Yorta Yorta Elder Wayne Atkinson will be presenting a free author talk at Campaspe Library in Echuca this month.

The talk about Beyond the Meeting of the Waters: A Yorta Yorta Life Story, co-authored by Dr Atkinson and his partner, Cathy Guinness, is a significant contribution to Indigenous Australian literature

The book chronicles Dr Atkinson’s remarkable journey from his ancestral riverbanks to becoming a prominent Indigenous rights activist and educator.

“After I finished my studies in history, archaeology and other disciplines that provided me with the skills and knowledge to record our history, I started recording our oral history,” Dr Atkinson said.

“I wanted to put it together so that it could be written in a book form for Yorta Yorta.

“Also, for the general population, and students as a textbook that describes my journey of life, living as a Yorta Yorta person, and coming back after my studies and wanting to contribute to the Yorta Yorta people’s history and culture.

“It is not just a Yorta Yorta story, it is an Australian story that calls for other important things, like reconciliation, justice itself and the celebration of Indigenous cultures.

As a senior research officer for the Yorta Yorta Nations during their native title claim and a leader in the Barmah National Park campaign, Dr Atkinson has been instrumental in Aboriginal cultural renaissance since the 1980s.

His advocacy culminated in the establishment of joint management of the park between the Yorta Yorta people and the Victorian Government.

The book draws inspiration from influential figures, including Uncle William Cooper and Dr Atkinson’s great-grandfather Thomas Shadrach James.

“He was the teacher at the Maloga Mission that preceded Cummeragunja and he was an outstanding person,” Dr Atkinson said of his great-grandfather.

Ms Guinness shared her perspective on the collaboration.

“I came into this because I often have questions asked of me, ‘What is it like to be married to an Aboriginal man, and who are these Yorta Yorta people?’” she said.

She highlights the Yorta Yorta people’s resilience, particularly how they transformed their unsuccessful native title claim into securing joint management of Barmah National Park after an eight-year campaign.

The work also explores the authors’ international experiences, drawing connections between Indigenous peoples worldwide.

“The first place we went together was to North America and the Indigenous populations there, and we learned so much from them about the importance of treaties, the importance of writing your own history and teaching it yourself,” Ms Guinness said.

“We came back with lots of ideas about how things could be changed in Australia.

“Then, travelling to Ireland, we realised for the first time that the Irish had the same sort of treatment from the British as Indigenous people in America and in Australia.

“We saw a lot of parallels, and that was an important part of our experience.”

The talk is on Sunday, May 10, at 2.30pm.

To learn more about Yorta Yorta Elder Wayne Atkinson’s remarkable life and journey, book by calling the Campaspe Library on 03 5481 2400.

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