Yamandhu marang.
We invite you to celebrate First Nations peoples Stories, Cultures and Languages this Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) 6 September. We are pleased to collaborate with Sydney Opera House and present a 15-minute FILM showcasing the richness, diversity, multilingual and multi-literacy within remote Communities featuring ILF Ambassador, Jessica Mauboy!
The FILM is followed by a 45‑minute LIVESTREAM celebration of storytelling and song directly from Sydney Opera House with ILF Ambassadors and superstars Justine Clarke, Josh Pyke and Gregg Dreise. Please register your school, workplace, friends and family for this FREE national celebration and learn more about ILD.
Make the most of celebrating ILD at your school, library or workplace by hosting a Great Book Swap or your own fundraising event, purchasing the three ILD books featured in the film or by simply making a donation. Please ensure to spread the word about ILD within your school or workplace by using the ILD posters and across your social media by using the ILD social media tiles.
We can't wait to celebrate this special day with you!
Mandaang guwu,
Ben Bowen, Chief Executive Officer
SPOTLIGHTING | Word of the Month
To celebrate UNESCO's second 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 blue tongue lizard in Bundjalung language. Bundjalung Country is in the far North East Coast of NSW and the Southern Eastern coast of Queensland
- Blue tongue lizard = gubagan
- Phonetics: goo-ba-garn
- Download the audio.
News
CELEBRATING | Languages, Country and Elders this Indigenous Literacy Day | 6 September 2023
This years Indigenous Literacy Day FILM takes you on a virtual journey to three remote Communities to celebrate the launch of three books in three different languages; Shordi Krik in Barunga, Northern Territory, Country Tells Us When… in Rubibi (Broome), Western Australia, and We Look, We Find in Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.
CALLING | “Mela langguj- Our language, Kriol”
Kriol in the Top End is one kind of creole, from around the world. In Northern Territory homes, Kriol is the most spoken language after English. And it is the most widely spoken Aboriginal language in Australia today.
- Learn more about Kroil language from the blog written by ILF Regional Co-ordinator and Kriol speaker, Josie Lardy.
REPORTING | Byron Writers Festival
We are grateful to have been the charity of choice at this years Byron Writers Festival. Thank you to all of those who supported the ILF through donations and purchasing our tote bags and Gift of Reading cards! A special shout out to the volunteers who helped us to raise over $6,000 at the event!
REPORTING | PULiiMA
The ILF attended the PULiiMA Indigenous Language and Technology Conference this month and we enjoyed connecting with inspirational people who share a common ambition of conserving and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
HIRING | Book Buzz Co‑ordinator
We are hiring a Book Buzz Coordinator! This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our small team based in Sydney’s CBD and to use your strong coordination and relationship building skills to work with the Book Buzz Manager to coordinate the Book Buzz Program for young children.
First Nations candidates are encouraged to apply.
REPORTING | Over $40,000 Raised by Busking For Change!
Thank you to the incredible 145 schools who are participating in the first year of Busking For Change! The schools are all currently practicing Words Make The Word Go Around in English and Kriol and raising funds to publish books in First Languages. So far these incredible schools have raised over $40,000!
IndigenousX
We are pleased to be working with IndigenousX, an Indigenous owned media platform who are engaging ILF staff in cultural training. Be sure to visit the new IndigenousX job board which is a great way to find and promote job opportunities.
CLICKING | For More Stories
Work in Community
Book Supply 2024 Submissions
This month we sent our second release of Book Supply orders to the warehouse! We will be sending out an additional 27,342 to the first round of 88,050 books delivered so far this year.
Tiwi College Fete
ILF Programs Manager, Tictac, and Regional Coordinator, Bella, attended the Tiwi College fete this month. They ran a stall with a game where everyone who won took home either a book, a family pack or a lucky dip. Some kids played a few times and took home a bit of everything. Thanks to Tiwi College for having us, and for putting on a wonderful event. We can't wait for next year's fete!
Ambassador News
Andy Griffiths
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Andy Griffiths on the last book in the Treehouse series with Terry Denton! This bestselling kids' favourite for 13 years has sold more than 7 million books in print, was the national No. 1 bestselling book a record-breaking 8 times, and has won a record 8 Australian Book Industry Awards. Available from 5 September!
Josh Pyke
Congratulations to ILF Ambassador Josh Pyke on his new book Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems, available from 1 September! The whimsical and wise picture book explores navigating life’s ups and downs from two multi-award-winning creators.
Special Thanks
We would like to thank Grace Group (Australia) who have been supporting us for three years with donations totalling $150,000 - a truly significant level of support for our work in remote Communities around the country.
Thinking of writing your will? The ILF has partnered with Safewill to provide our supporters with the ability to write their will for just $90 (half price) – or could be free during Free Wills Week between 4–8 September.
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.
Community Fundraisers
A big thank you to Freshwater Farm who are donating a percentage of sales to the ILF during the month of August from their limited-edition body bars, body wash and hand washes. The limited-edition products are designed in collaboration with Worimi Indigenous artist, Brittney Paulson.
A big thank you to Endeavour College who have supported the ILF throughout the years with various fundraising activities including dress-up days for book week, book swaps, book sales at the school fair, cake stalls and even hot chocolate mornings! The College plan to raise $10K by 2025 and we are so grateful for the schools efforts and support!
Glamorama proudly supported the ILF as part of the venue's annual NAIDOC week event. During NAIDOC week, Glamorama programs its favourite First Nations DJs to take over the entirety of the lineup for the night. In conjunction, Glamorama matches the DJ fees towards a donation selected by the artists themselves. We are very grateful for Glamorama's support!
MORE:
Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)Address: 17/207 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9280 0644
Email: info@ilf.org.au