Song spirals : sharing women's wisdom of country through songlines / Gay'wu Group of Women, Laklak Burarrwana [and seven others

A rare opportunity to connect with the living tradition of women's songlines, as recounted by Yolngu women from far north Australia.Joint winner of the 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Non-Fiction.Shortlisted for the 2020 Victorian Premier's Award for Non-Fiction.'We want you to come with us on our journey, our journey of songspirals. Songspirals are the essence of people in this land, the essence of every clan. We belong to the land and it belongs to us. We sing to the land, sing about the land. We are that land. It sings to us.'Aboriginal Australian cultures are the oldest living cultures on earth and at the heart of Aboriginal cultures is song. These ancient narratives of landscape have often been described as a means of navigating across vast distances without a map, but they are much, much more than this. Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, to make and remake the life-giving connections between people and place. Songspirals are radically different ways of understanding the relationship people can have with the landscape.For Yolngu people from North East Arnhem Land, women and men play different roles in bringing songlines to life, yet the vast majority of what has been published is about men's place in songlines. Songspirals is a rare opportunity for outsiders to experience Aboriginal women's role in crying the songlines in a very authentic and direct form.'Songspirals are Life. These are cultural words from wise women. As an Aboriginal woman this is profound to learn. As a human being Songspirals is an absolute privilege to read.'- Ali Cobby Eckermann, Yankunytjatjara poet'To read Songspirals is to change the way you see, think and feel this country.'- Clare Wright, award-winning historian and author'A rare and intimate window into traditional women's cultural life and their visceral connection to Country. A generous invitation for the rest of us.'- Kerry O'Brien, Walkley Award-winning journalist Joint winner of the 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Non-Fiction.
Shortlisted for the 2020 Victorian Premier's Award for Non-Fiction.

'We want you to come with us on our journey, our journey of songspirals. Songspirals are the essence of people in this land, the essence of every clan. We belong to the land and it belongs to us. We sing to the land, sing about the land. We are that land. It sings to us.'

Aboriginal Australian cultures are the oldest living cultures on earth and at the heart of Aboriginal cultures is song. These ancient narratives of landscape have often been described as a means of navigating across vast distances without a map, but they are much, much more than this. Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, to make and remake the life-giving connections between people and place. Songspirals are radically different ways of understanding the relationship people can have with the landscape.

For Yolngu people from North East Arnhem Land, women and men play different roles in bringing songlines to life, yet the vast majority of what has been published is about men's place in songlines. Songspirals is a rare opportunity for outsiders to experience Aboriginal women's role in crying the songlines in a very authentic and direct form.

'Songspirals are Life. These are cultural words from wise women. As an Aboriginal woman this is profound to learn. As a human being Songspirals is an absolute privilege to read.' - Ali Cobby Eckermann, Yankunytjatjara poet

'To read Songspirals is to change the way you see, think and feel this country.' - Clare Wright, award-winning historian and author

'A rare and intimate window into traditional women's cultural life and their visceral connection to Country. A generous invitation for the rest of us.' - Kerry O'Brien, Walkley Award-winning journalist Joint winner of the 2020 Prime Minister's Award for Non-Fiction. Shortlisted for the 2020 Victorian Premier's Award for Non-Fiction. 'We want you to come with us on our journey, our journey of songspirals. Songspirals are the essence of people in this land, the essence of every clan. We belong to the land and it belongs to us. We sing to the land, sing about the land. We are that land. It sings to us.' Aboriginal Australian cultures are the oldest living cultures on earth and at the heart of Aboriginal cultures is song. These ancient narratives of landscape have often been described as a means of navigating across vast distances without a map, but they are much, much more than this. Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, to make and remake the life-giving connections between people and place. Songspirals are radically different ways of understanding the relationship people can have with the landscape. For Yolngu people from North East Arnhem Land, women and men play different roles in bringing songlines to life, yet the vast majority of what has been published is about men's place in songlines. Songspirals is a rare opportunity for outsiders to experience Aboriginal women's role in crying the songlines in a very authentic and direct form.'Songspirals are Life. These are cultural words from wise women. As an Aboriginal woman this is profound to learn. As a human being Songspirals is an absolute privilege to read.' - Ali Cobby Eckermann, Yankunytjatjara poet 'To read Songspirals is to change the way you see, think and feel this country.' - Clare Wright, award-winning historian and author 'A rare and intimate window into traditional women's cultural life and their visceral connection to Country. A generous invitation for the rest of us.' - Kerry O'Brien, Walkley Award-winning journalist 'we Want You To Come With Us On Our Journey, Our Journey Of Songspirals. Songspirals Are The Essence Of People In This Land, The Essence Of Every Clan. We Belong To The Land And It Belongs To Us. We Sing To The Land, Sing About The Land. We Are That Land. It Sings To Us.' Aboriginal Australian Cultures Are The Oldest Living Cultures On Earth And At The Heart Of Aboriginal Cultures Is Song. These Ancient Narratives Of Landscape Have Often Been Described As A Means Of Navigating Across Vast Distances Without A Map, But They Are Much, Much More Than This. Songspirals Are Sung By Aboriginal People To Awaken Country, To Make And Remake The Life-giving Connections Between People And Place. Songspirals Are Radically Different Ways Of Understanding The Relationship People Can Have With The Landscape. For Yolngu People From North East Arnhem Land, Women And Men Play Different Roles In Bringing Songlines To Life, Yet The Vast Majority Of What Has Been Published Is About Men's Place In Songlines. Songspirals Is A Rare Opportunity For Outsiders To Experience Aboriginal Women's Role In Crying The Songlines In A Very Authentic And Direct Form. 'songspirals Are Life. These Are Cultural Words From Wise Women. As An Aboriginal Woman This Is Profound To Learn. As A Human Being Songspirals Is An Absolute Privilege To Read.' -ali Cobby Eckermann, Yankunytjatjara Poet 'to Read Songspirals Is To Change The Way You See, Think And Feel This Country.' - Clare Wright, Award-winning Historian And Author 'a Rare And Intimate Window Into Traditional Women's Cultural Life And Their Visceral Connection To Country. A Generous Invitation For The Rest Of Us.' - Kerry O'brien, Walkley Award-winning Journalist PART 1: Wuymirri1: Mum2: Country3: Mapping4: Becoming together5: HarmonisingGumatj and Warramirri versionsPART 2: Wukun1: Gathering of the Clouds2: Singing the clouds3: Clouds forming4: Thundercloud5: Clouds separating6: RainingPART 3: Guwak1: Being a messenger 2: Sky Country3: This is political 4: The spirits are in everything5: Living in today's worldPART 4: Wititj1: Settling of the Serpent2: Belonging and longing to be with Country3: Wapitja4: Women's knowledge and wisdomPART 5: Gong-gurtha1: Keepers of the flame2: Passing it on to the kids3: The fire on the horizon4: Order5: Connecting generationsEnding with the windGlossaryAcknowledgements NotesIndex Wuymirri -- Wikun -- Guwak -- Wititj -- Goŋ-gurtha