Chelsea Watego is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman born and raised on Yuggera country. First trained as an Aboriginal health worker, she is an Indigenist health humanities scholar, prolific writer and public intellectual. When not referred to as ‘Vern and Elaine’s baby’, she is also Kihi, Maya, Eliakim, Vernon and George’s mum. Her first book is Another Day in the Colony, a collection of deeply insightful and powerful essays.
Today, Chelsea Watego is on the blog to share with us her favourite books from First Nations authors. Read on!
Chelsea Watego on Another Day in the Colony
Another Day in the Colony is a book of essays that draws on my life, as a child, as a mother, as a spouse, as an academic, and as a Blackfulla living in the colony. Far from being a ‘misery memoir’ this book seeks to speak to the souls of Blackfullas, to remind ourselves of our power, even in what feels like our most powerless moments.
I selected these books because they have each spoken directly to me in ways that I’ve been able to draw strength from. What connects these texts for me is how they illuminate the worlds of Blackfullas both in content and style. I also think that Indigenous authored non-fiction doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, as we typically are categorised as only ever capable of authoring fiction and fables. Yet, the Black writer, in their sovereign knowing and ‘sovereign storytelling’ (as described by Romaine Moreton), is truly a gift.
After Story by Larissa Behrendt
When Indigenous lawyer Jasmine decides to take her mother Della on a tour of England’s most revered literary sites, Jasmine hopes it will bring them closer together and help them reconcile the past.
Finding Eliza by Larissa Behrendt
Larissa Behrendt has long been fascinated by the story of Eliza Fraser, who was purportedly captured by the local Butchulla people after she was shipwrecked on their island off the Queensland coast in 1836. In this deeply personal book, Behrendt uses Eliza’s tale as a starting point to interrogate how Aboriginal people – and indigenous people of other countries – have been portrayed in their colonisers’ stories.
Sister Girl by Jackie Huggins
A new edition of Murri historian and activist Jackie Huggins’ seminal Tiddaist classic, featuring timely and compelling speeches and essays.
Talkin’ Up to the White Woman by Aileen Moreton-Robinson
In this ground-breaking and timeless book, distinguished professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson undertakes a compelling analysis of the whiteness of Australian feminism and its effect on Indigenous women.
Is that you Ruthie? by Ruth Hegarty
Ruthie is the central character in this lively and candid memoir of institutional life. Her milestones and memories reflect the experiences of many dormitory girls. The strong and lasting bonds that developed between them helped to compensate for family love and support denied them by the disruptive removal policy of the day.
Not Just Black and White by Leslie and Tammy Williams
Lesley Williams was forced to leave the Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement and her family at a young age to work as a domestic servant. She was taught not to question her life, until desperation made her start to wonder, where is all that money she earned? And so began a nine-year journey for answers.
Black and Blue by Veronica Gorrie
The story of an Aboriginal woman who worked as a police officer and fought for justice both within and beyond the Australian police force.
Day Break by Amy McQuire and Matt Chun (Illustrator)
The story of a family making their way back to Country on January 26. We see the strength they draw from being together, and from sharing stories as they move through a shifting landscape.
Biting the Clouds by Fiona Foley
In this groundbreaking work of Indigenous scholarship, nationally renowned visual artist Fiona Foley addresses the inherent silences, errors and injustices from the perspective of her people, the Badtjala of K’gari (Fraser Island).
Heat and Light by Ellen Van Neerven
In this award-winning work of fiction, Ellen van Neerven takes their readers on a journey that is mythical, mystical and still achingly real. Over three parts, they take traditional storytelling and give it a unique, contemporary twist.
Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen
This fierce debut from award-winning writer Evelyn Araluen confronts the tropes and iconography of an unreconciled nation with biting satire and lyrical fury.
Tell Me Why by Archie Roach
Not many have lived as many lives as Archie Roach – stolen child, seeker, teenage alcoholic, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, and leader – but it took him almost a lifetime to find out who he really was. Tell Me Why is a stunning account of resilience and the strength of spirit – and of a great love story.
Firefront: First Nations poetry and power today by Alison Whittaker (ed)
This important anthology, curated by Gomeroi poet and academic Alison Whittaker, showcases Australia’s most-respected First Nations poets alongside some of the rising stars.
Another Day in the Colony
In this collection of deeply insightful and powerful essays, Chelsea Watego examines the ongoing and daily racism faced by First Nations peoples in so-called Australia. Rather than offer yet another account of 'the Aboriginal problem', she theorises a strategy for living in a social world that has only ever imagined Indigenous peoples as destined to die out.
Drawing on her own experiences and observations of the operations of the colony, she exposes the lies that settlers tell about Indigenous people...
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