Barbara Wingard

This book shares stories of creative inventions by Aboriginal narrative therapists and community workers, including the 'Shame Mat', the 'Language Tree of Life', 'Conversations with Lateral Violence', and 'Narrative community gatherings'. These significant innovations are expanding the field of narrative practice, not only in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts, but also across cultures and internationally. Significantly, this book also illustrates how narrative practices are being used by Aboriginal communities to decolonise identity stories, to move beyond mental health labels, and to step out of missionary rules and closets of shame. In this book you will find moving stories from individuals who are finding ways to have conversations with those who have passed on, or who are undertaking profound journeys away from the effects of alcohol and abuse. You will also read descriptions of community projects in which hard-won knowledge and skills in surviving injustices are being shared across communities and oceans. We invite you to see narrative practice through Aboriginal eyes. This is both spiritual and political practice.

In this graceful, strong and thoughtful book, Barbara Wingard and Jane Lester relate stories of their lives and work as two Indigenous Australian women. These stories offer hopeful and practical ideas in relation to a wide range of issues facing Indigenous Australian families. As the new millennium dawns, Australians are endeavouring to come to terms with their past and create new possibilities for partnerships in the future. This book offers stories that will inspire and sustain.