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Book ID: CBB333531632

The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders read the stars (2022)

Hamacher, Duane W. (Author)

Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 2022
Language: English

ISBN: 9781761063800

Publication Date: 2022
Physical Details: 334

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Traditional knowledge Oral tradition; oral lore Forecasting; prediction Orbits; planets Stars; stellar astronomy Astronomers Indigenous peoples; indigeneity

The First Astronomers is the first book to reveal the rich knowledge of the stars and the planets held by First Peoples around the world. Our eyes have been drawn away from the skies to our screens. We no longer look to the stars to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders around the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them. These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe? Guided by six First Nations Elders, Duane Hamacher takes us on a journey across space and time to reveal the wisdom of the first astronomers. These living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. Indigenous science is dynamic, adapting to changes in the skies and on Earth, pointing the way for a world facing the profound disruptions of climate change.

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Reviewed By

Review Wayne Orchiston (2022) Review of "The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders read the stars". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage (pp. 333-335). unapi

Review Martin Bush (2023) Review of "First Know the Nature of Things: Celebrating the Life and Work of Denis John Carr (1915-2008) : Botanist, Scholar, Mentor". Historical Records of Australian Science (pp. 75-79). unapi

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