Celebrating the Launch of Tracking Dinosaurs
Image Credit Supplied: Daniel Roe (L), Debra Hannagan, Jade De Baecque, Steve Salisbury, Mary Ozies, Stanley Ozies and Ketrina Keeley.
On the 26th November 2024, the Broome Library hosted the launch of Tracking Dinosaurs, a captivating children's book written by Debra Hannagan and illustrated by Jade de Baecque. The book intertwines the Broome community's rich history with the Djukun Nation's Dreamtime stories, offering a unique glimpse into the cultural and natural wonders of the region.
Tracking Dinosaurs also features fascinating facts about 130-million-year-old footprints, detailing how they were formed and their significance. Palaeontologist Associate Professor Steve Salisbury reflected on the collaboration, saying, “This story beautifully combines western and Indigenous knowledge systems, providing a holistic understanding of the natural world. It’s personal for me, having learned so much from Traditional Owners.”
Djukun Elder Mary Ozies expressed gratitude to the creators, saying, “Thank you to Debra Hannagan and Jade de Baecque for collaborating with Traditional Owners, palaeontologist Steve Salisbury, and the Dinosaur Coast Management Group to bring this amazing book to life.”
Image Credit: Ashley Bin Omar. Associate Professor Steve Salisbury (L) and Stanley Ozies (R).
Djukun representative Stanley Ozies shared his pride, stating, “It’s wonderful to see our Djukun Dreamtime stories brought to life in this beautiful book.”
Palaeontologist Associate Professor Steve Salisbury said “The story this book conveys is a wonderful example of how western and Indigenous knowledge systems can come together to provide a deeper, more wholistic understanding of the natural world. In this case, it’s dinosaur tracks, but it could easily be something else. It’s a very personal story for me. When I first arrived in the Kimberley I was a bit like Kai. But now, after hanging out with Jani for a while, not only do I understand the tracks much better, I’m also happy to wait for the tides to go out and do a bit of fishing instead.”
Daniel Roe, General Manager of Goolarabooloo Millibinjarri Indigenous Corporation, added, "It was a privilege to have provided the cultural guidance and advice to the book, which also reflects on an indigenous cultural connection to the dinosaurs (namely Marala - Theropod) from parts of the West Kimberley coast of the Dampier Peninsula".
The book Tracking Dinosaurs is a testament to the power of collaboration, weaving science, art, and Indigenous storytelling from the Broome region to inspire future generations.
Video credit: 7News Regional, Western Australia
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