'Survival in our Own Land' is not a typical addition to Australian literature about ’Aborigines’. Nor was this volume written by some 'eminent authority on Aborigines'. It presents history in ‘South Australia’ fir the first time from the point of view of the Nungas, as many 'Aborigines' call themselves, showing Goonyas, as Europeans are called, as the invaders.
Almost one hundred and fifty Nungas have told how the Goonya invasion and they implementation of Goonya law and policy have affected us. For ‘South Australia’s’ centenary we were a chapter in a Goonya book. Now we are our own book.
Their stories, in prose and poetry, speak volumes of much that has previously been omitted from history and text books. Many have been told for the first time fot this book. Extracts from Goonya archival documents, many never before published, have also been included to illustrated Goonya attitudes and action which have caused the death of many of our peoples and the destruction of much of our culture.
Thirty five carefully researched chapters spanning from first encounter to the present day, deal with a wide range of issues. They include the imposition of clothes, rations and British laws; conflict and its causes; legislation including the detested ‘exemption’ provision; the burden of bureaucracy; land, land rights, and the British nuclear tests and Maralinga; education and language; employment and exploitation; particular effects of invasion and the alien society on men, women and children; missionary activities with separate chapters on the sixteen major mission; discrimination; identity and aspirations; and a very substantial chapter on achievements, awards and contributions in the arts, education, community service, military service and sport.
Three hundred and thirty two photographs and facsimiles from over forty private and institutional collections, many previously unpublished, are a feature. Other features are two specially drawn maps, extensive footnotes and a full list of sources. In addition to the comprehensive general index, there are also separate index of place names, both Nunga and Goonya, and a index of Nunga personal names.
The re-issue of this unique book, which was initiated by ‘Aboriginal’ people for ‘South Australia’s’ sesquicentenary, is a timely contribution to today’s debate on indigenous issues.
It provides a rare and unsurpassed insight, a vital help in understanding the indigenous position.
Contents:
Nunga Statements
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Nunga and Goonya
Part 1: In the Beginning
1. Before and after
2. From dignity to cast-offs: clothing
3. From bush tucker to poison: rations
Part 2: 'British Subjects'
4. The foreigners' laws
5. 'Outrages and affrays': conflict
6. 'Under the Act': legislation
7. The Nunga people's burden: bureaucracy
8. Punishment and police
Part 3: The Land our Mother
9. Losing our birthright
10. Aboriginal land rights by Bill Edwards
11. 'Atom bombs before Aborigines': Maralinga
Part 4: Goonya ways
12. Foreign ways within four walls: education
13. Losing our mother tongues: language
14. Work for wages: employment
15. Work for wages: exploitation
16. Men
17. Women
18. 'The hope for the future': children
Part 5: The Struggle for Souls
19. Bible and bell: The missions
20. Poonindie
21. Point McLeay
22. Kopperamanna and Killalpaninna
23. Point Pearce
24. Koonibba
25. United 'Aborigines' Missions and Oodnadatta
26. Colebrook
27. Swan Reach and Gerard
28. Nepabunna
29. Ooldea and Yalata
30. Umeewarra
31. Finniss Springs
32. Ernabella
Part 6: Nunga now and always
33. Second class citizens: discrimination
34. Making our mark in the Goonya world: achievements
35. Nungas now and always: aspirations and identity
Epilogue
References
Notes and sources
Indexes
- General
- Goonya Place Names
- Nunga Place Names
- Group Names
- Nunga Names
Review:
‘History breathes and lives in these pages. ‘Survival in our Own Land’ is one book which I recommend for all Australian to read and take to heart’ -- Mudrooroo Narogin, The Age
‘The Nunga’s story lives in these pages with a clarity and dignity rare
