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MIN READ
Our August member spotlight is Aunty Munya Andrews, an Aboriginal Elder from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, who brings a rich tapestry of cultural knowledge, legal acumen, and educational expertise to her work.
Her journey is one of resilience, navigating through challenges to achieve qualifications in anthropology and law. Aunty Munya is not only a respected Elder but also an acclaimed author, barrister, educator, and a sought-after speaker known for her deep wisdom and ability to articulate complex cultural concepts with clarity and grace.
Aunty Munya’s books include Ask Aunty: Seasons, Journey Into Dreamtime, The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, Practical Reconciliation: Strengthening Relationships for all Australians in Seven Steps (co-authored with her Evolve Communities co-Director, Carla Rogers), and Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills, which has been shortlisted for the Karajia Award for Children’s Literature.
What inspired you to begin a writing career?
I don’t think of writing as having a ‘career’ at all. Had you asked, ‘what inspired me to write,’ I would say it’s more about having something to say about a certain subject or topic’ and feeling that what I have to say is contributing to humanity’s cauldron or repository of knowledge. Whether that’s of benefit or worth to humanity is a matter of opinion not ego for me.
What does it mean to you to have Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills be shortlisted for the Nonfiction Karajia Award?
Recognition of any kind is flattering. Writing awards like Karajia are a statement about the perceived value of books that inspire a love for nature and First Nations cultures. Preserving and maintaining Indigenous languages is a great passion of mine and it’s great to see my Bardi language celebrated in the book to be shared with all Australians. Being shortlisted for the award is recognition enough for which I am already grateful. Winning it will ensure that recognition spreads.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?
I’d never written a children’s book until my publisher, Hardie Grant approached me to see if I might be interested in doing a children’s series of ‘Ask Aunty’ books. So, I’m pretty much at the start of writing for children and am learning heaps as I go. I also learn a lot from the editing team whose feedback is constructive and invaluable. Writing for children is very different from writing for adults and it’s a particular skill as an educator and writer that I hope to hone and develop further.
Which Australian authors and illustrators are influential for you?
I’d never thought much of children’s books before, so I can’t say I’ve been influenced by any writer. However, I did attend a writer’s festival in Adelaide a couple of years ago and was fortunate to hear Mem Fox talk about her experiences of writing the award-winning children’s book Possum Magic and her personal insights in the process. She was fabulous and I learned so much from her. She is very inspirational. I’m very lucky to have as my books’ illustrator, Bundjalung artist Charmaine Ledden-Lewis who is incredibly talented. Her artwork is stunningly awesome that makes my lian (spirit) feel good. The Old People are also moved by her beautiful images.
Why are you a member of the ASA?
To be among a community of creative artists and kindred souls that makes me feel a part of something much greater than ourselves.
Find out more about Aunty Munya and Evolve Communities at evolves.com.au.
