Indigenous Literacy Day 2024 to include launch of three bilingual titles
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) has called for registrations ahead of its annual Indigenous Literacy Day, which is running this Wednesday, 4 September, and will feature a film, a livestreamed event, and the launch of three new bilingual books.
ILF’s ‘annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Stories, Cultures, and Languages’ is this year themed ‘Be a proud voice for Country’ and will again feature a livestream from the Sydney Opera House, as well as a film.
The film showcases unique stories, languages and cultures from three Aboriginal Communities. Said the ILF: ‘You’ll learn about Dreaming stories from the riverbank in Cunnamulla; join teenagers as they explore culture through poetry and art in Vincentia; and hear incredible stories and songs from children and Elders on the Tiwi Islands.’
Meanwhile, the livestream event, which will follow the film, will be ‘a celebration of music, dance, art, language and storytelling’, featuring ILF ambassadors including Jessica Mauboy, Bianca Hunt, Gregg Dreise, Justine Clarke and Josh Pyke.
For the first time, during this ILD livestream event, the ILF will also launch three new bilingual books. Books to be launched—all published by the ILF—include ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra-unggul (we belong to the land, we belong to the sea), a collection of poems and stories in Dhurga and English; bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr (The Boys Who Found Their Way), written also in Dhurga and English; and Yalta Ngayuku Papa? (Where’s My Dog?), a picture book in English and Pitjantjatjara.
Two of the books were written by Indigenous Year 7–10 students at Vincentia High School on the South Coast of NSW, during workshops with proud Gunai woman, author and award-winning multidisciplinary artist Kirli Saunders and visual arts teacher and proud Dharawal woman Jaz Corr.
Aunty Gai Brown, Aboriginal education coordinator at Vincentia High and Wreck Bay Community member said of these two books: ‘These books are the culmination of years of Community dedication and perseverance to revive the Dhurga language. It is the first time our Community kids have had the opportunity to express their connection to the land and waterways of their Country using the traditional language of their ancestors.’
Meanwhile, the picture book was created by students of Tjuntjuntjara Remote Community School, home of the Spinifex people, located in the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia, and produced in a workshop with Scottish writer Stewart Ennis and Community consultant and artist Ange Leech.
Ennis said of the book: ‘There are a lot of dogs in Tjuntjuntjara and the children’s dogs all had these fantastic names—Wi-Fi, One-Side, Army Girl, and so on. That was interesting enough, but then they began to draw their dogs, and these dog pictures were so full with character … But one of the most important characters in the book is Country itself, so it makes sense that each page of the book is framed by the images of the Tjuntjuntjara red dirt earth.’
Students involved in creating the books will travel to Sydney for the ILD event.
‘Stories are so important,’ said Mauboy. ‘Sharing stories, songs, and keeping the fire of culture alive is so important to who I am! These deadly stories from First Nations Communities keep culture and language alive.’
Pictured: Jessica Mauboy.
Category: Events Local news
