DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | DARK EMU, BLACK SEEDS: AGRICULTURE OR ACCIDENT?

I dont know if there is such a thing as 'love at first sight' when it comes to finding a book that changes all the things you knew before but if there is- Dark Emu is IT. Growing up Aboriginal you know what you know and you are taught what you are taught. At school we read all the same history books as the rest of the class and we are maturing and developing at the same rate as the rest of them too. And so you have trust in the systems that are created to educate you. Its not until you develop that sense of curiosity that you start to question where those lessons originated from.

Dark Emu was like a lightning strike for me. It took all these thoughts and feelings that i had felt about Aboriginal people, my people, and suddenly provided tangible evidence (through written white mens words and journals- so therefore undeniable eh?) that our people are truly magnificently resilient, resourceful and uniquely clever in a way that deserves to be admired and not admonished.

This book made me feel pride in a culture that we are often told is less then, it made me feel culturally stronger knowing that people that care about being on the right side of history will also read this book and together we will know the true beginnings of this country.

Uncle Bruce celebrates the ingenuity of Aboriginal people and showcases the many practises put into place to ensure they lived a fruitful life prior to colonisation.

Dark Emu is a 10/10 for me. It is proudly amongst my top 3 books to read, recommend and refer to. If you do just one thing this month- READ THIS BOOK! And then of course, come back here and tell me your thoughts!

Below are some reading questions designed to create conversation after reading this book.

Discussion Questions

Q1. What three words would you use to best describe this book?

Q2. What do you think the title means?

Q3. What did you learn in the book that you didn't know before?

Q4. Did the book meet your expectations?

Q5. What was your favourite quote/sentence/paragraph in the book?

Q6. If you could ask Uncle Bruce Pascoe a question, what would it be?

Q7. Did any part of the book elicit a strong emotional reaction?

Q8. Did the book change your opinions on anything? If so, what?

Q9. After reading the book, do you agree or disagree with the author, in regards to Aboriginal people historically being more than the ‘hunter-gatherer’ they were labeled as?

Q10. Would you recommend this book to someone?

Happy reading!

A xx