Latest news with #IndigenousLiteracyFoundation
SBS Australia
18-07-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Yirrkala children's books celebrate Yolŋu language, life and culture
Three vibrant children's books created in the remote Northern Territory community of Yirrkala are celebrating Yolŋu culture, language and storytelling - through the eyes and voices of Elders, families and schoolchildren. Published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), the books were developed in a collaborative workshop with local artists, writers and students from Yirrkala School. The books reflect the school's long-standing commitment to bilingual 'both ways' education - an approach that values and nurtures Yolŋu knowledge and English literacy side by side. One of the standout titles, On the Way to Yalaŋbara, was written and illustrated by respected Yolŋu Elders Aunty Rärriwuy Garramu Marika and Aunty Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs. The story recounts a real-life trip to the sacred homeland of Yalaŋbara, blending personal memory with deep cultural significance. 'It's a very beautiful place,' said Aunty Merrkiyawuy. 'The water is clear and the freshwater hole is right next to the sea. A lot of turtles come up and lay their eggs all along the beach.' Aunty Rärriwuy explained the inspiration came from a trip with a visitor from Melbourne University. 'We decided to take her out to our homelands. But you have to know how to drive on sand... I thought about the photos we took on that day and our adventures of not quite reaching Yalaŋbara - and we decided to turn it into a book.' The illustrations combine Aunty Merrkiyawuy's detailed pencil and ink drawings with background watercolours created by Yirrkala School students. The story was written first in Dhaŋu language, then translated into English. The Yolŋu version, Bala Yalaŋbarali, will be kept for community use, while the English edition will be shared more widely. Another title, Ŋäṉḏi ga Gatapaŋa (Mum and the Buffalo), tells a humorous and unexpected tale of a family's close encounter with a buffalo while out collecting pandanus. Written by Djawundil Maymara - a Maŋgalili woman from Bawaka - the story is bilingual in Dhuwaya and English, and features illustrations by Yirrkala students. The third book, Guḻun' (Billabong), is a vibrant counting book that introduces young readers to twelve local animals found around the billabong, also written in Dhuwaya and English. Together, the three books are a powerful expression of Yolŋu storytelling - led by community, grounded in Country, and guided by language and kinship.
The Advertiser
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
A season for busking: children's book inspires song
Dalisa Pigram Ross prides herself on carrying on the work of protecting the culture of her Elders. As the Yawuru language teacher at Western Australia's Cable Beach Primary School in Broome, it's also her passion and responsibility to pass this knowledge down to the next generation While students love these lessons, she and the other teachers she works with often struggle to find books and other resources to use. "So they thought, 'let's make it ourselves'," Ms Pigrim Ross told AAP. "They did beautiful block painting to reflect the six Yawuru seasons and the deep knowledge Yawuru people have for following the signs and telling us what season we're in." With Ms Pigram Ross guiding the cultural and language components, the book Country Tells Us When was published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in 2023. While the text was first intended to be a resource for the Cable Beach school community, she says it's had a "ripple effect". Now, children from across the country will be learning a song inspired by the award-winning book as part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Busking for Change Initiative. The song, co-written by musician Josh Pyke, rapper and drummer DOBBY and children's entertainer Justine Clarke, embodies the story of Country, and features Yawuru language. "Country is our oldest family member," Ms Pigram Ross said. "The song reflects that Country is our book and our teacher to be able to help guide us through the changing seasons." While turning a book into a song was not an easy task, it was a rewarding process Rhyan Clapham, also known as DOBBY, said. The song has been recorded by Tehya Makani - a Yawuru actor and singer and Ms Pigram Ross' niece. Working with Ms Makani and Ms Pigram Ross was a vital part of the process, DOBBY said. "It contains beautiful, enriching information about their Country, so it has to be told by someone from that Country who belongs to and relates back to there," the Ngemba and Murrawarri man said. The goal in 2025 is for 100 schools to get involved in Busking for Change and raise $80,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador and educator Shelley Ware said the money raised helps children access books, and see themselves in the stories they read. "We're looking at the rich knowledge held on Country and put it into a book to help children in schools connect to that, and children in these communities see themselves reflected," she said. "It spreads a lot of knowledge around not only Australia but these books are going worldwide, and it's helping people see the value of our beautiful people and our cultures." Dalisa Pigram Ross prides herself on carrying on the work of protecting the culture of her Elders. As the Yawuru language teacher at Western Australia's Cable Beach Primary School in Broome, it's also her passion and responsibility to pass this knowledge down to the next generation While students love these lessons, she and the other teachers she works with often struggle to find books and other resources to use. "So they thought, 'let's make it ourselves'," Ms Pigrim Ross told AAP. "They did beautiful block painting to reflect the six Yawuru seasons and the deep knowledge Yawuru people have for following the signs and telling us what season we're in." With Ms Pigram Ross guiding the cultural and language components, the book Country Tells Us When was published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in 2023. While the text was first intended to be a resource for the Cable Beach school community, she says it's had a "ripple effect". Now, children from across the country will be learning a song inspired by the award-winning book as part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Busking for Change Initiative. The song, co-written by musician Josh Pyke, rapper and drummer DOBBY and children's entertainer Justine Clarke, embodies the story of Country, and features Yawuru language. "Country is our oldest family member," Ms Pigram Ross said. "The song reflects that Country is our book and our teacher to be able to help guide us through the changing seasons." While turning a book into a song was not an easy task, it was a rewarding process Rhyan Clapham, also known as DOBBY, said. The song has been recorded by Tehya Makani - a Yawuru actor and singer and Ms Pigram Ross' niece. Working with Ms Makani and Ms Pigram Ross was a vital part of the process, DOBBY said. "It contains beautiful, enriching information about their Country, so it has to be told by someone from that Country who belongs to and relates back to there," the Ngemba and Murrawarri man said. The goal in 2025 is for 100 schools to get involved in Busking for Change and raise $80,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador and educator Shelley Ware said the money raised helps children access books, and see themselves in the stories they read. "We're looking at the rich knowledge held on Country and put it into a book to help children in schools connect to that, and children in these communities see themselves reflected," she said. "It spreads a lot of knowledge around not only Australia but these books are going worldwide, and it's helping people see the value of our beautiful people and our cultures." Dalisa Pigram Ross prides herself on carrying on the work of protecting the culture of her Elders. As the Yawuru language teacher at Western Australia's Cable Beach Primary School in Broome, it's also her passion and responsibility to pass this knowledge down to the next generation While students love these lessons, she and the other teachers she works with often struggle to find books and other resources to use. "So they thought, 'let's make it ourselves'," Ms Pigrim Ross told AAP. "They did beautiful block painting to reflect the six Yawuru seasons and the deep knowledge Yawuru people have for following the signs and telling us what season we're in." With Ms Pigram Ross guiding the cultural and language components, the book Country Tells Us When was published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in 2023. While the text was first intended to be a resource for the Cable Beach school community, she says it's had a "ripple effect". Now, children from across the country will be learning a song inspired by the award-winning book as part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Busking for Change Initiative. The song, co-written by musician Josh Pyke, rapper and drummer DOBBY and children's entertainer Justine Clarke, embodies the story of Country, and features Yawuru language. "Country is our oldest family member," Ms Pigram Ross said. "The song reflects that Country is our book and our teacher to be able to help guide us through the changing seasons." While turning a book into a song was not an easy task, it was a rewarding process Rhyan Clapham, also known as DOBBY, said. The song has been recorded by Tehya Makani - a Yawuru actor and singer and Ms Pigram Ross' niece. Working with Ms Makani and Ms Pigram Ross was a vital part of the process, DOBBY said. "It contains beautiful, enriching information about their Country, so it has to be told by someone from that Country who belongs to and relates back to there," the Ngemba and Murrawarri man said. The goal in 2025 is for 100 schools to get involved in Busking for Change and raise $80,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador and educator Shelley Ware said the money raised helps children access books, and see themselves in the stories they read. "We're looking at the rich knowledge held on Country and put it into a book to help children in schools connect to that, and children in these communities see themselves reflected," she said. "It spreads a lot of knowledge around not only Australia but these books are going worldwide, and it's helping people see the value of our beautiful people and our cultures." Dalisa Pigram Ross prides herself on carrying on the work of protecting the culture of her Elders. As the Yawuru language teacher at Western Australia's Cable Beach Primary School in Broome, it's also her passion and responsibility to pass this knowledge down to the next generation While students love these lessons, she and the other teachers she works with often struggle to find books and other resources to use. "So they thought, 'let's make it ourselves'," Ms Pigrim Ross told AAP. "They did beautiful block painting to reflect the six Yawuru seasons and the deep knowledge Yawuru people have for following the signs and telling us what season we're in." With Ms Pigram Ross guiding the cultural and language components, the book Country Tells Us When was published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in 2023. While the text was first intended to be a resource for the Cable Beach school community, she says it's had a "ripple effect". Now, children from across the country will be learning a song inspired by the award-winning book as part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Busking for Change Initiative. The song, co-written by musician Josh Pyke, rapper and drummer DOBBY and children's entertainer Justine Clarke, embodies the story of Country, and features Yawuru language. "Country is our oldest family member," Ms Pigram Ross said. "The song reflects that Country is our book and our teacher to be able to help guide us through the changing seasons." While turning a book into a song was not an easy task, it was a rewarding process Rhyan Clapham, also known as DOBBY, said. The song has been recorded by Tehya Makani - a Yawuru actor and singer and Ms Pigram Ross' niece. Working with Ms Makani and Ms Pigram Ross was a vital part of the process, DOBBY said. "It contains beautiful, enriching information about their Country, so it has to be told by someone from that Country who belongs to and relates back to there," the Ngemba and Murrawarri man said. The goal in 2025 is for 100 schools to get involved in Busking for Change and raise $80,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador and educator Shelley Ware said the money raised helps children access books, and see themselves in the stories they read. "We're looking at the rich knowledge held on Country and put it into a book to help children in schools connect to that, and children in these communities see themselves reflected," she said. "It spreads a lot of knowledge around not only Australia but these books are going worldwide, and it's helping people see the value of our beautiful people and our cultures."
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
A season for busking: children's book inspires song
Dalisa Pigram Ross prides herself on carrying on the work of protecting the culture of her Elders. As the Yawuru language teacher at Western Australia's Cable Beach Primary School in Broome, it's also her passion and responsibility to pass this knowledge down to the next generation While students love these lessons, she and the other teachers she works with often struggle to find books and other resources to use. "So they thought, 'let's make it ourselves'," Ms Pigrim Ross told AAP. "They did beautiful block painting to reflect the six Yawuru seasons and the deep knowledge Yawuru people have for following the signs and telling us what season we're in." With Ms Pigram Ross guiding the cultural and language components, the book Country Tells Us When was published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in 2023. While the text was first intended to be a resource for the Cable Beach school community, she says it's had a "ripple effect". Now, children from across the country will be learning a song inspired by the award-winning book as part of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Busking for Change Initiative. The song, co-written by musician Josh Pyke, rapper and drummer DOBBY and children's entertainer Justine Clarke, embodies the story of Country, and features Yawuru language. "Country is our oldest family member," Ms Pigram Ross said. "The song reflects that Country is our book and our teacher to be able to help guide us through the changing seasons." While turning a book into a song was not an easy task, it was a rewarding process Rhyan Clapham, also known as DOBBY, said. The song has been recorded by Tehya Makani - a Yawuru actor and singer and Ms Pigram Ross' niece. Working with Ms Makani and Ms Pigram Ross was a vital part of the process, DOBBY said. "It contains beautiful, enriching information about their Country, so it has to be told by someone from that Country who belongs to and relates back to there," the Ngemba and Murrawarri man said. The goal in 2025 is for 100 schools to get involved in Busking for Change and raise $80,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador and educator Shelley Ware said the money raised helps children access books, and see themselves in the stories they read. "We're looking at the rich knowledge held on Country and put it into a book to help children in schools connect to that, and children in these communities see themselves reflected," she said. "It spreads a lot of knowledge around not only Australia but these books are going worldwide, and it's helping people see the value of our beautiful people and our cultures."
SBS Australia
19-05-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Remote First Nations communities celebrate million-book milestone
SBS Indonesian 19/05/2025 08:46 The Indigenous Literacy Foundation's Book Supply program has given that opportunity to thousands of people in remote communities. It has just marked a major milestone, providing one million books to hundreds of remote communities across Australia, half of them authored by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. These books allow young Australians to see themselves reflected in the books. Listen to the full podcast. Listen to on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Follow us on and , and don't miss our
