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Why Warriors lie down and die Book Reviews Interaction Quarterly Publication of the Cross and Multicultural Ministry Unit Board of Mission NSW Synod Issue 3, p.2 Reviewed by Wendie Wilkie Why do the Yolngu and other Aboriginal people suffer worse health and live in worse conditions than ever before when over the past 25 years government resources and people have been poured into Aboriginal health and welfare? Richard Trudgeon (sic) has spent most of his life working with the Yolngu people of East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. In this book he outlines the profound effect of poor communication on the health and well being of these people. Good communication is fundamental in all human activity yet there is a vast communication gap which exists and is not addressed by the majority Australian community.
All the complications of cross cultural communication combined with the history of white settlement and its destruction of much of Aboriginal culture and self worth continues to work against attempts by Yolngu and Balanda (white people) to improve the situation. The deeply entrenched belief that Aboriginal culture is old but relatively simple compared to the complex modern Australian/world scene has prevented many Balanda from treating Aboriginal people as people of intelligence and worth, whose culture is as profound and as complex as any so called modern culture. This has exacerbated already difficult and poor communication.
This book is written from a deep and long involvement and understanding of this culture and people. As one of the Yolngu said of Richard ‘You know the deep inner-being of Yolngu people.” Through stories and deep analysis of the complex cultural and historical situation, Richard Trudgeon (sic) paints a picture of profound misunderstanding and lack of awareness and willingness to address the basic problem of communication that is killing Aboriginal people. The book is a deeply moving account of the pain and frustration of communicating across cultures and differing world views. In the latter part of the book he points to possible solutions that will help Yolngu and others to take control of their lives again and feel worthy. This will involve not only government but all who live in this land. Richard Trudgeon’s (sic) book is specifically about a group of Aboriginal people in East Arnhem Land but his analysis and understanding is universal to all cross cultural situations.
Everyone involved in any cross cultural situation or context would gain from reading this book.
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$29.95 AUD |
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