1. What is the name of the boy telling the story.
To find this out you actually have to read to the end of the third book in the series which is called NJUNJUL THE SUN. For the first two books (MY GIRRAGUNDJI and THE BINNA BINNA MAN) the boy has no specific name. Can you think why we would have chosen to leave him without a name?
In the final book (which by the way is suitable for middle and upper secondary), towards the very end, the boy tells us his name. But we’re not going to tell you now because that might spoil the surprise of reading the final book, when you are ready for it.
2. Has Boori seen the Binna Binna man?
No, he hasn’t, but he has felt him near, he says. Many of his relatives have seen the Binna Binna Man and that’s why he is described as smelling like a goat, and about ten feet tall, and hairy and with long ears, pointy at the top and that drag along the ground behind him. Who knows the word for ears in the Kunggandji language, the Aboriginal language of Boori’s mother’s family? We think you all do by now. That’s a hint!
3. Do you think Aboriginal people are losing contact with their culture? What solutions do you see for this?
All cultures change and adapt to new challenges and influences. Aboriginal cultures have had to adapt a huge amount over a relatively short space of two hundred years. As long as there are Aboriginal people there will be Aboriginal cultures. The cultures today may look very different from how they were two hundred years ago but the cultures that are here now are still unique.
There is something like 500 hundred different Aboriginal groups across the country each with their own culture, sometimes quite different from each other. Some groups have had to adapt to western ways more quickly than others. Some groups have less of their traditional culture and language still practiced by the people of their group. Some groups no longer exist. What we are saying is that it is hard to generalize and say that the one thing is true of all groups.
Boori says that if Aboriginal cultures are respected by the other cultures that have come to this country then Aboriginal culture will continue to be strong. All of our cultures are in this together now, he says. If Aboriginal culture and beliefs become lost it is all of us who lose, who miss out.
He also says that Aboriginal cultures are the foundation of this country as the oldest continuous living cultures in the world. This is an amazing strength to build on if we all take care and respect what is unique to this country.
Another point Boori made in answer to this question is that he believes Aboriginal people face the same challenge as others in Australia. That challenge is to become loving towards themselves and their culture in order to become strong. If as an entire nation of people we can respect the culture of the first people of this land, find how to understand and relate to it and the land we live in, then what a great future we will have.
Good on you Jimmyboyz for asking such a great question. We hope we have given you an answer that will be food for thought.
With love and respect
Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor
