My Story: Shellie Morris

Fewer than 10 fluent speakers of the Yanyuwa language remain in the world and Shellie Morris is one of them. Working with family members from her grandmother’s country in Borroloola, NT, Shellie has recorded a beautiful album sung entirely in the endangered language.

But Shellie’s story may not have turned out this way had it not been for a serendipitous event that saw her reconnect with her aboriginal heritage.

Shellie’s grandmother was part of the stolen generation, taken as a young girl she walked hundreds of miles back home to Borroloola.

Fast-forward to Shellie as a baby being surrendered into adoption due the fact that she was ‘half caste’ and therefore a ‘difficult’ child to raise. Having enjoyed being brought up in a loving family in Sydney, as an adult she was working in a rental car company where she serendipitously learns of a look a like sister in Kakadu, which lead her to reconnect with her Aboriginal heritage.

Shellie joins the program and shares her inspiring story:

Click here to listen.

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