Yarning Strong Dallas Davis, the Scientist and the City Kids

Warning to First Nations Peoples: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the contents in Yarning Strong may include names and images of people now deceased.

Dallas’s friend Ash has great tickets for the AFL game this weekend. But Dallas’s dad wants him to go to Baroota, his family’s land, which a group of academics is assessing for scientific value. If Baroota is suitable for study, the family will be able to remove the ecologically damaging sheep that currently run on the land. The exciting events of the weekend–which include being the first Nukunu to walk the traditional land for more than 100 years, and using bush medicine in a dangerous emergency–show Dallas that he can go to the football any weekend, but that time on the land is irreplaceable.

Dallas Davis, the Scientist and the City Kids is part of the Yarning Strong series, a vibrant and purposeful series of novels and anthologies by First Nations authors, created to inspire Years 3–6 students while supporting meaningful classroom learning. Rich in story, voice and perspective, each text offers teachers and students authentic opportunities to explore First Nations cultures and experiences through high‑quality literature.

Themes: Taking responsibility of the land • Taking responsibility for younger people • The importance of knowledge and learning