Another Day in the Colony

By: Chelsea Watego

Narrated by: Chelsea Watego

A ground-breaking work—and a call to arms—that exposes the ongoing colonial violence experienced by First Nations people.

In this collection of deeply insightful and powerful essays, Chelsea Watego examines the ongoing and daily racism faced by First Nations peoples in so-called Australia. Rather than offer yet another account of ‘the Aboriginal problem’, she theorises a strategy for living in a society that has only ever imagined Indigenous peoples as destined to die out.

Drawing on her own experiences and observations of the operations of the colony, she exposes the lies that settlers tell about Indigenous people. In refusing such stories, Chelsea narrates her own: fierce, personal, sometimes funny, sometimes anguished. She speaks not of fighting back but of standing her ground against colonialism in academia, in court and in the media. It’s a stance that takes its toll on relationships, career prospects and even the body.

Yet when told to have hope, Watego’s response rings clear: F--k hope. Be sovereign.

Chelsea Watego is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman born and raised on Yuggera country. First trained as an Aboriginal health worker, she is an Indigenist health humanities scholar, prolific writer and public intellectual. When not referred to as ‘Vern and Elaine’s baby’, she is also Kihi, Maya, Eliakim, Vernon and George’s mum. In 2022, Another Day in the Colony was longlisted for the Stella Prize.

©2021 Chelsea Watego (P)2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Through inspiring acts of sovereignty and triumphant resistance, Chelsea Watego crafts a powerful and important personal account that is a must-read: confronting, generous, moving and insightful. She is a defining voice of her generation and our people." (Professor Larissa Behrendt)

"This book is the truth telling of a lone runner. Chelsea is running a race and can’t see anyone in front of her and she can’t see anyone behind her but she never stops running. She is not in the race to win and she is not in the race to lose either. She is in the race to tell her story, of self, which is the story of many of her mob. She knows this story so well because she has lived it her whole life. This book is a must-read for all citizens of this country called 'Australia'." (Dr Lilla Watson)