The Indigenous Literacy Foundation
Can you imagine not being able to read a newspaper, a road sign or directions on
a bottle of medication? Sadly, this is a reality faced by many Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders living in remote communities today.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) aims to raise literacy levels and improve
the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated
regions.
This is done by providing books and literacy resources to Indigenous communities
and raising broad community awareness of Indigenous literacy issues.
More details.
Indigenous Literacy Day 2012
Our major fundraising day this year will be on Wednesday 5 September. Join individuals,
schools, booksellers and publishers, libraries and other businesses to celebrate
and raise funds on the day. Register your support now by clicking
here and contact us now if you would like any further information or brochures
and posters.
More details.
Mangarrayi & Yangman Plants & Animals Book
Recording the wisdom and knowledge of elders of the Mangarrayi and Yangman people
from the Elsey and the Roper River, this book has been over 15 years in the making
and is now nearing completion after many months in design. Mangarrai and Yangman
country is beautiful country; it is biologically diverse and landscape rich. It
is home of the magnificent Elsey National Park and the iconic book and film of We
of the Never Never. This book outlines the equally diverse and rich Aboriginal biocultural
knowledge associated with the plants, animals and landscapes that occur in this
country. Its publication will help young Aboriginal people to access the wisdom
of their elders and it preserves Aboriginal names and uses of plants and animals
for future generations and for tourists to Mangarrayi and Yangman country.
'Mangarrayi & Yangman Plants & Animals' will be launched in March this year.
Jarjums Yarning - North Stradbroke Kids’ Literacy Projects
At the end of 2011 the Quandamooka people of North Stradbroke Island celebrated
the launch of two books written and illustrated by the Jarjums (children) at Dunwich
State School. The two books, published by The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, are
What is a disaster I hear you say which dealt with the kids’ views on natural disasters
and Alphabet Antics, an A-Z book about the landmarks on Stradbroke Island.
Read more on the Community
Identified Literacy Projects page.
Download the order form
Please click for larger view.
Yakanarra Trip
The ILF crew recently travelled to Yakanarra in the Kimberley to help the school
staff setting up a library which would be shared with community. Karen flew up to
Darwin and was picked up by Deb and Rick Dank, whose contribution was invaluable
undertaking driving, carpentry, photography and many other jobs along the way.
Read the full report Yakanarra Trip.
Please click for larger view.
'The Naked Boy and the Crocodile'
In the past few years as an ILF ambassador, Andy Griffiths has travelled around
Australia with other members of the Australian book industry to conduct writing
workshops with students in remote communities.
The students were given small blank "books" and invited to fill these books – using
both picture and words – with a story based on their own lives. These stories could
be true or fictional or a mixture of both. They could be dramatic, funny or simply
about an activity they love.
The thirteen stories included in this book tell tales of playing with friends, riding
motorbikes, picking berries, hunting for emu eggs and wild pigs, terrifying turkeys
and angry mamus.
'The Naked Boy and the Crocodile' is now available in bookshops across Australia.
More information |
Download the order form.
Naked Boy and the Crocodile readings
Clare Gray, Principal of St Joseph’s School Wyndham, said: 'We certainly
appreciate the enjoyment, support and encouragement that Andy Griffiths brought
to our school. His talents and wonderful humour clearly demonstrated the importance
of the work done by The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. To see the sense of achievement,
pride and confidence in all our students, especially Romina, Jack, Lazarus, Calli-Rose
and Dominic, resulting from this project has been the real success.'
The video to the right is Calli Rose Woods reading 'My Turkey'.
Please click here for more information
about 'The Naked Boy and the Crocodile' and another very special video of Stewart
Dryden reading another story from the book in place of his brother Jack who was
away at boarding school.
IDream Responses
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation provided a set of books for the first
part of the IDream project. This initiative of Education Queensland encouraged students
to give creative responses to the themes of the books – examining what 'treasures'
are important to each person.
The video to the right is from Wilsonton State School.
View the other student 'IDream: Treasures at My Place' video
responses.
'Reading with Children' - a book in Kriol & English
Reading is a great thing to do. We often think that everyone reads. In many remote
communities across Australia, people don’t always have the chance to develop reading
skills in English language. This happens for many reasons including isolation, few
other speakers of English language and poor access to reading material. It is important
for family to be the first teachers of young ones when they are starting to look
at books.
ILF has published a book Reading with Children written in both Kriol and English
that discusses ways that family can encourage and support reading in young children.
Download the 'Reading with Children' pdf
A message from a community
'Our service has been very fortunate to have received numerous amounts of books
over the past two years from the Indigenous Literacy Project. I can't write
in words the extend of our gratitude for the high quality and quantity of books
we now have in our literacy library representing not only the indigenous community
but also the Australian community. Due to the number of books we have received we
have shared them with three other local preschools, a local primary school and the
local Aboriginal Health service. Thank you for allowing us to be a recipient of
the literacy resources and so many other services across the nation. I have only
heard positive comments about the project from professionals, parents and children.
With kindest regards, Lesley Harvey, Centre Director/Teacher/Broken Hill.'