her poetry leaves little room to argue why that shouldn't be the case. Razor-sharp and incisive, while simultaneously haunting and beautiful, Oodgeroo's poems will enchant both young and old alike.
My People is a bewitching collection of Oodgeroo's poems that belongs on the bookshelves of every art lover and anyone with an appreciation of the written word.
