News from the ILF Yawuru Country (Broome), 2022. Photo by Wayne Quilliam. Yamandhu marang Friend, We have also started to receive the books for our 2023 Book Supply program in our warehouse and we are preparing packs for distribution next year. For those registered, please make sure we have your correct details via the registration portal! Please help us to continue our programs next year by supporting us this Festive Season. We are aiming to raise $100,000. You can support us by donating via our beautiful Gift of Reading card campaign and you now have the option of digital cards. Every dollar counts, so please if you can, give generously. And if you have little ones in your life, please think about purchasing one of the beautiful bilingual books available through our shop. They are an ideal gift to introduce young readers to First Nations languages and stories. Mandaang guwu, Ben Bowen To celebrate UNESCO's first year of the Decade of Indigenous Languages, each month we encourage readers to learn a new word in either an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language. This month's word is echidna in Bundjalung language! Illustration from Yakanarra Song Book, published by ILF, 2016. Country Tells Us When Our publishing team sent three editions of a new book, Country Tells Us When... to print this month! This story shares how the Yawuru people, the traditional owners of the lands and waters in and around Rubibi (the town of Broome) read the seasons, and the three editions reflect Yawuru, Mangala and Karajarri languages. Indigenous Leadership Summit ILF CEO Ben Bowen spoke about his unconventional approach to leadership at the Indigenous Leadership Summit this month. Thank you to all attendees who supported us in the raffle prize, book sales and donations. We are so grateful for the opportunity to connect with other First Nations leaders. ILF Trivia Night This month we held an ILF Trivia Night in Melbourne for the first time since the pandemic. Thank you for all those who attended and supported our Foundation. In addition to a tremendous amount of laughter, the event raised over $15,000 in donations. A massive thank you to event organiser Kristin Gill, host Brian Nankervis and our generous volunteers. NATSIPA Conference ILF Programs and Publishing Managers Zoe and Nicola were at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principal’s Association (NATSIPA) conference this month. It was a great opportunity to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and New Zealand teachers and experts. The ILF books were a big hit too! Indigenous Youth Language Forum ILF staff Ella, Jolene and Emma attended the Indigenous Youth Language Forum this month and held a presentation about the power of books in First Languages. The team also had the opportunity to network and learn how to strengthen language through their work. The Gift of Books - "Almost too good to be true" Zoe Smith, a Speech Pathologist at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs, Northern Territory talks about the impact of Book Supply. Kelly says the books gifted by ILF have been making a real difference for the children she sees for speech and occupational therapy. Read the blog here. Advance Copies of Two New Titles This month, our publishing team were excited to receive advance copies of two new books, We Look, We Find and Stori bla brutbrut en bujigat (Story about Mouse and Cat). Copies are now on their way to our warehouse and we can't wait to share them with you in the new year! Launch of Monsters of Mckyus Friends and family of McKyus Levi, the author of Monsters of McKyus, gathered at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait to celebrate the community launch of his first book. The sense of pride felt by the community attending the launch was palpable, as people spoke about how impressed they were with the book and how much they’d like McKyus to get started on the next one. Read more about the launch here. We appreciate the recent substantial commitment of the Australian College of Commerce and Management (ACCM) to support our Book Supply and Community Publishing Programs for the next 4 years. We would like to thank TPG Telecom Foundation who have made a donation of $4,500 which will help us to supply 450 culturally relevant books to children in remote Communities. We are indebted to our partner Australia Post for their support with the delivery of Book Supply packs to remote Communities and their ongoing fundraising. Currently they have a festive bauble with artwork from ILF ambassador Gregg Dreise in store and online, with $2 from each sale donated to ILF. Thank you to YouthXP who are supporting the ILF through it’s You&2 initiative by providing 2% of YouthXP's turnover to the ILF. Through their platform, they aim to increase awareness about the ILF and our programs. We would like to thank Lovekins who are donating 10% of sales from The Grumpy Little Crocodile to our Foundation. Thank you to Michael Livingston who has raised over $30k through the sale of his beautiful bird calendars! He split this between the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Bird Life Australia. Visit the link here to check out the 2023 calendars. |