About the Book

With two Melbourne Councils banning Australia day and other council’s thinking about it, the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia has, once again, come to the attention of the media. Questions are raised about the meaning of reconciliation.

A new book, Return to Majaddin: a Kimberley homecoming speaks to the issue of Reconciliation from a different perspective. Ngarinyin Elder, Eddie Bear, who lives at Mowanjum Aboriginal community near Derby in the Kimberley shares his story with the assistance of Dr Robert Hoskin. Eddie is a natural leader and has been Chair of Mowanjum’s council on and off for many years. In 2013, he received the Horizon Leadership award for his contribution to the Mowanjum community and wider activities.  Robert has been relating to the Mowanjum people for over fifteen years including a PhD focussing on collaborative journeys to traditional lands.

The book presents Eddie’s family story, as they left their traditional lands at Majaddin to live and work on Kimberley Pastoral stations before settling at Mowanjum. Eddie’s story is not only an important record for the future, but will be relevant for those interested in our relationship with Aboriginal people.

The book includes many revealing first-hand accounts of what it meant for Aboriginal people such as Eddie and his family to share life and work with their non-Aboriginal mates. These stories are illustrated by historic photos, taken by a friend and head stockman, Sam Lovell with his brownie box camera.

The story embraces a time frame of over 80 years. The story ranges from traditional life at Majaddin, through work in the pastoral industry to further dislocation as the family shifted to Derby, and in recent decades the difficult task of re-connection with their traditional home. This return, like many other chapters in this story, demonstrates the importance of collaboration.

This book presents a history, told from an Aboriginal perspective; which clearly illustrates the continuing importance of land to Aboriginal people. The book also illustrates a ‘practical reconciliation’ as shared from an Aboriginal perspective: namely how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people can work together for a creative future.

Readers are thus invited to enter a Kimberley story of the First peoples, an experience most Australians unfortunately will never have the privilege of entering. This journey comes to life through the captured conversations, revealing the language and experiences told through the many first-hand stories from people living and working in the Kimberley.

For those visiting or living in the Kimberley, Eddie’s story offers a new awareness and understanding of the human face of the Kimberley.  The story will also be of interest to those who want to know more of this extraordinary part of Australia. The book gives a unique opportunity to appreciate what it means to be Australian from the perspective of the First peoples.

This book presents a history, told from an Aboriginal perspective; which clearly illustrates the continuing importance of land to Aboriginal people. The book also illustrates a ‘practical reconciliation’ as shared from an Aboriginal perspective: namely how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people can work together for a creative future.

Readers are thus invited to enter a Kimberley story of the First peoples, an experience most Australians unfortunately will never have the privilege of entering. This journey comes to life through the captured conversations, revealing the language and experiences told through the many first-hand stories from people living and working in the Kimberley.

For those visiting or living in the Kimberley, Eddie’s story offers a new awareness and understanding of the human face of the Kimberley.  The story will also be of interest to those who want to know more of this extraordinary part of Australia. The book gives a unique opportunity to appreciate what it means to be Australian from the perspective of the First peoples.