For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have cared for this country sustaining and maintaining it through the generations. through careful custodianship working in careful collaboration with nature. They farmed without fences, relied on indigenous flora and fauna rather than introduced species, harvested only what they needed and left the small to grow, and cared for Country in a way that non-Indigenous peoples are beginning to understand and appreciate.
Using a conversational tone that begins by inviting readers to investigate whose Country they are living on, and some of the natural features and inhabitants, this is an adaptation of the original by Bill Gammage and Bruce Pascoe whose books Dark Emu and Young Dark Emu have changed a lot of earlier perceptions about Indigenous farming practices that encourages them to understand the interdependence and symbiosis of habitants and their inhabitants and consider how to take better care of our environment today by using more traditional methods. Beginning with a chapter that explores the land before and after 1788, how it has changed and why, connections are made between then and now with questions and activities that promote understanding, respect and a desire to do better.
This is the third in this series that is an adaptation of that written for older readers which includes Astronomy, Innovation, Plants, Health, Design and Law so our younger readers have a better understanding of First Nations Peoples and their history and beliefs, wisdom, innovation and ingenuity and it would be an excellent extension to Prayer for a River and other books that focus on Connection to Country and traditional practices.
Like its predecessors, Songlines and Design & Building on Country, this one is also likely to be among the awards lists this year.
This review can also be found here.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
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What do you need to know to prosper as a people for 65,000 years or more?
Join writer and farmer Bruce Pascoe and historian Bill Gammage as they generously share their knowledge about the amazing way that First Nations people cared for Australia and how closely humans have been connected with nature for tens of thousands of years.
From the careful use of fire to sustainable hunting and farming, there is so much we can learn to make sure we have a beautiful country today and for the future.
The First Knowledges series for younger readers celebrates the wisdom and ingenuity of the First Peoples of this land. From baking the world's first bread to expertly managing Country so that everything had a chance to flourish, these books provide children with the building blocks to better understand our history and look to the future with fresh eyes.---from the publisher
148 pages 9781760763572 Ages 9-12
Keywords: Indigenous people, First People, multicultural, respecting others, Australian history, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old
