My kind of people: Achievement, identity and aboriginality. Wayne Coolwell 1993 University of Queensland Press. St Lucia. 154 pages

2 Pages·1994·0.45 MB·English

by  John Burke

The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 1994 11:207-208
BOOK REVIEW
MY KIND OF PEOPLE: ACHIEVEMENT, IDENTITY AND ABORIGINALITY.
Wayne Coolwell
1993
University of Queensland Press.
St Lucia.
154 pages
In 154 pages (24 of pictures) you could hardly three words”. So says visual artist Gordon
expect to get in-depth biographies of 12 singu¬ Bennett, winner of the Moet and Chandon award
larly successful people, but Wayne Coolwell for the most outstanding young Australian julist
comes pretty close to giving us just this in hisAfy of 1991, whom Coolwell visited in France. Not
Kind of People. In fact, he gives insight into the just Aboriginal artist, note. Bennett is under¬
lives and achievements of 13 young Aboriginal standably proud of this. So in this and in many
people if we realise that the book itself is quite other ways, a certain ambivalent complexity of
an achievement. An achievement on a number identity and political direction for the future is
of levels, not the least of which is the sheer evident. Noel Pearson, history graduate and
amount of travel which Coolwell undertook to land rights activist, sees all Aboriginal pursuits
track down his subjects. They are scattered from as being bound up with his “people’s political
Phuket to Perth, Melbourne to Milan, Cape struggle”. Television personality Stan Grant is
York to New York. It is not free, of course, from not so sure as to just what the struggle is about
the somewhat uncritical enthusiasm redolent of any more.
prize-giving night, and this is probably its chief Underlying what drives many of these high
fault. But there is much that is praiseworthy and achievers, though, is a determination to do some¬
for those who might still cling to stereotypical thing for their own people. Ironically perhaps,
images of "unproductive Aborigines" this book rarely does this desire take the form of actually
will lay to rest many misconceptions. To be sure, working with other Aborigines. Overwhelm¬
in the account of Archie Roach’s life as alco¬ ingly, it is seen in terms of opportunities to bring
holic, to winner of various awards including the Aboriginality up-front,proudandconfidentboth
ARIA award for indigenous album of the year in in terms of what it means to these young people
1990, there is a recognition that many Austral¬ personally and what it can mean to the broader
ian Aborigines are, after more than 200 years, community of Aborigines and other Australians
still suffering from the devastation of the domi¬ alike. As Ernie Dingo puts it, “I take my
nant culture. But the overall impression gained Aboriginality with me all the time”. And he does
is one of pride in Aboriginality and hope for a not just mean colour, for there are many shades
more just future. Foregrounded is the disarming of black represented here, and indeed shades of
honesty of many of those whom Coolwell inter¬ language (for Shirley Nirrpurrandydji, school
views. principal of Gapuwiyak in Arnhem Land, Eng¬
Aboriginality, though, has not been an easy lish is only one of a number of languages). But
mantle for many of the book’s singers, educa¬ given this, and perhaps even because of it,
tionists, sportspeople and others to take upon Coolwell has put his finger on a certain unify¬
themselves. “I’m an Aborigine. Whew. I’ve said ing, underlying, at times illusory Aboriginal
it. But it was so difficult to actually say those essence which informs the book.
207
J. Burke
Despite some stylistic inconsistencies (Dr John Burke is the 1993 winner of the David
Sandra Eades, for example, virtually writes her Unaipon Award. His novel Bridge of Triangles
own chapter) this book is warmly recommended will be published by Queensland University
reading if you want to gain an insight into what Press in September. He is currently a lecturer at
the Aboriginal future of Australia is increas¬ Northern Territory University.
ingly likely to be.
JOHN BURKE
Centre for Aboriginal and Islander Studies,
Northern Territory University, Darwin, NT 0801.
208