Songspirals: sharing women's wisdom of Country through songlines

Songspirals are sung by Aboriginal people to awaken Country, to make and remake the life-giving connections between people and place. In this book, we invite the reader to learn more about songspirals, sometimes known as songlines or songcycles, and especially about women’s place in them.

For Yolŋu people from North East Arnhem Land, women and men play different roles in bringing songlines to life, yet the vast majority of what has been published is about men’s aspects of songlines. Songspirals is a rare opportunity for outsiders to gain an intimate and generous insight into Aboriginal women’s role in crying the songlines.

Songspirals are ancient songs, poems, ceremonies and maps that allow Aboriginal people to navigate vast distances, but they are much, much more. Songspirals are radically different ways of understanding humans and their place within the environment. This book invites the reader on a journey of songspirals, of tears, understanding, surprises and wisdom.