Riding the Black Cockatoo - Softcover

Danalis, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1741753775 ISBN 13: 9781741753776

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 2010

Synopsis

All through his growing-up years, John Danalis's family had an Aboriginal skull on the mantelpiece; yet only as an adult after enrolling in an Indigenous Writing course did he ask his family where it came from and whether it should be restored to its rightful owners. This is the compelling story of how the skull of an Aboriginal man, found on the banks of the Murray River more than 40 years ago, came to be returned to his Wamba Wamba descendants. It is a story of awakening, atonement, forgiveness, and friendship. "It is as if a whole window into Indigenous culture has blown open, not just the window, but every door in the house," says John Danalis. Part history, part detective story, part cultural discovery and emotional journey, this is a book for young and old, showing the transformative and healing power of true reconciliation.

About this title

About the Author:

John Danalis is the author and illustrator of Bath Monster, Dog 37, and Uncle Lou's Tattoos. He has illustrated numerous other titles, including Licking Lizards, Girl in the Cave, and Loku and the Shark Attack. Boori Monty Pryor is the coauthor of Flytrap and Njunjul the Sun.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 9 Up–While taking a course in Indigenous Writing, 40-year-old Danalis realized that the Aboriginal skull that sat on his family's mantle for years was morally wrong. He takes a hard look at the stereotypes and racism of his childhood and Australia as a whole and his own misconceptions of Native Australian culture and traditions. What follows is his account of first figuring out how and where to return it, and then the bureaucracy involved, the government's horrifying lack of respect for these people, and the appreciation and ceremony on the part of the Native people when it was returned. This memoir strikes the perfect balance between being informative and giving extraordinary insight into Aboriginal culture. The journey to take "Mary" home is long and winding, but it's an eye-opening ride for both writer and reader.Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
© Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Allen & Unwin
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1741753775
• ISBN 13: 9781741753776
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 276