August News
Indigenous Literacy Day 2024
Image by Joseph Mayers
Yamandhu marang friend,
On Wednesday 4 September, our Foundation celebrated its biggest and most exciting day of advocacy, Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD). This is a day to celebrate First Nations stories, cultures and languages. This year we proudly produced a free FILM and LIVESTREAM event broadcast from Sydney Opera House, celebrating the theme Be a Proud Voice for Country.
This year's ILD celebrations were so special as we had two Communities join our celebrations at Sydney Opera House launching their three deadly new books.
The eight young authors of Yaljti Ngayuku Papa? (Where’s My Dog?) travelled from Tjuntjuntjara, Western Australia and students from Vincentia High School travelled from Yuin Country to proudly launch their two new books bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr: The Boys Who Found Their Way and ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra-nggul: We belong to the land, We belong to the sea.
It's not too late to register to watch the free FILM and LIVESTREAM event where you'll see the pride of launching a book from these young authors and also hear from many proud voices for Country.
ILD is more than a day. On ILD and everyday, you can celebrate First Nations stories, cultures and languages. We are so grateful for the 350,729 supporters across the nation who joined in to watch the ILD FILM and LIVESTREAM event - our largest audience ever!
Mandaang guwu,
Ben Bowen
Chief Executive Officer
Wiradjuri/Gandagarra
WATCH THE ILD 2024 FILM!
To celebrate UNESCO's second year of the Decade of Indigenous Languages, each month we encourage readers to learn a new word in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
Head to 4:25 to learn how to pronounce ganji!
This month's word is fire
in Dhurga language!
Fire = ganji
Dhurga Langauge is spoken on the south coast of New South Wales, spoken by Yuin (Yuwinj) people between Nowra and Narooma and used as far inland as Braidwood and Araluen.
Indigenous Literacy Day 2024 Celebrations
Read all about this year's Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations including the FILM, LIVESTREAM event from Sydney Opera House, Community visits and more!
ILD Teacher Resources and Classroom Activities
Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) is more than a day. You can celebrate First Nations stories, cultures and languages everyday, even in your classroom. The ILD Teacher Resources and Classroom Activities are still available to use as a great learning resource.
ILD Post Event Survey - win an ILF Book Pack!
Already watched the ILD FILM and LIVESTREAM? Help us to make ILD bigger and better by completing this 5 minute survey. Once completed, you will automatically go in the draw to win an ILF Book Pack consisting of 5 ILF titles!
Support the ILF by participating in STRYDE4 Sydney
Join the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and hundreds of STRYDERs on Thursday, October 24 for a challenge like no other – walking 10 or 21km or paddling 14km along Sydney’s iconic coastline raising vital funds to help us publish another bilingual book which will be written and developed by a remote Community. Everyone who raises more than $250 for ILF, will receive one of our beautiful tote bags!
Busking for Change
Support local primary schools who are participating in Busking for Change 2024 or simply donate to Busking for Change! Schools across the country are currently learning how to sing and play Shordi Krik in English and Kriol! Support this initiative by making a donation.
Love Your Bookshop Day
Love Your Bookshop (12 October) is a day to celebrate bookshops across the country and highlight what makes local bookshops great. The theme of Love Your Bookshop Day 2024 is Giving the Gift of Imagination, celebrating the crucial role bookshops play in inspiring our imagination. Learn how to celebrate here.
Launch of Yaljti Ngayuku Papa? (Where's My Dog?) at ILD
We were so excited to have the eight young authors of Yaljti Ngauuku Papa? (Where's My Dog?) join us for Indigenous Literacy Day this year. These authors travelled all the way from Tjuntjuntjara Community in Western Australia to Sydney to launch their bilingual book about a cheeky papa (dog) called Tjanpi Tjanpi who has gotten away.
Launch of two new books in Dhurga Langauge on Indigenous Literacy Day
We were so excited to have authors of bagan, barra barra, mirriwarr (The Boys Who Found Their Way) and ngayawanj bagan-nggul, ngayawanj barra barra - nggul (we belong to the land, we belong to the sea) from Vincentia Community join our Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations at Sydney Opera House.
Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival
We were so pleased that Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival broadcasted an extended version of the Vincentia Community segment from the Indigenous Literacy Day FILM at this years event. The event celebrates First Nations producers, directors, screenwriters, actors and communities, both within the Shoalhaven and across Australia.
Suzy Wilson
Congratulations to Suzy Wilson AM, founder of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), for being awarded the 2024 Dame Annabelle Rankin Award. Suzy’s vision and dedication to supporting literacy for young First Nations Peoples have transformed lives since she founded the ILF in 2004. Her incredible work has also earned her the Dromkeen Medal, the Lloyd O'Neil Award, and now this prestigious recognition.
Thomas Mayo
Congratulations to Board Member Thomas Mayo on his book, Always Was Always Will Be. Bestselling author Thomas Mayo investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the October 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum. Shop now.
We are so grateful for the support from ARA Group who sponsored our Indigenous Literacy Day celebrations on Wednesday 4 September. Without this generous support we could not put on such a big event.
We would like to thank our friends at Better Reading for their continued support and promotion of our work in remote Communities, campaigns and programs throughout the year.
Thinking of writing your will? The ILF has partnered with Safewill to provide our supporters with the ability to write their will for just $80 (half price).
We are indebted to our partner Australia Post for their support with the delivery of Book Supply packs. We celebrated the milestone of delivering their 500,000th book to remote Communities across Australia through ILF's Book Supply program.
Thank you to Freshwater Farm who are donating $50,000 from sales of their limited edition range produced in collaboration with Worimi/ Kamilaroi artist, Brittney Paulson. The range is available online and in Woolworths stores from now until 1st October!
Thank you to Book Fair Australia who will be organising a raffle at their Book Fair event with all proceeds going towards our Foundation.
The event (2 November) is held at Sydney Olympic Park and is an Australian literary festival that celebrates stories of all genres welcoming traditionally and independently published authors alike to share their diverse range through dedicated stalls, discussion panels, workshops and more.
We would like to thank the Australian Museum who proudly supported the ILF during National Reconciliation Week this year, raising over $1,700 in a staff Great Book Swap! The Great Book Swap is one of many actions the Australian Museum is taking towards reconciliation and building a shared future together with First Nations peoples.
