The Noonkanbah Story: Profile of an Aboriginal Community in Western Australia by Erich Kolig

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Book exchange copy with stamps and writing on half-title page. Wear to book corners and edges. Pencil underlining to text.

The Aboriginal community of Noonkanbah gained worldwide publicity in 1980 when it resisted large-scale mining exploration on its leasehold land in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Erich Kolig's book provides a case study of this Aboriginal community, its past and present, in order to explain why the Aborigines acted as they did.

The Noonkanbah Story is a balanced, lucid and accessible account of an important episode in the history of Australian race relations, written by an anthropologist who has worked extensively amongst the Aborigines of Western Australia.

Case study aimed at explaining Aboriginal resistance to mining exploration; initiation of punitive expeditions; folk tales, Captain Cook, first contact with Afghans, Sergeant Pilmer; depopulation; revival of traditional culture; recruitment to station work-force; case history, sub-standard living conditions; walk-off to Fitzroy Crossing, living conditions; relationship to land; myths, culture heroes, Baobab tree, mythological sites; land tenure; Kadjina Community, Yangngora Community, formation, land rights, leadership; applications to mine for oil, diamonds, legal dispute; Pea Hill; Aboriginal versus public understanding of threat presented by mining to sacred sites.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers, please note that this book may contain descriptions and/or images of people who have passed away.