Ngurra Home by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler. Illus. by Dub Leffler

In this, the third in the Black Cockatoo series, we find Mia in Boorloo (Perth) in the final year of her Bachelor of Conservation and Wildlife Science degree. She is also working part time at a vet clinic and volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary. The opening scenes find her netting endangered Barnaby’s black cockatoos (ngoolark) to enable the sanctuary staff to attach tracking devices and collect data to improve conservation of the birds. Mia is able to contribute to the exercise not only with the skills she has learnt through her studies and work but through the Jaru home knowledge handed down to her through her Kimberley family, paying attention to the birds’ sounds, routines and habitat to decide it is unlikely more of the birds might be around. Life is pretty full and the vet work can be challenging emotionally but Mia is well supported by her friends and employer and she uses the First Nations Learning Hub for support for her course work. She is gaining self-confidence and the belief shared with her grandmother that challenges can be opportunities and that through sticking with her studies, even when she is tired and homesick she will be part of bridging the gap between scientific and traditional knowledge. When her grandfather, her jawiji, becomes ill she travels home to be with her family because equally, she knows that she must always make time for the things that matter. Mia finds that her grandfather has been carrying weighty cultural responsibilities that she must share, working between her two worlds, using everything she has learned plus her community’s knowledge about the place they have a responsibility to protect, to prevent its exploitation.

I have not read the previous books but Mia’s story stands well alone. Her quiet determination and respectful interactions as the life choices she has made come to maturity are simply but powerfully expressed.  The glossary at the front of the book explains the various languages used in the book and Dub Leffler’s soft pencil sketches sit well with the story. As a classroom novel there are many themes to discuss about choices and obligations plus contemporary issues like mining and fracking as opposed to conservation.

Themes: Culture and connection, Conservation, Responsibility and resilience.

Sue Speck