The Dreamers of Arnhem Land 2005
Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Christopher Walker
Directed by Aleksandar Manic
VHS, color, 50 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Australian Studies, Anthropology, Area Studies, Environmental Studies, Human Rights, Postcolonialism
Date Entered: 02/23/2007
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication, University of California, Santa BarbaraThis is the fascinating story of two Australian Aboriginal elders, Stuart and Valerie Ankin, who are attempting to save their culture and community from extinction. In 1977, almost 30 years after the Australian government had moved the Aborigine people from their native lands into towns, the Ankins and many others were granted legal ownership of their traditional estates on Australia's North Coast. Many returned to their hunter/gatherer way of life. This documentary shows the Ankins returning to their roots, and living the Aborigine ancient ways, which includes using resources commercially and marketing their natural products as an economic model. The film also portrays the resurgence of the Aboriginal spiritual and cultural traditions, and examines how ancient ways can survive together with modern ways for the next Aboriginal generation.