The Elders

The Elders is a powerful and evocative journey through the heart of First Nations Australia. We're invited to sit down, listen and learn from the keepers of the world's oldest living culture.

Across vast and rugged landscapes - from smoke-hazed Warumungu Country to the ancient songlines of Larrakia and the islands of the Torres Strait - this book captures the voices of those who hold the stories, the wisdom and the very soul of the land. Through intimate conversations with Dan Bourchier, we meet Elders such as Aunty Valda Napurrurla Shannon, Ross Jakamarra Williams and Gail Mabo, and explore the profound interconnectedness of language, kinship, and the environment. And we come to appreciate the unique challenges First Nations peoples face today.

This is more than a collection of stories; it is a vital call for truth-telling, healing and the urgent preservation of culture in the face of a changing world. These Elders share the pain of the past - displacement and loss - but they also point the way to a better future.

With grace, resilience and deep spiritual authority, The Elders offers a rare glimpse into the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership. It reminds us that only by listening to the land and those who speak for it can we truly understand our place in the world.