Anita Heiss on 'Growing Up Wiradjuri: Stories from the Wiradjuri Nation'

'Growing up Wiradjuri' is a collection of personal stories by Wiradjuri Elders. The writers are Uncles and Aunties who came of age in New South Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. In a strong collective voice, they share their stories of the difficulties of marginal life, backbreaking labour and family separation, but also of fond memories of their own Elders, Aunts and Uncles who cared for them and taught them culture. Contributors describe happy memories of family and community life on country, working the land, sitting around campfires, hunting, fishing, and playing games in the bush with their cousins, brothers and sisters. They talk about the values that were imparted by parents and grandparents, what it means to come from a family where everyone takes care of each other during hard times, and the work they have done to build stronger communities. In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Anita Heiss about bringing together this collection of short stories from Wiradjuri Elders, how the common values of family, care, friendship and fun that are part of these stories are things we all share, and how we can all play a part in reconciliation by reinvigorating indigenous culture through great storytelling.