John donalis biography
- John J Donalis was born on 5 December 1888, in Tur-Terebes, Ugocsa, Hungary.
- John Donalis historical records.
- All through his growing-up years, John Danalis's family had an Aboriginal skull on the mantelpiece; yet only as an adult after enrolling in an Indigenous.
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Riding the Black Cockatoo
January 8, 2011
This is a book all Australians should read. And probably all other nationalities, too.
"Riding the Black Cockatoo' is John Dinalis' account of how, during his late 30's, he came to confront a terrible wrong within his family, and of the journey he had to undertake in order to correct it and to take the first tentative steps towards healing. He grew up in a house with an inherited Aboriginal skull sitting on the mantelpiece, and this book is the story of how he came to understand the horrible sifnificance of 'Mary's' presence in their home, and of the process that John and his family went through to see Mary returned to his own land and people. Along the way, John was forced to confront both the bleak reality of white Australian colonialisation, and his own prejudices and preconceptions about race and identity.
This is a book which will (or at least should) horrify you, make you angry, make you miserable, and make you thoughtful. There is a strong element of hope, too, but it's not the sort of hope which fills you with happy thoughts and
"Riding the Black Cockatoo' is John Dinalis' account of how, during his late 30's, he came to confront a terrible wrong within his family, and of the journey he had to undertake in order to correct it and to take the first tentative steps towards healing. He grew up in a house with an inherited Aboriginal skull sitting on the mantelpiece, and this book is the story of how he came to understand the horrible sifnificance of 'Mary's' presence in their home, and of the process that John and his family went through to see Mary returned to his own land and people. Along the way, John was forced to confront both the bleak reality of white Australian colonialisation, and his own prejudices and preconceptions about race and identity.
This is a book which will (or at least should) horrify you, make you angry, make you miserable, and make you thoughtful. There is a strong element of hope, too, but it's not the sort of hope which fills you with happy thoughts and
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February 2010, Allen & Unwin (distributed by Frances Lincoln)
276 pages, Paperback
Review Copy
Non-fiction, 14 years +
Level of information: 4
Ease of reading: 4
Smiles: 5
Tears: 2
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥
Summary from Frances Lincoln
This is the compelling true story of how the skull of an Aboriginal man, found on the banks of the Murray River over 40 years ago, came to be returned to his Wamba Wamba descendants. It is a story of awakening, atonement, forgiveness and friendship. 'It is as if a whole window into Indigenous culture has blown open, not just the window, but every door in the house,' says John Danalis. Part history, part detective story, part cultural discovery and emotional journey, this is a book for young and old, showing the transformative and healing power of true reconciliation.
The above summary is correct. However, it doesn't really get across the humourous voice of John Danalis. For years he thought nothing of the skull in his family's living room. It was only when he dug around for research that he realise
276 pages, Paperback
Review Copy
Non-fiction, 14 years +
Level of information: 4
Ease of reading: 4
Smiles: 5
Tears: 2
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥
Summary from Frances Lincoln
This is the compelling true story of how the skull of an Aboriginal man, found on the banks of the Murray River over 40 years ago, came to be returned to his Wamba Wamba descendants. It is a story of awakening, atonement, forgiveness and friendship. 'It is as if a whole window into Indigenous culture has blown open, not just the window, but every door in the house,' says John Danalis. Part history, part detective story, part cultural discovery and emotional journey, this is a book for young and old, showing the transformative and healing power of true reconciliation.
The above summary is correct. However, it doesn't really get across the humourous voice of John Danalis. For years he thought nothing of the skull in his family's living room. It was only when he dug around for research that he realise
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