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austega's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Important topic and parts very well written, but other parts sometimes repetitive/uneven and overall longer than it might be.
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review against another edition
5.0
I’d seen this book and it’s accompanying title for younger readers over on @Blackfulla_Bookclub, and popped it on my TBR instantly!
It covers so much ground to bring readers up to speed with the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, as well as the journey Thomas Mayor took around the country promoting its vision of a better future for Indigenous Australians. It is brimming with photographs of people and events and the Statement itself that went on a trip to communities all over the country with Thomas. There are also 20 interviews that Mayor shares with key people as part of this journey - the experiences shared in extracts of dialogue, first-person perspectives, as well as overviews by Mayor himself.
Its a book that reads like a breathing document and a work of history in the making, with a moving collection of voices sharing history and lived experiences. It is also a powerful call to action and advocacy for Constitutional change.
“Thomas believes that we will only find the heart of our nation when the First peoples – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – are recognised with a representative Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution.” (Hardie Grant website)
I cannot recommend this one highly enough!
It covers so much ground to bring readers up to speed with the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, as well as the journey Thomas Mayor took around the country promoting its vision of a better future for Indigenous Australians. It is brimming with photographs of people and events and the Statement itself that went on a trip to communities all over the country with Thomas. There are also 20 interviews that Mayor shares with key people as part of this journey - the experiences shared in extracts of dialogue, first-person perspectives, as well as overviews by Mayor himself.
Its a book that reads like a breathing document and a work of history in the making, with a moving collection of voices sharing history and lived experiences. It is also a powerful call to action and advocacy for Constitutional change.
“Thomas believes that we will only find the heart of our nation when the First peoples – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – are recognised with a representative Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution.” (Hardie Grant website)
I cannot recommend this one highly enough!
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
5.0
A very important book that should become part of school curriculum and recommended reading.
the_page_traveller's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely incredible! Thomas Mayor tells the stories of inspiring Indigenous leaders throughout the country with passion and dedication. Every member of government should read this book and join the campaign to have First Nations people recognised constitutionally. It's time Australia.
lmurray74's review against another edition
5.0
Finding Our Heart: A story about the Uluru Statement for Young Australians by Thomas Mayor, a Torres Strait Islander born on Larrakia country in Darwin, and Blak Douglas, a three times Archibald finalist. The Uluru Statement from the Heart calls for a First Nation's Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution. Four years on it is still to be enacted. This picture book gives a (very) brief history of so-called Australia up to coming together to write the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It then moves to showing ho to find "the heart of the nation". "We started with the truth.//The heart of the nation did not come with the ships.//It did not come with the farms.//The explorers couldn't find it, //though they searched far and wide. [...] The heart of the nation has always been...right...here [hand on child's heart] and here, in our voices!" [...] "We invited everyone to listen to our heart in our songs, see our heart in our dances, learn where our heart is from in our stories and languages, and how we have cared for our environment." I'd say the audience for the book are non-Indigenous people so I'd make sure it was part of a broader discussion drawing on many sources. The imagery and words are clear and it can be read with children I'd say from kindergarten on. It's a book you can revisit easily but I wouldn't use it in a generic way, for example children finding their own heart. This is specific and its specificity has to be respected.
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