Coo-ee from Chinese Australians: Echoing The Long Connections with Indigenous Communities

Abstract

The word "cooee" originates from the Dharug word 'guu-wii', meaning 'come here'. It is used to project one’s voice over long distances. Its echo finds people at a distance and indicates one’s own location.

The Chinese Australian community shares a rich history of interaction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. There are narratives from the Gold Rush era, with tales of Chinese settlers in Outback Australia. Early Chinese migration began in the 1850s, with Chinese people settling in many parts of Australia. Their connections with Indigenous Peoples are evident in various forms of collaboration, art, history, culture, mythology, food and innovation, drawing upon individual experiences and shared stories.

This report reimagines the past, present and future of enduring connections and profound interweavings between the Chinese Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.