Welcome to My Country

Description

Laklak Burarrwanga and family invite you to their Country, centred on a beautiful beach in Arnhem Land. Its crystal waters are full of fish, turtle, crab and stingray, to hunt; the land behind has bush fruits, pandanus for weaving, wood for spears, all kinds of useful things. This country is also rich with meaning. 'We can go anywhere and see a river, hill, tree, rock telling a story.' Here too is Laklak's own history, from her long walk across Arnhem Land as a child to her people's fight for land rights and for a say in their children's schooling. She and her family stand tall, a proud and successful Indigenous community.

Laklak Burarrwanga is a Datiwuy Elder, Caretaker for Gumatj, and eldest sister. As a teacher at Bawaka in north-east Arnhem Land, she has spent decades sharing her knowledge with the children of her community. Tourists and government staff and visitors from all walks of life have also learnt much from Laklak and her family. Laklak's co-authors in Welcome to My Country are her sisters and daughter (Ritjilili Ganambarr, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr, Banbapuy Ganambarr, Djawundil Maymuru), and academics Sarah Wright, Sandie Suchet-Pearson and Kate Lloyd, who have been adopted into the family. They have worked together since 2006, and completed two books and several articles.