Travel Planner

Contributing editor Monique La Fontaine

Foreword by Sir William Deane

New Legend is unique in Indigenous literature. It celebrates the strength and breadth of the Indigenous cultures in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and is told through thereflections of Kimberley people in their own voices. It was initiated by senior Law people as a means of communicating important cultural, political and historical information to young Kimberley Aboriginal people and non-Indigenous Australians. Speakers from 21 languagegroups tell us their stories in traditional languages, Kriol and Aboriginal and standard Englishwith passion, humour and insight. Amongst the speakers are well-known public figures such as Pat Dodson and Peter Yu, local heroes like Joe Brown and Johnny Watson, internationally recognised artists including Stumpy Brown, Elizabeth Nyumi and others, rising younger leaders and men and women from remote communities who have memories of first contact.

In thematically arranged sections New Legend fleshes out the story of Aboriginal people’s struggle towards self-determination in the Kimberley. It provides an overview of the principles and foundations of traditional Law, and describes culture in a region where many groups have survived violent and dramatic change and adapted to radically new ways of life with their traditional practices substantially intact. New Legend tells a remarkable story of adversity and resilience over a period of less than 130 years and describes the positive and negative repercussions of events on Aboriginal people’s lives to the present. It surveys the development of peak grass roots political organizations, including the Kimberley Land Council, the Kimberley Language Resource Centre and KALACC, which cater for Aboriginal people’s priority interest: land, Law and language. New Legend explores the causes of many problems affecting young Aboriginal people in contemporary Australian society and outlines Kimberley leaders’ vision for the future. Their aspirations include regional autonomy and agreements, economic development and the underwriting of cultural sustainability, and increased engagement with governments and the private sector.

"In its totality, New Legend… does much to set a context of knowledge and understanding within which informed and appropriate policies to overcome the entrenched disadvantage, which oppresses every aspect of [Aboriginal people’s] lives, should be framed and implemented."

- The Honourable Sir William Deane

Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of spectacular and previously unpublished photographs of ceremonies, dances, body painting and regalia, Law and Culture Festivals, cultural activities, historical events and key individuals, New Legend is interlinked with commentary by Monique La Fontaine, which places the spoken words of more than 45 contributors in clear perspective.

Over 470 illustrations on 157gsm matt art paper; 272 p., soft cover, matt lamination,

300 x 270 mm (P), index, references; rrp $55 (incl. GST).

ISBN-13: 978-0-646-46442-8 ISBN-10: 0-6464644-2-4

National publicist: Lynette Thorburn tel: (03) 9510 7611

email: thorburnpr@myoffice.net.au