‘Our Dreaming’ is a gentle reflective book that presents important aspects of First Nations culture through beautiful lyrical prose which is matched by the visually eloquent artwork.
A mother echidna asks her ‘goodjagah’ small child to walk with her as she tells the child our Dreaming as it was told to me by the Elders. She explains that each nation’s Dreaming is different and each has their own. It is kept alive through language and dance, how it lives in our stories, songs and art and how it is ‘our identity, purpose and responsibility to our community’.
The Dreaming is central to everything, creation, spiritual guidance, protection and belonging. It is not just in the past but all around now and in the future. It is ‘timeless’, something to be nurtured and shared. It nourishes when we come together and when we protect Country. It is ‘our way of being, belonging and sustaining land, culture and lore’.
The illustrations are created in watercolour, pencil, coffee and salt! The colour palette is subdued in keeping with the quiet and reflective nature of the prose. The echidnas are very appealing as the narrators of this important story, as are the many other native animals and plants that can be found throughout the artwork.
This is an important book in that it explains in quiet poetic prose the significance of the Dreaming to First Nations people. The weaving of the Gundungurra language throughout provides a spiritual awareness to the story. This is an excellent book to share with others.
Kirli Saunders is a proud Gunai Woman and award-winning international writer of poetry, plays and picture books. In 2020, Kirli was named the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. Dub Leffler is a descendent from the Bigambul people of South-West Queensland, Dub Leffler is one of Australia’s most sought-after illustrators of children’s literature.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
