Lola Young: Medicine Woman and Teacher

WEST AUSTRALIANA ABORIGINAL
Lola Young: Medicine Woman is a book in two parts. The first is Lola’s life story; an oral history that gives the reader direct access to Lola’s strength of character, commitment and wicked sense of humour. The second is a list of plants and their uses compiled by Anna Vitenbergs and Lola for the Wakuthuni Community in the Pilbara.

Lola and Anne met at Lola’s home in Tom Price over a period of eighteen months to check and expand the plant list and record Lola’s story. Each plant, and there are 60 in total, is accompanied by a full colour photograph. The book includes a CD of Lola’s songs (passed on to Lola from her ancestors) and recorded by Gumala, at an Aboriginal recording studio in Tom Price.
“Lola Young: Medicine woman and teacher” begins with the poignant and delicately woven story of Lola Young (Ngamingu)., a remarkable and inspiring Aboriginal woman with a wicked sense of humour. Born in Australia’s Pilbara region Lola Young has been teaching Aboriginal culture, bush medicine and bush tucker to black and white people since she established the Wakuthuni (“laughing kangaroo”) community in 1990.

The book includes a beautifully illustrated section showcasing 60 plants and their uses – and is interspersed with charming asides and anecdotes. The CD includes six songs as sung to Lola by the spirits of her ancestors.
160 p. : col. ill., map, ports. ; 20 cm. + 1 audio CD (4 3/4 in.) Computer disc in pocket inside back cover. #230122/230423
Young, Lola. | Women, Aboriginal Australian — Western Australia — Biography. | Aboriginal Australians — Western Australia — Pilbara — Social life and customs. | Endemic plants — Western Australia — Pilbara — Identification.