Why Warriors Lie Down and Die
I’ve just finished reading this powerful book that explains some of the dire and very real problems that Yolngu face in today’s world. It really helps to promote cross-cultural understanding on several levels by pointing out that misunderstanding and misconceptions are the largest obstacles to true reconciliation and mutual respect. Why Warriors Lie Down and Die is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in indigenous peoples. It provides hope and new direction for those simply searching for answers as to why “the problems’ seem to persist in Aboriginal communities. It also offers insights to those who want a greater understanding of those issues involved in acheiving true reconciliation.
Trudgen writes:
The crisis for Yolngu is grave, but there is a way forward. When we understand the factors that create this loss of control, then strategies can be developed to counter them. This will require a multi-disciplinary approach that is able to take in the total life needs of the people. Yet it is my strong belief that Yolngu can learn the knowledge and skills needed to equip themselves for life in a modern world– if those of us from the dominant Australian culture will learn to construct knowledge in the way Yolngu construct knowledge and deliver it in a language that Yolngu think in. (Introduction, p. 9)
