This is the story of Dujuan Hoosan, a 10-year-old Arrernte and Garawa boy. A wise, funny, cheeky boy. A healer.

Out bush, his healing power (Ngangkere) is calm and straight. But in town, it's wobbly and wild, like a snake.

He's in trouble at school, and with the police. He thinks there's something wrong with him.

Dujuan's family knows what to do: they send him to live out bush, to learn the ways of the old people, and the history that runs straight into all Aboriginal people.

So he can be proud of himself.

Illustrated by Blak Douglas, winner of the Archibald Prize 2022

Author Information

Dujuan Hoosan is an Arrernte and Garawa boy who grew up between his two homelands at Sandy Bore outstation near Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Spring Creek near Borroloola, situated on the banks of the McArthur River in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

When he was 12, Dujuan became the youngest person ever to address the Human Rights Council at the United Nations. He asked global leaders to support Australia to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years in line with the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights. He also asked that First Nations languages be taught in schools.

In June 2020, he was awarded the Liberty Victoria Young Voltaire Human Rights Award.

• Format: Hardback Book

• Pages: 64

• ISBN: 9781761263774

• Published: 31 October 2023