Ngangk Waangening – Mothers Stories
Book Review by doula Mima Michael
This book brings together the birthing stories of Noongar and Yamatji Elders on Noongar Country. The women share deeply personal accounts of their births, often highlighting the challenges of giving birth in remote and difficult circumstances. These stories acknowledge the significant role that Aboriginal women play in keeping cultural knowledge and traditions alive through birth. It is also a resource that can help health professionals better understand the cultural, emotional and educational importance of birth within Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.
As a proud Wiradjuri woman born on Noongar Boodja, mother to four daughters (currently boodjari with number 4), two of whom are Noongar Wiradjuri, I honestly struggled reading the racism, discrimination and disrespect these women received during moments in their lives that should have left them feeling empowered, seen and heard.
Ngangk Waangening – Mother’s Stories – Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre
Why is this book an important read?
On page 24: “We need others to acknowledge that we are the oldest continuous living culture, we are still here, we practice our culture and there is so much that others can learn from us if they choose to listen.”
On page 48: “My old people used to say that to survive in this world you’ve got to learn the white man’s way and you have to live with these people. We can’t take back what we had – we have to continue and share with everyone.”
These two powerful statements are why.
They speak volumes about how far, yet how little we’ve come. That we may have rights, even a “Sorry Day,” yet the true history isn’t being taught or told in our schools. Our stories – not just our birth stories – aren’t being told. Our traditions are still not being acknowledged, let alone taught and handed down, with many cultural practices being lost.
What did I get most out of this book?
The power of the fourth trimester. Many of our women struggled in hospital, often feeling alone, scared and invisible. All that changed when they were back home with their families. Their family often supported them with their children, with many women needing additional help due to illness or complications from birth. Each home had strong presence of both male and female’s, with no mention of domestic violence, which also shows the effects of generational trauma in today’s day and age with many of our children being born into broken, violent homes. This book gives a true insight into Aboriginal family dynamics; it doesn’t matter whose baby it is – they are all loved the same and treated as their own child.
How would this book be beneficial to women?
I think this book gives insight into the depth of trauma and why there is so much broken trust between Mob and clinical environments, and with the Department of Communities. Stories are shared of midwives assuming mothers were adopting their children out, of children being taken and placed in missions.
It’s 2025 Aboriginal children make up 44% of children in care – they are 10 times more likely to be removed from their home compared to a non-Indigenous child. This book shows the importance of making Mob feel seen and heard, and to truly appreciate the trust given when it is offered.
Why am I recommending this book to women?
To be honest, I read this book to pass down knowledge to my children. But after reading it, I see there’s a real importance for non-Indigenous people to read these stories – to understand generational trauma, to learn how to assist Aboriginal women to be treated as equals, but to also put themselves in these families shoes.
The woman sharing these stories are still alive today, some of them could be similar age to your own mothers.
In fact there are so many learning opportunities written directly from women who have felt neglected and unheard, to educate and protect others from going through what they’ve gone through.
This photo is three of my daughters, standing on Noongar Boodja. My youngest Zayah Michael having family connections to Aunty Doreen Nelson from this incredible book.
With permission it is a great privilege to share my Nan’s story, who is still alive and well at 83 years old today.
The Story of Barbara Carroll
My Nan was born into white privilege in 1942. Her father was a Police Sergeant who had an Aboriginal tracker whose wife was a nanny (servant) to my Nan. The pair of them didn’t receive a wage, just flour, sugar and clothing items.
They looked after my Nan with such love and care that when her parents later died, they adopted my Nan and loved her like she was one of their own. My Nan is still extremely close with her tribal sisters today.
My Nan fell in love with an Aboriginal man and like any couple in love they wanted to get married. But instead of this being a happy time in my grandparents’ lives, my Nan instantly felt the wrath that having coloured skin brought.
She was stripped of her rights, was no longer allowed to vote, was no longer allowed to live in housing or enter certain areas of town (Narrandera) and the list goes on.
They then started a family of their own. My Uncle Tony being the first born. When I asked my Nan if she was treated poorly due to the staff knowing she was having an Aboriginal Child, I must admit my Nan’s response made me laugh. She said with a cheeky look on her face “I simply didn’t tell them I was carrying an Aboriginal child, they got a lovely surprise when both your Uncle and Aunty were born.”
My Mum is the youngest of my grandparents’ children, yet she was the first to be born with a birth certificate in 1968, a year after Aboriginals received rights.
My Uncle and Aunty had the same rights as a kangaroo – if they came on to your property you could shoot and kill – again please look at the time frame of my Nan’s story and all the woman in this book.
They are not from a distant past – they are raw and recent, living memories.
This book is a powerful indication of why there is still so much distrust, fear and pain between Aboriginal people and the white system. Until these truths are acknowledged and respected, true healing cannot begin.
I have included a photo of the woman who birthed me, my mother – Allison Carroll a proud Wiradjuri woman, the one who raised me, my Nan – Barbara Carroll, my three daughters who empower me to be the best version of myself and my handsome Hubbie – Talan Michael a proud Noongar man, son of Stephen Michael.
My name is Mima – the woman behind Mima’s Mothering servicing the Southwest (Bunbury) area who has trained through the Doula Training Academy.
If you would like more information about my services, please contact me:
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