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https://theconversation.com/yorta-yorta-elder-wayne-atkinson-reflects-on-a-life-of-activism-and-the-quest-for-justice-268775>
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Review: Beyond the Meeting of the Waters: A Yorta Yorta Life Story – Wayne
Atkinson and Catherine Guinness (Melbourne University Publishing)
Beyond the Meeting of the Waters is the life story of academic, activist and
Yorta Yorta man Wayne Atkinson, which he has co-authored with Catherine
Guinness. It recognises the long history of Aboriginal activism by Atkinson’s
people – a fight for land justice and self-determination that will continue
beyond him.
The Yorta Yorta people first petitioned for their land in 1881. They walked off
Cummeragunja Mission Station near Barmah, Victoria, in protest in 1939. They
campaigned for land rights and cultural heritage in the 1980s, and for their
native title in Australian courts in the 1990s. They are campaigning for treaty
and truth-telling today.
From the 1970s, Atkinson has been involved in these moments of organising and
uprising, as opportunities have emerged, failed and faded.
Beyond the Meeting
of the Waters explains his involvement, how the Yorta Yorta organised and the
experiences they drew upon. Atkinson also acknowledges the Elders who have
influenced and shaped him.
He does all this without heroics or grandstanding, bitterness or dispute, and
always with reference to the many Kooris who were involved. He explains his
approach to making change for Yorta Yorta and Kooris as “chipping away”. He
sees his life’s work as being an “agent of reform” and sees himself as a
pragmatist: someone who understands the process of change as “two steps
forward, one step back”.
We come to know him as a musician, worker, intellectual, student, educator,
community builder, footballer, researcher, commissioner and Elder, who speaks
with authority on the people, movements and ideas who have shaped his world."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
