Disclaimer: We are recommending these books as we believe they are beneficial. We do not necessarily endorse 100% of the contents. No book is perfect so we encourage you to remain critical (as you should when engaging with any kind of media).
Book title: Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture
No. of pages: 288
Readability: This book is generally very readable. Although the author sometimes uses specific agricultural terms that the common reader may not be familiar with, he clarifies them with explanations and occasional images. The font is large and easy to read.
What is this book about?
This book challenges the commonly accepted assumption that Aboriginal Australians lived an uncivilised hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The author collects evidence from Australian settlers’ journal entries and records that prove that Indigenous Australians practiced agriculture in some of the most sophisticated yet environmentally-friendly methods. The author then uses this evidence to further argue that the misrepresentation of Aboriginal Australians as ‘savage’ hunters who did not tend their land was – and still is – a lie that attempts to justify the brutal occupation of Aboriginal land. Dark Emu, as the author expresses, “is about Aboriginal food production, housing construction and clothing” that all point to an advanced and civilised way of living which is deliberately concealed.
Who should read this book?
Everyone can read this book, from those interested in agriculture, history, and/or Australian politics, to high school students who are being taught an incorrect narrative about Aboriginal lifestyle. It is especially recommended for those living in Australia or on any other occupied land.
Who is the author and/or publisher?
Bruce Pascoe is an Aboriginal Australian writer who was born and educated in Melbourne. Dark Emu was published by Magabala Books, an Aboriginal owned and led publishing house.
What is the best part about this book?
The best part in Dark Emu is the frequent comparison between the true state of Aboriginal life revealed by the records to the untrue account claimed and believed by most Australians today. Every time this book informs its readers something about sophisticated Aboriginal agriculture, the author reminds them of the completely opposite lies created by supporters of illegal British settlement. This teaches the readers to always assume and search for a backstory to claims made about Indigenous Australians, and it reiterates again and again just how drastically the Aboriginal reputation has been distorted to suit the desires of Australia’s inhumane colonial force.
Contents:
Introduction
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Population and Housing
- Storage and Preservation
- Fire
- The Heavens, Language, and the Law
- An Australian Agricultural Revolution
- Accepting History and Creating the Future
You can find Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and the Birth of Agriculture at your local library, local bookshop such as Readings and Dymocks bookshops, or multiple online stores including: Booktopia, Kobo, Zookal, and Catch.
