What does it mean to belong? For Dr Marion Kickett, the answer has always been clear. Nidja Boodjar Danjoo – Here on Country Together – is a deeply personal journey into the heart of the York Native Reserve, where generations of Barladong Noongar families forged lives rich in love, kinship and culture despite the relentless pressures of racism, poverty and government control. Through vivid childhood memories, family stories and the voices of those who lived alongside her, Marion paints an unforgettable portrait of a community that refused to lose its identity. From evenings around the fire sharing lambs’ tails, to swimming in the Avon River, escaping the fear of police patrols, and witnessing the heartbreak of the Stolen Generations, these stories reveal both the hardships endured and the extraordinary resilience that sustained her people. Honest, moving, often humorous and always deeply human, Nidja Boodjar Danjoo is an important work of truth-telling. It preserves memories for future generations while inviting all Australians to better understand the strength, dignity and enduring spirit of Noongar families who always knew where they belonged. This is not simply one family’s story. It is Australia’s story.
