Sister Girl: Reflections on Tiddaism, Identity and Reconciliation

by Jackie Huggins

The pieces in this seminal collection represent almost four decades of writing by historian and activist Jackie Huggins. These essays, speeches, and interviews combine both the public and the personal in a bold trajectory tracing one Murri woman’s journey towards self-discovery and human understanding. As a widely respected cultural educator and analyst, Huggins offers an Aboriginal view of the history, values, and struggles of Indigenous people. Sister Girl reflects on many important and timely topics, including identity, activism, leadership, and reconciliation. It challenges accepted notions of the appropriateness of mainstream feminism in Aboriginal society and of white historians writing Indigenous history. Jackie Huggins’ words, then and now, offer wisdom, urgency and hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia, Feminism, Memoir, History, Race, Indigenous

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Deb Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book; it made me think deeply and joined some dots for me and it made me feel a lot too. Most of the articles, speeches and pieces (as chapters) are quite old, many written 20-25 yea ago, but as relevant as ever, unfortunately, and written in a very straightforward style so easy to read and grasp, and each piece left me very thoughtful. I’m ashamed that I didn’t read it and understand these things 25 yrs ago but I’ve got there now. (Recently republished with some newer pieces too) I found some of the ideas similar to Talkin Up to the White Woman but easier to read, such as the primacy of racism over sexism and how (white western) feminism doesn’t understand that. This is a keeper and an excellent touchstone to understand many perspectives and hopes. A really valuable and accessible body of work. Big gratefulness to Dr Jackie Huggins for giving it to us. So many opportunities to listen to Indigenous voices and respond as a white australian.

[Mentai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical analysis, luminous speeches and memoir type writing in this fantastic collection. I loved Huggins' Aboriginal critique of the 80s white women's movement, something that is worth revisiting and reflecting on in wake of recent MeToo movements. An accessible work that should be read widely.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays spans decades, with material from the 1990s through to 2018. Dr Huggins focus in the earlier material is often personally reflective, and focuses also on the women's liberation movement and its exclusion of Aboriginal perspectives. In later years, the focus moves more to issues around reconciliation, justice and a way forward. In all, Huggins is incisive, forthright and hopeful. In many ways it is depressing how little has changed, but there is such a chorus of voices alongside Huggins', and the audience for those voices has increased. It is perhaps true that Dr Huggins' prediction that Blak women would continue to organise separately to a white-dominated feminist movement has come true, and I think we are richer for it. However, the arrival of the NT Intervention, increasing child removal and incarceration of various kinds, as well as horrific racism in the health system, mean in other ways things have gotten so much worse. Either way, this is a collection worth reading.

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection that represent a decade of writing by Aboriginal historian and activist Jackie Huggins. These essays and interviews combine both the public and the personal in a bold trajectory tracing one Murri woman's journey towards self-discovery and human understanding. As a widely respected cultural educator and analyst, Huggins offers an Aboriginal view of the history, values and struggles of Indigenous people. Sister Girl examines many topics, including community action, political commitment, the tradition and value or oral history, and government intervention in Aboriginal lives. (from Book Synopsis)

Another great book. Sad at times, though, especailly the racist acts Jackie and her mother have been subjected to. An inspiring story too, particulalry Jackie's determination to do better for herself and her mother so that she can help her people.

An important and enjoyable read. Every educational instituiton should have this on their curriculm if they haven't already.

[Allecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY HELPFUL BOOK

[Claire Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of Huggins writing that prompts reflection on the areas she covers - history, race, white privilege, etc. Skilfully written, thought provoking and challenging.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable.

"A number of years ago, myself and eleven other tiddas were instructed that before we had any possibility of getting a Letter to the Editor published in an international feminist journal we would need to rewrite it so that (mainly Anglo feminist) academics could understand it. Now that's a role reversal if ever I heard one! We had made it so simple it alienated them! However, we stood our ground on principle and solidarity and never put pen to paper, and were published one long year later." p.77

[Caddyshack Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving account capturing the historical fight for the inclusion of Aboriginal Women in the Australian feminist movement. An insightful introduction to Tiddaism with timely discussions around cultural identity, activism and reconciliation.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good critical analysis on Historians, Australian history and present day Indigenous issues .
Thought provoking and engaging.

Very useful for Indigenous Studies

[Holstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to learn from this series of essays, written with a very approachable mix of lived experience and academic research.

[Lisa Gunders]

Really challenging, but really good for that.

[Greg Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elucidating. Absolutely loved it as an educational experience. Of course the reminders of the dreadful injustices, long ago and continuing, were confronting. Thank you Prof. Huggins

[Melissa Stebbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays by an Aboriginal historian and activist. I appreciated the perspective that helped me better understand the issues of racism and its intersection with feminism.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, timely and ultimately import book.
I have read a chapter each day and then spent time letting each important message settle.
I was going to highlight a few of the chapter headings that I felt had the most impact on me but soon relinquished that idea as each and every chapter and it’s topic is jammed full of information, things to contemplate about my own place within this huge problem. And the problem is us/me/you. Us the non-indigenous people’s of this land and our unacknowledged internal prejudices and attitudes which stem from our ignorance among other reasons.
For anyone (and I hope that means all) who are approaching our upcoming referendum on The Voice this is another important resource to learn from to help broaden your understanding so you can try and see past the deliberate muddying of waters “information” coming from politicians and media with their barely hidden agendas of self gain and prejudice so you can make an informed and respectful decision in the vote.
Full respect and acknowledgment to the amazing Dr Jackie Huggins for her work. One of the first books about/on/written by Aboriginal peoples was Aunty Rita and the original book Sister Girl written by Jackie back in the late 90s after my first ever opportunity to sit in Woman’s Circle at the Woodford Folk Festival- and I now realise what an immense honour it was to be so generously welcomed to sit. I was this totally ignorant 40ish Kiwi born woman now living on mainland Australia, full of respect for the first peoples of this land and hungry to learn. I had been finding it incredibly hard to access books of worth about Aboriginal peoples(apologies to the TSI I truly was ignorant that this was a seperate culture) and what I learned sitting in the Yarning circle were first hand lived experiences of the being stolen children. It shocked me to recognise that many of the speakers were my age or a bit younger. And so began my learning, learning that you have to be strong in because as you learn you have to examine your own self truly and be honest about your privilege in your own place in society and how that and your own hidden and unacknowledged prejudice is perpetuating the pain for others.

[Veronica Strachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully expressed, highly educational and emotionally challenging. This is an excellent volume of essays and speeches that track Dr Jackie Huggins's professional and personal journey, so far. It's a tantalising glimpse into the world of an amazing woman who challenges boundaries and core beliefs as she unpacks racism, feminism and all forms of oppression in Australia, as well as speaking to Tiddaism, identify and reconciliation.
Huggins quotes Ann McGrath on "...the importance of Black women's voices being heard more clearly: 'When Aboriginal women begin to narrate their own history, we must listen intently. For then a richer understanding of their reactions and also the mechanisms they evolved to cope with their subordination will emerge.'"
Sister Girl is one of those Black women's voices that needs to be listened to intently as it shares essential facts, feelings and concepts that are incredibly relevant for today's discussions on Voice, Treaty and Truth telling, as well as just getting to know more about Dr Jackie Huggins.
An essential read.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Jackie Huggins is a member of the Bidjara and Birri Gubba Juru people’s and her book shares several essays and speeches she’s written from 1987 to 2021. Each were clearly hand selected for this book. Looking at topics of the effects on colonisation, about her family, her mother, the lack of change that came from events such as the 1967 Referendum and unless you have asked for permission… don’t call Dr Huggins Aunty. Dr Huggins has provided numerous educational pieces to learn from and I could not recommend it more

[Charlie Capern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another eye opening look into how Indigenous Australians are oppressed, ignored and erased from history. As well as a refreshing look at white feminism, it's pitfalls and exclusion of anyone that isn't white. I really liked the format of essays, speeches and interviews and how hard topics are dealt with seamlessly.

[Peter Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenging and interesting work on Indigenous issues. Hard for a whitefella male to read but worth it in the end. Contains some cultural lessons that white fellas like me need to learn and integrate if possible. This book would be good for any Australian to read, but please leave your prejudices at home.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, but it’s a collection of her old essays and many of them are so outdated. I wish she’d used her old essays as a base and then discussed them today. The chapter with bell hooks (all the women are white) was excellent.

[Philip Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and rewarding collection of short insightful pieces from one of our learned Australians. Just don’t call her Aunty.

[Madilina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful read and very eloquently written.