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hanbanshee's review against another edition
5.0
This is a pretty extraordinary primer to beginning to recognise the depth and breadth of Indigenous knowledges, and the integration of understandings that connects peoples with not only the world around them/us, but with the entire universe. Deeply respectful of the Elders and Knowledge Holders who have generously shared their teachings, Hamacher writes for a non-Indigenous audience to help loosen the grip of Eurological white-settler epistemology-supremacy, demonstrating that Euro/settler science is not the only way of knowing and very often not the best or most accurate way of knowing.
stories's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Wow. Really glad I read this, and tempted to track down a paper copy of my own.
I could see this being my field of study in another life - the interconnection of Indigenous knowledge, lore, law and Western astrophysics.
This book was inspiring, it made me long to return to the NT/Kimberly and while it doesn’t help me identify *how* to embed Indigenous knowledge into my classroom, it certainly reignites my desire to try.
Very accessible for a beginner when it comes to exploring both cultural and scientific knowledge.
Bonus points for illustrating how to smoothly and respectful acknowledge Indigenous elders and their custodianship.
I could see this being my field of study in another life - the interconnection of Indigenous knowledge, lore, law and Western astrophysics.
This book was inspiring, it made me long to return to the NT/Kimberly and while it doesn’t help me identify *how* to embed Indigenous knowledge into my classroom, it certainly reignites my desire to try.
Very accessible for a beginner when it comes to exploring both cultural and scientific knowledge.
Bonus points for illustrating how to smoothly and respectful acknowledge Indigenous elders and their custodianship.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
henrymarlene's review against another edition
4.0
“We all inherit this ancient knowledge but only if we respect it”.
Indigenous knowledge is complex and scientific. It comes from observations, stories, recollections, analysis, wisdom passed through generations across thousands of years. Aboriginal people have been able to maintain such a body of knowledge about the stars and pass it down through oral traditional stories. This book, “The First Astronomers” debunks the beliefs that Indigenous knowledge does not contain science: in fact, the insights it provides is so valuable to many of the problems our world faces today.
A poignant part of this book for me was when Hamacher talked about the legal proceedings of Mao where a judge travelled to the Torres Strait where an Elder explained the songs, the history and tradition that led to the winning of sea rights. The application and acceptance of Indigenous Knowledge as part of “western science” is integral – it is so much older and it demonstrates “deep levels of understanding about the world”.
Galileo may have been describing the stars and auroras in the 1600s, however the extraordinary observational skills of the Indigenous people around the world, including the First Nations peoples of Australia were captured in story and artefacts for thousands of years earlier. Indigenous astronomy is “the astronomy of First Peoples, and it is the astronomy that existed and thrived before the advent of Western science”.
Indigenous knowledge is complex and scientific. It comes from observations, stories, recollections, analysis, wisdom passed through generations across thousands of years. Aboriginal people have been able to maintain such a body of knowledge about the stars and pass it down through oral traditional stories. This book, “The First Astronomers” debunks the beliefs that Indigenous knowledge does not contain science: in fact, the insights it provides is so valuable to many of the problems our world faces today.
A poignant part of this book for me was when Hamacher talked about the legal proceedings of Mao where a judge travelled to the Torres Strait where an Elder explained the songs, the history and tradition that led to the winning of sea rights. The application and acceptance of Indigenous Knowledge as part of “western science” is integral – it is so much older and it demonstrates “deep levels of understanding about the world”.
Galileo may have been describing the stars and auroras in the 1600s, however the extraordinary observational skills of the Indigenous people around the world, including the First Nations peoples of Australia were captured in story and artefacts for thousands of years earlier. Indigenous astronomy is “the astronomy of First Peoples, and it is the astronomy that existed and thrived before the advent of Western science”.
sisyphista's review against another edition
5.0
Thorough, insightful, and masterfully told. A must-read for any budding astronomer, and an excellent blueprint for scientists eager to collaborate with traditional knowledge holders to break new ground in the field.