Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

April 2024

ISBN:9781761180651

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $34.99

Creation – Ngurra Nyujunggamu Wedgetailed Eagle, Crow and Black Kite – Jargurrungu Wangangga Garranyga
Nyinkara the Stoneman
Pelican and Quail – Jiruna Yuya
Bunggaliyarra – Fallen
Barrimirndi

Most would know that I read and review every First Nations children’s book I can get my hands on, and over the past decade there have been many beautiful ones, and some that were graphix. But this new one is something that is out of the usual box. Quite rightly described as ‘groundbreaking’ this is the collaborative creation of the Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation [based in the Pilbara region] to share some of their creation stories for a young and contemporary audience.

‘Yindjibarndi believe all creation is written in our landscape and was sung long ago, filling our Ngurra (Country) with sacred meanings and deep religious significance. At the dawn of time, Ngurra Nyujunggamu, the world was soft as clay and the sky was very low. Our Creator, Minkala, sang the songs from which all life and Ngurra evolved. These are some of our stories.‘

Our grandmothers and grandfathers sing our songs and tell our stories every day, just like our old people long ago sang songs and told stories to their children.

And now we are sharing them with you.

The Corporation commissioned Alex Mankiewicz to undertake the graphics. Alex spent time with the people listening to stories and discovering the landscape and has provided spectacular graphic narratives to detail the traditional stories.

The book also contains stunning photographs of the region, plus the artwork of a number of significant local artists. The book is a culmination of sorts of the long term project first begun by Lorraine Coppin in 1998, when she began to record local elder, Woodley King, and his grandson, Michael Woodley.

The corporation followed two years later and is committed to the preservation of the Yindjiarndi culture, including language, religion and cultural practices. By sustaining their own identity, they are then able to share it with others.

There is no doubt, that among many Australians, and particularly young people, there is a great desire to know more of our country’s traditional owners and their cultures, and also, the determination to protect our country – Ngurra, in the Yindjibarndi language – and care for its natural resources with greater respect.

Our First Nations people as successful custodians of country for many thousands of years are the best placed to lead the rest of us to this respect and nurturing of our natural surroundings.

It’s a fascinating book with additional material to the stories by way of introduction, bios and information about the contributing artists, the art group, corporation and illustrator plus the history of Lorraine’s project, as well as a glossary and index.

For those of you seeking to make more meaningful connections with First Nations culture within your classrooms, this would be a must-have. There will be many children who will be fascinated by both the stories (which are very powerful indeed), and with finding out more about the Pilbara region, as well as drawing comparisons with their own local traditional owners.

I would strongly urge you to add this to any collection, library or classroom. I only hope I have done it some justice with this review, as it really is quite extraordinary. There will be a Q&A with the creators forthcoming, so do stay tuned for that.

Highly recommended for readers from around 10 years up to secondary/adult.