Healers of Arnhem Land

by John Cawte

For two decades, from 1970 to 1990, Professor Cawte annually visited the Yolngu clan of northeast Arnhem Land. During this time he recorded, with the clan leaders' permission, traditional medicinal knowledge, and healing scenes were specially enacted and photographed. This information is now presented publicly for the first time in Healers of Arnhem Land. In an attempt to span the gulf between European and Aboriginal cultures, and to encourage tolerance and understanding, this book presents anxieties and distress as intriguing mysteries, threats and challenges that confront both cultures.

137 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Dingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a report by John Cawte who has in-dept knowledge and experience of medicine, psychiatry and anthropology.
He writes about his experiences he had as a doctor visiting communities in Arnhem land over a period of 20 years.
His experiences with the healing processes of aboriginals are far from romantic and esoteric however what comes very through in the stories is the empathy he had for the people.
The book gives a great insight in how the aboriginal traditional ways clashed with the western ways.
The interaction between two very opposite cultures and the willingness from both to learn from each other. It shows the failures and successes from both sides. I read it with great pleasure

[карин Златковић · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting