From living off the land to negotiating their place in the digital age, Every hill got a story is the first comprehensive history of Central Australia’s Aboriginal people, as told in their own words and their many languages.
One hundred and twenty Central Australian men and women have contributed oral testimonies to the book, creating a diverse and thorough account of the people in this area.
In the book’s forword, Rachel Perkins writes, "This monumental work heralds nothing less than a comprehensive history of a people. The people are Central Australians, bound by the desert they share, their law and our representative body, the Central Australian Land Council, through which this history unfolds."
This monumental work heralds nothing less than a comprehensive history of a people
Every hill got a story doesn’t shy away from telling the hidden truths of how the people in the Central Desert were treated. It also provides an historical insight into how the people lived and communicated over the vast region.
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Their stories are both empowering and uplifting. Jimmy Wave Hill Japalyi recalls the moment Vincent Lingiari took a stand against the mistreatment of the people working Wave Hill Station.
"Old Vincent, my brother- in-law, get us and have a meeting in camp and Vincent said, ‘I gota good news. Tomorrow we going to walk up to the manager and tell that manager we finished from Wave Hill Station, we walk off from Wave Hill Station.’"
Tomorrow we going to walk up to the manager and tell that manager we finished from Wave Hill Station, we walk off from Wave Hill Station
The stories within the book are reflective of the stories across Australia yet to be told. It paves the way for more projects like this and will undoubtedly allow for conversations to take place.
For a richer experience that accompanies the book, NITV has been privileged to create an extra online component that features a selection of compelling and emotional oral testimonies of 19 individuals. Some of these sound bites are spoken in language, providing a precious resource accessible by everyone.
The project was managed by NITV Digital Producer, Kuku-Yalanji man Luke Briscoe, who says that the project gave him cause for reflection.
"While working on this project I couldn’t help but reflect on my own family stories from Far North Queensland. It’s sad to think that our people were treated in the most inhumane ways and it frustrates me to know that some Australians deny the true history of this country."
"We need more of these untold stories to be shared online. We are in control of our own digital footprints and it’s these stories that will provide a true history of our people online."
We need more of these untold stories to be shared online
Listen to the sound files and browse amazing photos and read the background from the each of the individuals here: www.nitv.org.au/everyhill
