Review:
Nyuntu Ninti (What you should know) by Bob Randall and Melanie
Hogan
ABC
Books. ISBN 978 0733 32049 1
(Age: Primary school) A stunning book of photographs for younger
children, Randall shows how the Anangu people of Uluru related to their
land as he was growing up. The book was produced in conjunction with a
documentary film, Kanyim, an Aboriginal word which ties love and
responsibility. These twins of life in the desert ensured that the land
was cared for and now Randall is hoping that the negative attitudes of
today can be erased with Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people working
together showing love and responsibility for their environment.
Each double page spread shows an old photograph, taken a generation or
two ago, paralleling the culture today. So we have a wonderful photo of
an arid landscape coming alive with everlasting daisies, small shrubs
and trees after some rain has fallen, while on the next page is a group
of children taken several generations ago, showing how they use part of
the land. Further on, an older picture of an Aboriginal family digging
under a tree for food, is contrasted with a photo of Bob Randall
holding some grubs and wild peach that he has collected. Today and
yesterday are again contrasted. Each page shows the reader in some way
about the struggle for existence then and now, and makes the dedicated
reader look more closely at the land on which these people lived.
The book, with Randall's simply wise words on each page underlines the
ancient culture that is at the heart of Australia, and impels those who
spend time reading and thinking about the book, to seek a better future
for all.
Fran Knight
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