Gagudju Man: the Environmental and Spiritual Philosophy of a Senior Traditional Owner, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

by NEIDJIE Bill

The environmental and spiritual philosophy of a senior traditional owner in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. The author is an aborigine who has grown up in the Bunitj Clan Estate and who has tried to educate others in the ways of his people. In addition to trying to preserve his culture, he is trying to preserve the land.

Genres: Australia

81 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2002

Reviews

[Will Grogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most important book any Australian can read

[miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me cry

[Helen Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Neidji's words of wisdom are pertinent and relevant in our time of global warming, mining and de-forestation. They are particularly relevant to the area of Kakadu and he and his ancestors looked after, and future generations will look after:

'We walk on earth,
We look after,
like rainbow sitting on top.
But something underneath,
under the ground.
We don't know.
You don't know.

What you want to do?
If you touch,
you might get cyclone, heavy rain or flood.
Not just here,
you might kill someone in another place.
might be kill him in another country.
you cannot touch him

These very important places,
but we frightened that European might touch him.
If we tell white European story,
he slow to listen.
If we get little big wild,
he might listen. But slow.'

He looks at the importance of passing on knowledge of the land to young people and the spiritual dimension of the environment.

'I feel it with my body,
with my blood.
Feeling all these trees,
all this country.
When this wind blow you can feel it.
Same for country,
you feel it.
You can look.
But feeling...
that make you.

Feeling make you.
Out there in the open space,
he coming through your body.
Look while he blow and feel with your body,
because tree just about your brother or father
and tree is watching you.

Earth.
Like your father or brother or mother,
because you born from earth.
You got to come back to earth.
When you dead,
you'll come back to earth.
Maybe little while yet...
then you'll come to earth.
That's your bone, your blood.
It's in the earth,
Same as for tree.'

[Tim Corke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Neidje's presentation of the Aboriginal culture is a troubling reflection of how modern society has disregarded the thousands of years of knowledge, experiences and connection with our planet. His book is a warning to Western civilisation but depressingly is unlikely to be adhered to. Bill's philosophy and that of the Aboriginal people is one as humans I think we all get but it seems that the wheels are already in motion to prevent us from taking back control of our environment. A beautiful account.

[Ian Mcalister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the connection between people and land. I think I'm getting to an understanding but I have one disadvantage: I'm an Anglo-Australian. I will never fully understand what this connection is about.

[Luke C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fascinating insight into Aboriginal understanding and relationship with environment. A lyrical read.