In My Blood It Runs

In My Blood It Runs

by Dujuan Hoosan, Margaret Anderson, Carol Turner

Illustrated by Black Douglas, winner of the Archibald Prize 2022

Published by Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN 9781761263774

For ages 8 - teens

You may have seen the documentary film about Dujuan Hoosa, a ten year old Arrernte and Garawa boy. For a boy of his age he is wise, he is also funny and is deemed a healer.

However, he doesn't fit in with school life or living as expected of him in Alice Springs. He describes he feels something wriggling inside of him when he is in town, like a snake, but when out bush things change for the better.

Dujuan is not exactly sure what it is but he feels he is different and it doesn't help him when he is adversely influenced by other older boys. One night his mum finds out he is out riding a bike that doesn't belong to him, but there are quite a few other situations that are cause for her concern. He is after all only 10 years old. It is not long before he is in trouble with the police and he fears being taken away to "juvie" (juvenile justice) and locked up.

Fearing the cruelty he has heard about that is sometimes metered out to juveniles in the justice system only heightens his fear. Adding that to what he has heard about the Stolen Generations he knows he definitely doesn't want to be taken away from his family.

While the beginning of the story aligns with some of the issues we read in the news, the story soon becomes far more interesting when his mum and extended family connect Dujuan to his family history and their cultural stories He goes out bush to live with his father and relatives giving him the opportunity to learn about his Aboriginal history from his elders who impress upon him why it is important to have this knowledge, respect and his role for future generations.

It is an interesting story that gives a better understanding of Aboriginal family history their stories and the difference it makes.

The author

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.

At the age of 12, Dujuan became the youngest person 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.