Bruce Pascoe to launch 'Dreaming Inside' book
After eleven (!) years of publishing Dreaming Inside (poetry and writing by First Nations inmates in Junee Gaol) the Ngana Barangarai (Black Wallaby) team has worked in a second gaol for the first time. Now we’ve published a new book where First Nations women inmates are able to tell their stories.
The Dreaming Inside programme has produced a new book, writes Simon Luckhurst
After eleven (!) years of publishing Dreaming Inside (poetry and writing by First Nations inmates in Junee Gaol) the Ngana Barangarai (Black Wallaby) team has worked in a second gaol for the first time. Now we’ve published a new book where First Nations women inmates are able to tell their stories.
"The stories are powerful, moving and incredibly revealing," says Aunty Barbara Nicholson. "We weren’t sure what to expect when we went to Dillwynia. The stories by the boys are amazing in their own right, but some of the things the women wrote exceeded our greatest expectations. We’re incredibly proud to have supported them to write this book."
The title, Sista’s Green Sea Dreaming, was selected by Aunty Barb as an amalgam of suggestions made by the inmates. The "green sea" refers to the prison greens the women must wear.
The book will be launched by Dark Emu author Bruce Pascoe. In his book, Bruce finds evidence that Aboriginal people practised agriculture, engineering and building on a scale not recognised by European colonisers. He goes on to suggest that some of their sustainable practices should be applied to modern Australia. Dark Emu has been enormously successful and Bruce has also written a version for children (Young Dark Emu) and a documentary is also being made.
Bruce accompanied Aunty Barb on her visit inside Junee Gaol for the first Dreaming Inside volume in 2012. Hearing him speak at the launch of the Dillwynia book promises to be very special.
There will also be cultural performances and an auction of inmate artwork to support the project.
You can book via events.humanitix.com/sista-s-green-sea-dreaming-launch
(Please book, it only takes a minute and helps us keep track of numbers.)
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, Burelli St, Wollongong
When: Thursday, 6 July, 6-8.30pm
Sista’s Green Sea Dreaming follows the launch of Dreaming Inside Volume 11 at Wollongong Art Gallery in May. Read more here
